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Of the many issues that crop up during a divorce, alimony and spousal maintenance can be the most contentious. Most parents accept they need to provide child support, but the idea of making payments to their ex in alimony and maintenance is upsetting. Conversely, the spouse seeking support may require it to pay for necessary ongoing living expenses. If you have a question about this complex and contentious subject, Michael C. Craven and the Chicago maintenance lawyers at his firm can help. When ...   Read more ...  

In a divorce, there are many questions. Who will get the house? What about child support? Will I need to pay spousal maintenance, also known as alimony? Below are some critical things about divorce and spousal maintenance in Illinois. Have questions about divorce and spousal maintenance? Then, contact Cook County spousal maintenance attorney Michael C. Craven for assistance with your situation. Spousal Maintenance Rules Are Gender Neutral In Illinois, maintenance is the term usually used for ali...   Read more ...  

Whatever the reason for your divorce, most breakups follow the same legal process in Illinois. First, one spouse files the divorce petition, then there is a discovery and negotiation phase. Then, a settlement is entered in the divorce court as a final decree of divorce. Divorces are almost always painful and difficult experiences for married couples. However, divorce can be even more challenging when there is a lot of money involved. There are considerable differences when divorce involves peopl...   Read more ...  

Divorce is a deeply personal event in a person’s life, but divorce cases are still official court proceedings that are subject to procedural requirements and court rules. One important factor is how the process gets started, and divorce cases are initiated by one spouse filing a petition for dissolution of marriage.   The petition submitted to the court states facts to establish that the court has authority over the spouses and their marriage, and it includes the petitioning spouse’s ge...   Read more ...  

Parental decision-making, parenting time, and child support are among the key considerations you expect when addressing Illinois child custody. Taxes are probably not top of mind when working out these details. Illinois uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities to refer to custody, so you are focusing on how co-parents determine the important issues involved with raising the child. However, a key issue that is closely tied to child custody is the residential arrangement, and this is ...   Read more ...  

Many divorced parents will admit that co-parenting and dealing with Illinois child custody issues are among the biggest challenges they face after the case concludes. You can probably guess that positive outcomes are possible with a solid co-parenting arrangement, and a Psychology Today article covers this topic. Children better understand the concepts of conscience and morality and are more likely to develop an easygoing personality, when co-parents work together. Conflicts often lead to higher...   Read more ...