Posted by Erin Birt | Feb 06, 2019 | 0 Comments
There's been little or no fighting. You're on relatively good terms with each other. You actually even like each other. It's just that you don't love each other any longer and divorce is the inevitable outcome. In situations like this–and even ones with more emotion–collaborative divorce planning...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Feb 05, 2019 | 0 Comments
In Illinois, parental alienation is the programming of a child by the alienating parent to believe that one parent is good and the other parent is bad with the goal that the child completely rejects the other parent. In 2012, I discussed the Illinois custody case, In re the Marriage of D.T.W., w...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Feb 16, 2018 | 0 Comments
Divorces happen more often than we would like to think, however, most people still learn about divorce from celebrities. Well, Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston just announced that they split amicably at the end of 2017. It appears they are trying to work out their differences privately and po...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jan 02, 2018 | 0 Comments
There is a new Illinois Pet Custody Law. Starting January 1, 2018, Illinois Judges can consider the well-being of a pet when awarding sole or joint ownership during a divorce. Previously, pets were considered property. The pet, as well as the financial responsibility for the pet, was simply al...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jul 21, 2016 | 0 Comments
If you and your spouse mutually agree that it's time to divorce—and you feel you can easily reach a consensus about important issues—an uncontested divorce may be the right choice for you. It's fast, it avoids the courtroom, and it's much cheaper than a “traditional” divorce. THE CRITICAL ISSUES...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jun 15, 2016 | 0 Comments
In many of my blogs, I discuss how mediation and collaboration are effective divorce planning alternatives compared to court-room litigation. While both are inexpensive compared to litigation, these are actually two very distinct processes, and it's important to learn about each one in order to ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jun 02, 2016 | 0 Comments
Divorce itself is difficult enough. Add animosity and lack of cooperation into the picture and the process becomes lengthy, expensive, and sometimes emotionally destructive. From a Huffington Post article by Conflict Resolution Specialist Elizabeth Esrey, here are some facts about high-conflict ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Apr 27, 2016 | 0 Comments
If the cost of an attorney is keeping you from finalizing your Illinois divorce, Limited Scope representation could help you complete the process effectively without spending more than you would like or can afford. In short, you're hiring a lawyer to help you represent yourself. HOW DOES IT WOR...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Apr 13, 2016 | 0 Comments
Your first marriage ended in divorce, but you and your ex used divorce mediation to set up a workable parenting plan for your minor children. Now your second marriage is ending, and your current spouse wants you to rework that initial parenting plan in favor of your current family. The good news...
Continue ReadingPosted by Erin Birt | Mar 30, 2016 | 0 Comments
Social media has become the place to share meaningful life occasions such as birthdays, engagements, marriages…and now divorces. ENTER “DIVORCE SELFIES” The growing trend of “divorce selfies” shows newly divorced couples happily together, often outside the courthouse, after finalizing this majo...
Continue ReadingPosted by Erin Birt | Feb 27, 2016 | 0 Comments
Divorce planning for parents with a child in or on route to college includes navigating some potentially difficult issues to ensure the best possible financial aid benefits. According to a recent article by Andrea Williams on USNews.com, there are three specific areas that can affect the child's...
Continue ReadingPosted by Erin Birt | Feb 02, 2016 | 0 Comments
For the past several months, I've been providing information on the new Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act that went into effect on January 1, 2016. Outlined below are a few more important changes from a recent article by P. André Katz and Erin B. Bodendorfer in the Illinois Bar J...
Continue ReadingPosted by Erin Birt | Jan 15, 2016 | 0 Comments
Does the joint parenting agreement from your Illinois divorce need updating? It might, based on several new family and divorce laws taking effect in 2016. Parents who are already divorced or still in the process of divorce planning should be aware of how these changes will affect them and of the...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Dec 09, 2015 | 0 Comments
One often-overlooked challenge of divorce planning is time. In addition to regular life activities, divorcing couples must also research information, complete a variety of documents, meet with their attorneys, and attend any number of court proceedings. Important and necessary as they are, these...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Oct 28, 2015 | 0 Comments
Although it seems unfair, your personal 401(k) retirement plan is considered marital property and, as such, is subject to the same rules as other marital possessions in a divorce. A recent article by Jerry Shaw on NewsMax.com offered advice on how to ensure this asset is shared equitably between ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Sep 29, 2015 | 0 Comments
Although you're not dealing with child custody and visitation issues, a divorce can be just as or even more difficult for grown children than for younger ones. The good news is that there are a few more ways for helping adult children accept your divorce and move on. This post will provide tips ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Aug 25, 2015 | 0 Comments
To get through your divorce with the best concessions in place, hiring a lawyer is always a good idea. To reach those concessions through effective communication and negotiation versus anger and conflict, hiring a lawyer such as a Mediation Consulting Attorney will help you determine those best c...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jul 30, 2015 | 0 Comments
If divorce has been put on the table by you or your spouse, stop and consider one very important thing: Are you truly ready for all the emotional and legal issues that come with divorce planning? Is divorce truly the best solution? This idea is explored in a recent article on Mediate.com titled ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jul 10, 2015 | 0 Comments
Anyone dealing with legal issues, divorce in particular, deserves to have all the information necessary to make the best possible decisions. This can be tricky if you're not a legal professional or can't afford one to help you, but a new Illinois policy will help change this for the better. This ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Mar 27, 2015 | 0 Comments
In an on-going effort to share helpful information for anyone currently or previously involved in Illinois divorce proceedings, here are summaries of two recent cases from the Appellate Court of Illinois concerning paternity and a Motion Regarding Finding No Paternity. REMOVAL OF A CHILD FROM IL...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Mar 20, 2015 | 0 Comments
There are many reasons why it happens, but sometimes a spouse chooses to end a marriage with little or no warning to their significant other. For the unsuspecting party who didn't see it coming, this sudden life change can leave that person shocked, angry and depressed–often meaning they have no ...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Mar 13, 2015 | 0 Comments
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, texting and more) has become a favorite way for people to share information about their lives in real time. However, if you're involved in a divorce and/or child custody case, what you post or text can have a huge effect on the ultimate outcome, and you need to b...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Mar 06, 2015 | 0 Comments
Today's mobile society often creates difficult decisions for divorced parents and their children, particularly when a parent needs to move out of the state where the children reside. Last October, I wrote a blog about the importance and value of collaborative divorce for couples with children, wh...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Feb 25, 2015 | 0 Comments
Many people believe that a divorce mediator will resolve the issues that are stalling their Illinois divorce process. However, successful divorce mediation results from the commitment and involvement of the parties involved in the divorce, not the mediator alone. A recent article by Sandra Crawf...
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Posted by Erin Birt | Jan 21, 2015 | 0 Comments
After a divorce many couples realize that although some decisions looked great on paper, they don't always work in real life. This is particularly true for child custody agreements. Once everyone has actually lived with the agreement, one parent may decide that they would prefer sole custody of ...
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