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Regardless of whether you are the payor or recipient of child support in Illinois, there are certain expenses that you expect to incur. Food, lodging, education, utilities, and extracurricular activities just scratch the surface when it comes to raising a child, so it is obvious that a large portion of support payments will be dedicated to these and related costs. However, medical expenses are sometimes overlooked when addressing child support in a divorce case or after establishing paternity. R...   Read more ...  

Even if they do not get along themselves, there is no question that divorcing parents want what is best for their children. Disputes enter the picture when they cannot agree on the details. For the most part, disagreements center on the key components of a parenting plan – i.e., custody and visitation, which are referred to as allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time under Illinois law. As part of the legal divorce process, Illinois’ divorce statute requires parties to subm...   Read more ...  

For parents going through the Illinois divorce process, one of the most important issues you will address is child custody. The statute uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities, but the concept generally refers to how parents make decisions and uphold their parental obligations regarding raising the child. As such, custody is less about where the child lives, though he or she may live primarily with one parent for logistical purposes. A key goal of allocating parental responsibiliti...   Read more ...  

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  Published in the Tuesday, February 2, 2021 edition of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin   By Michael C. Craven and Marla Levie Craven   Michael C. Craven is a family law partner at Harrison & Held LLP. He is a member and officer of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has long been fascinated by the world of legal marketing. 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...   Read more ...  

What can I expect at a divorce mediation? Divorce mediation is a process during which a divorcing couple meets with a specially trained, neutral third-party to discuss and resolve divorce-related issues. Mediation has many benefits. Mediation tends to be less stressful, cheaper, and shorter than a divorce trial. Mediation gives couples the final say over their divorce matters, enabling them to maintain power and control in their divorce. Additionally, mediating partners can develop their communi...   Read more ...