Posts By: MICHAEL C CRAVEN

When Can I End Spousal Maintenance Early?

Many divorces leave people with a variety of financial obligations including dividing property, splitting retirement benefits, assigning life insurance proceeds, spousal maintenance, and child support. Maintenance, better known as alimony, is a relatively common financial responsibility, particularly for longer marriages or when there is a disparity between the two party’s incomes or earning potential. Unfortunately, individual’s situations change and it can become difficult or impossible to...   Read more ...  

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How Long will my Divorce Take?

When you file for divorce, there really is no way to tell how long the process will take. In the past, Illinois couples who wanted to file for divorce based upon no-fault grounds (irreconcilable differences) had to show the court that they had lived separately for a period of time. This period of time was six months if both spouses wanted the divorce and two years if one spouse contested the divorce. Today, all divorces in Illinois are no-fault divorces and this waiting period has been eliminate...   Read more ...  

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How Can I Modify my Child Support Obligation?

When you are ordered to pay child support, the money is meant to help the other parent pay for the expenses that come with raising a child such as the need for a home and related expenses such as utility bills, food, and your child’s personal needs such as clothing and school supplies. Current Illinois law primarily bases the amount of child support on your income and the number of children you are paying support for. When your income dramatically changes, it can be difficult to make your ...   Read more ...  

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Should I Include my New Partner in my Parenting Time?

After a divorce, it is natural to want to date again. Many of us go on to do just that in the months and years following our divorces. It is also not uncommon for a new partner to eventually become a new spouse and for new children to enter the picture. When you have a child from a previous relationship, it can be difficult to know when to introduce him or her to your new partner. As much as you would like them to get to know each other and build a positive relationship, you might have doubts ab...   Read more ...  

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Should I Consider Divorcing through Mediation?

There are a lot of ways to get divorced. Although there is no “right” way to get divorced, there are ways to complete the process that may be less stressful, less expensive, and result in better harmony between the former partners than others. One of these methods, for example, is mediation. If you are familiar with mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution, you know that it involves working with a trained mediator to come to a mutually-satisfying settlement with the other party....   Read more ...  

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What To Do if you are Facing a False Accusation

When a couple divorces, there are bound to be hurt feelings. Hurt feelings can lead to individuals lashing out at each other, sometimes making threats and accusations. When you are going through the legal processes of a divorce, such as the determination of an appropriate parenting time agreement or the valuation of your marital property, assertions made about your current or previous conduct are taken seriously. And that could mean potentially losing out on property that is rightfully yours or ...   Read more ...  

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