Posts By: MICHAEL C CRAVEN

Are Divorced Parents Allowed to Relocate with Their Children Under Illinois Family Law?

Divorces aren’t easy in the most straight-forward of circumstances, but they become significantly more complex when minor children are involved. That complexity increases when one parent seeks to relocate with the child. While there are steps that must be taken, under Illinois family law, there is recourse for divorced parents who need to relocate with their children. Under Illinois family law, relocating with children after a divorce is called removal, and it is a common issue in divorce case...   Read more ...  

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Child Custody Decisions Have Changed with the Times and Society

  Published in the Wednesday, March 13, 2019 edition of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin   Recently, I attended a lecture before seeing the play “How to Catch Creation” at The Goodman Theatre. The lecturer discussed the history of child custody over the course of the last four centuries.   He illustrated how custody laws have shifted over time along with the prevailing attitudes in society about the roles we play as parents. The child custody laws from several hundred years ago...   Read more ...  

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In contested divorces, how are the best interests of the child served differently by Guardian Ad Litems, Child Representatives or Attorneys for the Child?

In contested divorces that involve families with minor children, a Child Representative (Child Rep), an Attorney for the Child (AC) or a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) may be assigned at the court’s discretion to act on behalf of those children. Child Reps, ACs and GALs are licensed attorneys. Although the court assigns the representatives to the child, the parents are typically responsible for the child advocate’s fees.   Under Illinois law, there are several variations between the re...   Read more ...  

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Advice Regarding College Expenses from Divorce Lawyers Chicago

Today I am excited to answer a question that I am asked a lot in my practice. As a father of two children who recently graduated college, I understand the importance of planning for college. It’s necessary for divorcing couples to know what the law expects of them when it comes to providing for higher education.   If you have any other questions you’d like me to address in a Q&A, feel free to submit them and I will do my best to answer in future blog posts. However, please remember...   Read more ...  

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2019 Changes to Illinois Family Law

As a divorce lawyer for the past three decades, I have seen a lot of ways in which divorce affects a family. There are obviously the emotional ways, the financial ways, and finally the way the law plays into these dynamics.   It is my job to stay on top of the law so that I can help my clients navigate their ways through these changes.   The past two years have brought major modifications to Illinois family law. You can read here and here some ways these changes have affected families ...   Read more ...  

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How State Law Changes Affect Your Clients

  Published in the January 24, 2019 edition of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin   As of Jan. 1, there are more than 250 new laws in Illinois. They cover everything from gun control to animal welfare to health care and education. They truly run the gamut.   Many of these laws can have a daily effect on people’s lives. As someone that likes to provide value to my current and former clients, informing them on how these new laws could affect them may provide the knowledge needed to g...   Read more ...  

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