For many people, divorce mediation can be helpful at opening up channels of communication between parties to air their individual thoughts, desires, and expectations. It can also provide the opportunity for either party to air specific feelings of sadness about the divorce, fears about the futur...
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...
Some divorces are a huge surprise to both the couple and their families. Other can be seen coming from a long way off, well before the wedding. A recent Huffington Post article offered thoughts from counselors and divorce mediators on how to know whether you're really ready for marriage. Here a...
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 ...
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 ...
Hiring the right lawyer can be a critical decision in any legal matter, but it can be invaluable in your divorce planning–especially if the process will include some type of family mediation or collaboration. In a recent article on Mediate.com, mediator Justin Kelsey outlines some effective ques...
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...
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...
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...
Summarized below are two recent court rulings involving spousal maintenance and child custody issues in two Illinois divorce cases. SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE – In re Marriage of Roberts After 37 years of marriage, a public school teacher filed for dissolution of marriage from her husband, a disabled ...
Good lawyers commit themselves to helping their clients in every possible way. While there's great satisfaction in this, there can also be a fair amount of stress that comes along with it. Add any personal issues into the mix, and the pressure can lead to unhealthy coping responses. If you are o...
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...
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...
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...
Post-divorce custodial parents and children looking to relocate inside or outside of Illinois should be aware of new laws and procedures for this situation effective in 2016. There are new Illinois laws for post divorce child relocation. See the brief outline below, and consider reviewing your s...
Illinois parents who are considering or actively involved in divorce proceedings in 2016 should be aware of Parenting Plan Changes for Illinois Divorces. This changes both how Illinois Divorce Attorneys are creating and maintaining a post-divorce parenting plans. Here are the details. NEW FILIN...
Next on the list of 2016 changes to Illinois divorce planning are updates to the Temporary Support laws, affecting both temporary spousal maintenance and temporary child support. This means that temporary financial support hearings will no longer be summary in nature. Rather, the Court will hold ...
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...
Among the specific changes being made to Illinois divorce laws in 2016 are new statues around parentage rights. Key changes in the New Illinois Parentage Laws in 2016 are as follows: New Illinois Parentage Laws NEW PARENTAGE ACT – The Parentage Act of 2015 goes into effect on January 1, 2016, a...
As of January 1, 2016, Illinois will be streamlining the specific grounds one can use to plead for divorce. This won't negate the valid reasons that bring couples to divorce planning, only the way in which a divorce attorney can present them in court. OLD ILLINOIS DIVORCE GROUNDS At this point...
Illinois couples with children who are planning a divorce now or in the near future should note that Illinois divorce laws will change on January 1, 2016. The new Illinois Divorce Act will likely have a significant impact on how your divorce is ultimately resolved. Learn in this post how the new ...
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 ...
The HuffPost Divorce page recently presented advice from readers/bloggers on how they made their divorce process and co-parenting situations a bit easier to handle. These are all fairly simple suggestions, yet they can create amazingly beneficial results. This post will reveal the best advice on ...
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 ...
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...
Birt Family Law is committed to keeping the separating family out of court and working together towards a positive resolution.
