Most people think that divorce is a long, drawn-out process that takes years to be finalized. The truth is that with some practical planning and professional assistance, it is possible to have your DuPage County divorce completed quickly and with a minimal amount of stress. Therefore, this post w...
Divorce is often the best solution for a troubled marriage–but what if one spouse is not ready to accept that conclusion or one party simply wants to make the divorce process long and difficult out of spite or anger? Some couples spend months negotiating a settlement for an amicable divorce in Il...
Illinois couples dealing with adultery should know that it is not used in an Illinois divorce court except in very specific circumstances. In other words, it's often not relevant unless there are children involved or funds are being used to support the affair. This post will focus on Is Adultery ...
People dealing with divorce or mental health issues have a great deal on their plates. Whether I'm working out a parenting plan through divorce mediation or performing addiction counseling, I love helping my clients find the path to a new (and hopefully happier) life. When asked, my clients are ...
For divorced couples and their families, Thanksgiving can be anything but a day of celebration. While it may always be a difficult day, creating new traditions can eventually help Thanksgiving to again become a special rather than a dreaded time of year. Thanksgiving Traditions After Divorce: H...
One of the most difficult issues for divorcing couples in Illinois is how to handle the debt that has been accumulated during the marriage. It is definitely not as simple as “handing it off” to one party or the other. This post will focus on Resolving Divorce Debt Issues Through Mediation. While...
Custody issues in divorce are no longer just about children. As shown in a recent web article, hostile and passionate battles are now often fought over placement and/or visitation rights for pets in many divorce cases. This is another situation where divorce mediation can find a solution that wor...
Divorcing and divorced couples with children have a little extra planning to do for the holiday season; namely, when and where those children will connect with each parent for holiday visitations. If not thought out well in advance, issues with visitation schedules can increase everyone's stress ...
From online law companies to firms like the Law Firm of Erin N. Birt, PC, there are many ways to get legal services in DuPage County and Illinois as a whole. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know which option will provide the best results for your particular situation. Here are some impo...
When couples find it difficult to agree on the legal aspects of their separation or divorce because of ongoing conflict or emotional issues, divorce mediation is a proven way for both parties to come to terms on the issues that matter most to each of them. This post will focus on how Divorce Med...
Ask many divorced people about their experience of the process, and you'll likely hear that it was just too much–too much aggravation, too much time, too much money. Even uncontested divorce, where both parties have reached an agreement before going to court, can be time-consuming, expensive and ...
Anyone who has gone through a divorce will agree that it's one of life's most challenging experiences, with lots of opportunity for conflict and contention. But rather than fighting, how would it be to actually talk out the issues and come to a compromise that all parties can accept? Believe it o...
The November issue of the DCBA Brief is out. DuPage County Family Law Attorneys Erin Birt and Elizabeth Chacko co-authored the articleThe Changing Role of the Tender Years Doctrine: Gender Bias, Parenthood, and Illinois Law” in this months DCBA Brief. Click here to read the article on page 26. ...
During 2013 – 2014, Erin Birt will serve as the Vice -Chair of the DuPage County Bar Association's Child Advocacy Committee. The committee will organize and present on various topics such as child custody evaluations, juvenile criminal matters, juvenile probation matters, contested adoption matt...
Illinois Collaborative Law Attorneys and Collaborative Professionals continue to work hard to pass the Illinois Uniform Collaborative Law Act (“UCLA”). The Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee will be holding hearings on 3/19/13 and 3/20/13 on the pending UCLA bi...
T. Boone Pickens endorses Collaborative Divorce as a beneficial divorce method that saved him several million and “keeps everything on a high level, everyone cooperating.” The Dallas Business Journal published the following: “Billionaire T. Boone Pickens is clearly a man who knows a good deal...
Is a Collaborative Divorce right for us? An Illinois Collaborative Divorce or Collaborative Family Law Services are beneficial for families with unique circumstances that do not fit a “one size fits all” approach often used by courts, families that do not want to duke it out in court, families th...
Yesterday, while sitting in divorce court, I observed a woman, representing herself, engaged in a hearing with a divorce attorney. She obviously researched her issue and came to court with her organized binder, however, she unfortunately did not understand the true legal issue before the court an...
We wanted to update you on the Upcoming Presentations by Erin Birt. Erin will be presenting on the topic of Substance Abuse and the Family in Collaborative Divorce on the following dates: ~January 17, 2013 for the members of the Western Suburban Practice Group for the Collaborative Law Institute...
The Illinois Uniform Collaborative Law Act was introduced December 5, 2012 in the Illinois Senate under Senate Bill (SB) #3943. Illinois is one step closer to having the UCLA passed. Why is this important? Members of The Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois explain, “The Uniform Collaborat...
An Illinois Collaborative Divorce can be utilized to help families in many ways. It can be an opportunity to help families coping with life events that are not often handled in the best manner by a court of law. This post will focus on Illinois Collaborative Divorce & Substance Abuse Counselor ...
In Illinois, a new alternative approach to combative divorce is Collaborative Divorce. What makes Collaborative Divorce different? As you can guess, this post will focus on the basics of What Makes Collaborative Divorce Different. What Makes Illinois Collaborative Divorce Different: Respectful D...
In Illinois, couples have several options for divorce. One option often used in Cook County, DuPage County, and Kane County, is Collaborative Divorce. So what is Collaborative Divorce? What is a Collaborative Divorce in Illinois? Alternative Approach to Divorce from Litigation Collaborative Div...
An Illinois Collaborative Divorce is a proactive alternative dispute resolution that may include several Illinois Collaborative Team members. This post will focus on the Illinois Collaborative Divorce: The Proactive Team. The Illinois Collaborative Team: *Illinois Collaborative Lawyer: A Illin...
A child friendly Illinois divorce option is one that minimizes the need for court involvement & litigation and utilizes child specialists when needed. Resolving family disputes privately and efficiently is the best option for families with children. The Law Firm of Erin N. Birt, P.C. offers sev...
Birt Family Law is committed to keeping the separating family out of court and working together towards a positive resolution.
