Posts By: MICHAEL C CRAVEN

Out-of-State Parenting Time

Parents will need to address the needs of minor children in any Illinois divorce, but certain issues are more complex when both parents don’t live in the same state. Whether one parent is already a non-resident or was allowed by a court to relocate, the situation raises important questions about parenting time – familiarly known as visitation. The judicial system recognizes a child benefits by having a solid relationship with both parents, so you could face a conundrum in trying to balan...   Read more ...  

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Morality Clauses in Parenting Plans

As a parent going through divorce, you no doubt have concerns about how the process will affect your children. In some cases, you may even lose trust in your child’s other parent, or harbor fears about exposure to bad influences. Or you might be on the other side of the equation and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse accuses you of engaging in behavior that has adverse implications for raising your child. With either of these scenarios, the topic of a morality clause may come up as you’re addressing ...   Read more ...  

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Update Regarding Cook County Circuit Court Limiting Caseloads During COVID-19

Dear Clients and Friends: By now everyone is aware of the many shutdowns and closures caused by the COVID-19 virus, which has resulted in interruptions in our lives and businesses. Navigating difficult times is a core skill I’ve developed during my decades of being a divorce lawyer. My partners and I have been working to protect the safety of our staff, while at the same time, meeting the needs of our current and new clients. Currently, it is our plan to keep our Chicago, Springfield and Napl...   Read more ...  

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Despite Jokes and Put-Downs, Lawyers Deserve Special Thanks

  Published in the Thursday March 5, 2020 edition of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin   By Marla Levie Craven   Marla Levie Craven is the wife of family law attorney Michael Craven. She spent decades as the owner of a marketing consulting company. Many of her clients were law firms and attorneys. Recently, I was out with a group of women, some I had only just met. One began to share many details about her recent divorce. She told the group her case ended up going to trial and her ...   Read more ...  

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How to Prepare for Your Initial Meeting with a Divorce Attorney

There are a few tasks you’ll need to cross off your To-Do list when you’re contemplating divorce. You’ll make considerable headway by scheduling an initial consultation with a Chicago divorce attorney. This first meeting is crucial, so you want to make the most of your time. Your lawyer will be taking the lead on the essential legal requirements, but you’ll need to do your part as well by tackling a few items to prepare for your appointment. 1. Be aware of the issues you’ll address dur...   Read more ...  

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Mortgage Refinancing Post-Divorce

As you may be aware, one of the most important issues that arises during the divorce process is how to distribute property spouses acquired during their marriage. The Illinois divorce statute on division of property requires marital assets be divided equitably, which means according to the interests of fairness – not an exact 50-50 split. With many types of property, such as bank accounts, retirement benefits, automobiles and similar assets, getting to an equitable division is relatively strai...   Read more ...  

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