Some divorced parents disagree as to whether their children should receive the vaccine. Some parents disagree as to whether a child should spend time with an unvaccinated parent or other relative. If you find yourself in such a dispute, this article briefly discusses how you may resolve the matter.
Child Custody
4 Steps To Successful Holidays For Divorced Parents
Here are some helpful tips for navigating the holidays for divorced parents: Create New Traditions The holidays will feel different after divorce. Embrace the new chapter by creating new traditions. Some creative and rewarding ideas to consider are running a charity...
Co-Parenting Solutions for Pandemics
The pandemic has brought new challenges. Most separated and divorced parents never envisioned having to navigate a pandemic with their former spouse. Parenting judgments (formally known in Illinois as "Allocation of Parental Responsibility Judgments") spell out the...
Depositions in Contested Chicago Divorce and Chicago Custody Cases
Discovery is the process by which parties inform themselves of important information and documents, such as the other party’s financial statements. Discovery is used used to obtain information which can help a parent make a decision on custody terms. One of the...
Major Changes to Illinois Divorce and Custody Law in 2016
There are major changes to Illinois divorce and Illinois child custody laws that take effect on January 1, 2016. Starting on January 1, 2016 we will not even use the term “custody” any longer. What was referred to as “sole custody” or “joint custody” will become the...
Removing Children from Illinois After the Custody Judgment is Entered
Life may seem easy for parents once a divorce or custody case is concluded. The judgment is entered, no more court dates are scheduled, and the parents are exercising their rights as outlined in their final Custody Judgment. Oftentimes, one of the parents announces...
The Best Chicago Divorce Attorneys
The best Chicago divorce attorneys use good judgment, attention to detail and good timing. In this post, we are going to discuss the best divorce timing.
The Importance of Financial Statements in a Chicago Divorce or Custody Case
One important step in a Chicago divorce or Chicago custody case is the discovery process. In discovery, parties may be required to respond to questions and provide documents regarding their past and present financial situation. Without at least standard, initial...
Tips for Non-Custodial Parents To Consider
Although 50/50 parenting time is on the rise, most Chicago-area divorce cases involving children and custody cases still result in one parent being the primary residential custodian. The parent who has less time with the children is usually known as the non-custodial...
Unmarried Illinois Couples
Recent news stories claim that young people are getting married less often, and when they do get married, the age at which they marry is much older than previous generations. It seems that more couples are “cohabiting”–living together without being married–either as a...
Waiving Illinois Child Support and Chicago Custody Law
In some Chicago custody law matters, parents wonder whether they can waive Illinois child support in exchange for sole custody. Parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support to their children. This obligation is for the child’s benefit and not for the...
Protecting The Rights Of The Affluent “Parent” In Adoption
A recent Illinois Supreme Court case illustrates the importance of legally adopting a non-biological child if one wants to protect his or her Illinois child custody and visitation rights. Establishing legal parental rights may be particularly important to wealthy...
Witnesses In Divorce and Custdy Cases
In many Chicago divorce or Chicago custody cases there are no witnesses called by either party. If the dispute between the parties is complex or contentious, however, witnesses could be involved. Witnesses can be fact witnesses or expert witnesses. Fact witnesses, as...
Protecting Parental Rights Before a Child is Born
A recent New Jersey case made waves when a Judge held that a mother could exclude the father of her unborn baby from the hospital delivery room at the time of the baby’s birth. Some people were surprised that the parents were involved in child-related litigation...
Illinois Supreme Court Declares Eavesdropping Law Unconstitutional
Under the Illinois Eavesdropping Act, if a person recorded a conversation without all the consent of each person taking part in the conversation, that person would have violated the law and could possibly have been charged with a felony. However, the Illinois Supreme...
When a Child Changes Households After Divorce
Most contested Chicago divorce cases and custody cases settle before going to trial. When parents reach an agreement on issues related to their child, one of the attorneys prepares the written parenting judgment. The draft judgment is reviewed and revised by the...
Summer Vacations and Custody Cases
When children are out of school for the summer, many families plan vacations. Just because someone is involved in a divorce or custody case does not mean that they have to put vacation plans on hold. One thing parents going through divorce should be aware of is that...
Tips for Your First Meeting with Your Family Law Attorney
Many people feel that they have taken the first step towards a new life when they schedule their first meeting with their family law attorney. It can be a nerve-wracking experience and someone may feel nervous at the onset of a divorce or custody case. Television...
Chicago Child Custody Cases and the “Eighteen Month Rule”
If you are considering becoming involved in a divorce case with children or a child custody case, you should know about the "eighteen month rule."Illinois courts want cases involving child custody to be resolved reasonably quickly based on the idea that prolonged...
Introducing Your New Spouse to Your Custody Judgment
When a divorced spouse marries someone new, it is important for him or her to inform the new spouse of any existing custody judgments, divorce judgments, or court orders concerning the custody and care of the divorced spouse's children. The ex-spouse should also be...
The Differences Between Joint Legal Custody and Sole Legal Custody
One of the most important issues when parents are divorcing is how they will make future decisions for their child. In Illinois "legal custody" refers to decision-making power. "Residential custody," where the child primarily resides, is another issue. Decisions made...