Posts By: MICHAEL C CRAVEN

Co-Parenting During the Holidays: Religious Beliefs & Parenting Time

Divorce is never easy, but the holidays have a way of making it even harder. Especially when you are navigating religious waters while also trying to co-parent. It’s important to remember that the holiday season is supposed to be a time for togetherness. It’s when memories are created, so instead of dreading the upcoming holiday season, here are a few tips for working together to co-parent effectively. Make a game plan ahead of time Planning in advance who your children will spend the holi...   Read more ...  

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Parent’s Rights in an Adoption Decision

Whenever the question of adoption arises, the law must examine the rights of both biological parents. There are multiple situations in which an adoption may alter the biological parent’s rights. We will examine some common types of cases.   Stepparent Adoptions   In today’s world of blended families, there are many scenarios in which a stepparent would want to adopt a stepchild.   Illinois does not allow a child to have three legal parents, so there are two ways a stepparent w...   Read more ...  

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How Do I Petition for a Change in Child Support?

What does child support mean for your family? Is it something you feel was correctly determined or do you believe you deserve more or owe less? If you are looking for an increase or decrease, it is certainly possible, but it does require some legal intervention.   In Illinois, during the period in which a child support order is temporary and pending, it is possible to change it. However, after the final judgement, it will be harder to modify. In order to do so, your lawyer will have to prov...   Read more ...  

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You’re Going Through a Divorce: Why You Need to Meditate

Divorce is one of life’s most difficult transitions. You are not only breaking-up with the person you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with, but you are also probably dealing with custody and financial challenges.   As with anything in life, there will be ups and downs throughout divorce and if you are currently in a hard stage, I’ve heard many clients say that meditation helped them.   Just a quick FYI, if you read meditation and mediation, you’re not the only one. Bu...   Read more ...  

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What to Do When Politics Affect Divorce

  Published in the September 10, 2018 edition of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin   Welcome to my regular column, Discourse on Divorce. In this edition, I look at divorces that are affected by opposing political views and how attorneys can handle divorces under these circumstances. In the past few years, with our country’s changing and heightened political environment, it seems that politics have become much more prevalent in everyday life. Consequently, political conversations have b...   Read more ...  

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How Life Insurance Changes During a Divorce

Going through a divorce can sometimes feel like a puzzle; there are a million pieces and they have to fit together just so. One of those pieces that can often be overlooked is life insurance. Between custody, maintenance (alimony), and the emotional landmines of divorce, life insurance is often the last thing divorcing couples want to think about. However, if you are getting a divorce, then life insurance may be necessary to protect your and your children’s financial interests. Another way to ...   Read more ...  

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