BLOG

Under any circumstances, raising a teenager is a challenge and parents may encounter significant struggles when trying to juggle child custody and visitation issues after a divorce. Not only must you address typical teen drama, but you will also need to coordinate with each other on the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. During divorce proceedings, you will go over such issues in connection with the Illinois statute on parenting plans. The problem is that, while the law ...   Read more ...  

In this Q&A with Chicago Divorce Lawyer Michael Craven, we will explore questions people also ask about divorce in the Chicago area.  Table of Contents ToggleWho can benefit most from an uncontested divorce?What are the advantages and disadvantages of a contested divorce?Would you say overall that you wouldn’t want a judge to make decisions in the end?What can be done when you want a divorce, but can’t find your spouse?How are people served divorce papers?Is it smart to accept bein...   Read more ...  

  A key issue in many Illinois divorces is alimony, which a party pays to the other, generally, once the legal proceedings are complete. Illinois’ statute on spousal maintenance requires a two-part analysis for awarding support. The court first makes a finding that alimony is appropriate and will then decide the terms and conditions.   However, parties are free to enter an agreement on the issue of spousal support whenever possible. Whether by h...   Read more ...  

If you pay child support pursuant to an Illinois court’s order in connection with a divorce or paternity case, you know how critical it is to comply with the terms. However, even when you understand your obligations and fully intend to live up to them, health-related circumstances can have a significant impact on your ability to support yourself – which also affects your ability to pay child support.   Fortunately, you may qualify to receive benefits under the federal Social ...   Read more ...  

As personal lives become increasingly intertwined with technology, it stands to reason parties will need to address the issue of digital assets when going through divorce in Illinois. Part of any dissolution proceeding is determining how to divvy up all property acquired during the marriage, so you must be prepared to consider items in electronic form, stored within the Cloud, or otherwise digital in nature. Ideally, you would want to attempt agreement on distribution of this uniqu...   Read more ...  

Asset division in an Illinois divorce can be a complex and hotly contested issue. Hostile disagreements often develop between couples who have been married a long time or have accumulated significant property. However, disputes are common even in short-term marriages and cases involving lower net worth. The nature of certain assets means trying to divvy them up is complicated, impractical, or even impossible.   Fortunately, you can sidestep many of the potential problems b...   Read more ...