Modifying Child Support Retroactively
Child support generally cannot be modified retroactively, pursuant to 750 ILCS 5/510(a). For example, say a child support payor is incarcerated but had been ordered to pay child support. That individual would likely be unable to pay child support during his incarceration and he or she would accumulate an arrearage of back child support. Let’s […]
Flexibility in Parenting Time Schedules Not Only Benefits Your Children, It Keeps You Out of Court
The new changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act shift the focus on finality of final court decisions and stability to flexibility. Flexibility has always been necessary for a peaceful co-parenting relationship, regardless of what the law says. But new changes in Illinois family law should now encourage even the most rigid […]
Bring Your Clients Value And Don’t Get In Trouble Doing It
An attorney is not helping the division of the marital estate if the attorney is taking the marital estate in by way of attorney fees. Consider that the normal divorce case is going to be split pretty equally (just proportions in practice is somewhat equal) as far as value is concerned between the two parties. […]
High Conflict Parenting Plans
Parenting plans become high conflict parents’ bible or constitution in a sense. In the future, this document will inevitably be referred to in hard times. It is what will be read to sort out problems. Parenting plans are likely the one and only thing divorce attorneys write in our cases that can create future peace. […]
How divorce mediation can help you keep more of what you earned
You worked hard during your marriage to help provide for your family, whether you earned an income or were the primary homemaker. Now that your marriage is ending in divorce, you don’t want to lose all you worked for to attorneys fees and court costs. But that is exactly what you risk when you go […]
4 ways to approach a post-divorce holiday schedule
While navigating the divorce process, the couple must work through numerous negotiations and arrive at several compromises before moving forward to their exciting, new futures. Divorcing parents must devote a significant amount of time to developing the parenting plan. Many parents attempt to create a comprehensive plan that anticipates and avoids potential future disputes. While […]
Can you share an attorney in family law?
One of the questions we often get asked, as a law firm that mostly consults family law, pertains to sharing an attorney for the process of a divorce. In one way or another, the question of whether Angela, or any other attorney, can represent two parties over the same legal issue crops up a lot. […]
How do the Illinois courts handle custody if you litigate?
Whether you decided to file for divorce because of an unhappy marriage or you never married the other parent of your child and are mid-breakup, custody matters may weigh heavily on your mind. You likely worry about how much time you will get to spend with your children and how you will handle major matters […]
Why mediation is useful in a high-conflict divorce situation
People often discuss mediation as a tool for those mostly ready for divorce and dealing with minimal conflict. Many people will dismiss the idea that mediation will work for couples that are currently in the middle of a bitter divorce. After all, when emotions run high, people are unlikely to cooperate with one another. Instead, […]
Scheduling Mediation
Scheduling mediation is simple. Simply call the office and tell us you want to mediate your legal issue. You will be asked for your contact information and our team will do an initial review of the Parties’ names to check for conflicts of interest. You do not need a court order for mediation. All you […]