Posts By: MICHAEL C CRAVEN

What is the Difference Between Parenting Time and Parental Responsibilities?

On January 1, 2016, the language contained within the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act was altered to be less restrictive and remove the notion that a parent can somehow “win” or “lose” a custody order. Now, the terms used are “parenting time” and “parental responsibilities.” But what do these terms mean? How are they different from the older terms of legal custody, physical custody, and visitation? It is important to understand what these terms mean for you and ...   Read more ...  

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Factors to Consider as a Parent Seeking Child Custody

A lot goes into determining the right parenting time schedule for a child when his or her parents’ divorce. The goal of creating a parenting time arrangement is to meet all of the child’s needs: physical, emotional, academic, and social. The court also recognizes the importance that a child spend time with both of his or her parents when making this decision. However, how much time a child spends with each parent is determined by examining a specific set of factors (See 750 ILCS 5/602.7(...   Read more ...  

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How to Answer Kids’ Questions About Divorce

When a couple with children decides to divorce, one of the most stressful parts of the divorce planning process is telling their children. To a child, a divorce means a breakup of his or her family, often the only way of life he or she has ever known. But if you are a parent who has begun the divorce process, you need to discuss your divorce with your children. The level of detail they receive depends on their ages and maturity levels, but this is not an issue to hide or attempt to brush off. P...   Read more ...  

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Tax Issues in a High Net Worth Divorce

    In any divorce, the division of the couple’s assets and property is a key part of the dissolution of the marriage. When dividing assets, their tax implications should be considered as a key element of the settlement.     Tax implications need to be considered before entering the property division portion of the divorce process. This is because if the property and assets are not divided taking each piece’s tax benefits and burdens into consideration, one spouse can...   Read more ...  

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Child Custody Changes Come to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act

In 2015, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act was amended to acknowledge the realities that parents in today’s world face. One of the most significant changes was the deletion of the terms “custody” and “visitation” to refer to the decision making responsibilities of parents and the time a parent spends with his or her child in the context of divorce. It was replaced with the terms “parental responsibilities” and “parenting time” in an effort to acknowledg...   Read more ...  

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What You Should Know About Settling a Divorce Before the Trial

When a couple decides to get a divorce, they have a lot of options. Sometimes, the couple has more options than they realize. For example, a couple might begin the divorce process without realizing that they can settle it outside of court, rather than going through the litigation process. Although this option exists, it is not always possible for some couples. The best way for an individual couple to divorce depends on many factors present in their relationship and their goals for life after the...   Read more ...  

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