An Appellate court case demonstrated the legal mess and expensive post-divorce litigation that can occur when a non-attorney serves as a divorce mediator.
Expensive Mistakes When Divorcing To Avoid
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Child Support
Calculating Illinois Child Support
Since 2017, Illinois has calculated child support using an "income shares" model. This means Illinois child support is based upon the combined income of both parents. The current model aims to provide children with the standard of living they would have enjoyed if...
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...
How Student Loans May Affect Your Child Support Payments
Parents who are ordered to pay child support are required to pay an amount that is based on a percentage of their net income. Unlike gross income, which includes all income from any sources, a person’s net income can be determined only after certain deductions are...
The Subpoena: A Powerful Discovery Tool in Divorce Cases
It is important that a party to a Chicago divorce conduct discovery into his or her spouse’s income, assets, and liabilities. Some people going through a divorce may groan and say, “what’s the point, I know my spouse is hiding information from me, and we will never...
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...
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...
Tax Refunds and Divorces
April 15 is upon us again, and you know what that means: time to pay federal and state income taxes. Many people will receive refunds from “Uncle Sam” if they had too much money withheld from their paychecks over the past tax year. If you are going through a divorce,...
Child Support for a Special Needs Child
The Illinois legislature has modified the child support calculation statute and the new provisions became effective on January 1, 2013. One of the modifications clarifies that Illinois courts may consider the physical, mental, emotional, and educational needs of the...
Contribution to College Expenses
Some parents believe that their duty to support their child ends once the child turns eighteen. This is not always the case in Illinois. Illinois family law provides that parents with children may be ordered to contribute to college or professional school training...
Question: My Ex’s Employer is Required to Withhold the Child Support Payment, But the Employer Missed a Payment. What Should I Do?
When Illinois courts and courts in Chicago enter child support orders during a divorce or parentage case, they often require the paying parent's employer to withhold the child support amount from the paying parent's paycheck. The employer then sends each payment to...
Calculating Your Net Monthly Income for Child Support Purposes
If you will be paying child support, it is important to properly calculate your net monthly income. Illinois courts will usually order you to pay a certain percentage of your net monthly income to whoever has primary residential custody of the child. Net income is...
Calculating Child Support Obligations
Some of the most popular questions we receive from divorcing parents are "how much will I pay in child support?" and "how much will I receive in child support?" The person who pays child support is known as the "obligor" and the person who receives the child support...
Why Divorce Lawyers Charge Hourly
Prospective clients frequently want to know how much their divorce will cost. One of main components of the cost of the divorce is legal fees. Although I am unaware of any published statistics, most Chicago family lawyers charge hourly for their legal services. There...
Does Your Spouse Not Report All of His or Her Income?
If you have a spouse that does not report his or her income, it could have severe negative effects should you get divorced. Your spouse may demand alimony, referred to as "maintenance" in Illinois, by claiming his or her income is significantly less than it really is....
Your Subsequent Spouse’s Income Could Be Relevant
When your child from your previous marriage is about to start college, the income your subsequent spouse earns could be relevant. This fact probably surprises and maybe even shocks most people. In Illinois, one of the factors a court considers when deciding how to...