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In many divorce cases, Illinois’ statute on allocation of parental responsibilities generally favors both individuals sharing in the raising of the child. As such, parents share in making key significant decisions regarding the child’s life. For logistical purposes, one parent often has residential possession, while the other is entitled to visitation. However, there are many situations where parents share time with the child on an equal or approximately equal basis. Under the law, the offic...   Read more ...  

Every situation of domestic violence is factually unique, especially when you consider Illinois laws cover various personal relationships and different acts of aggression. Though many presume issues only occur between spouses, the domestic violence statute specifically includes family members, housemates, parents who share a child, people in a current or past dating relationships, caretakers and disabled adults and many others. Also, the term “violence” incorporates a much wider range of act...   Read more ...  

The decision to end your marriage is never an easy one, but your situation may be even more complex if you or your wife is pregnant, and one of you is contemplating divorce. You might even wonder if it’s possible to initiate divorce proceedings in Illinois when there is an expectant child – especially when the case may not even be complete before the child’s birth. You also might have questions about how a divorce affects paternity, which is a concern when the pregnancy was the result ...   Read more ...  

  Published in the Thursday June 4, 2020 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 he...   Read more ...  

In Illinois, it’s common for unmarried parents to share custody and visitation of minor children, legally termed the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. However, even when you agree on the relevant issues and include details in your parenting plan, unforeseen circumstances can disrupt the arrangement. Schedules change, emergencies arise, and other factors may make it impossible to meet your obligations. Also, your ex may have conflicts. To account for this scenario, Ill...   Read more ...  

For many people involved with divorce and family law matters, one of the first questions they ask is “Will my case go to trial?” It’s an understandable question since you want to know what to expect. Though providing a definite answer is impossible, you should know there are benefits for avoiding trial through agreement. You have more control over the outcome, so many lawyers will aim for settlement where it properly protects your interests. Although most cases settle, agreement isn’t po...   Read more ...