A fresh look at what happens to pets in Illinois divorce cases. This 2025 update explains how courts handle pet ownership under current law, why visitation isn't enforceable, and how mediation offers practical solutions for pet lovers.
Summer offers a unique window to begin the divorce process quietly, thoughtfully, and without court pressure. In this post, we explore why starting during the slower months can benefit both parents and children—before the busy school year returns.
Wondering what to do if your spouse refuses mediation? Discover how the Restorative Divorce™ process can help you navigate conflict and find a peaceful resolution for your family
Divorce creates turmoil for the entire family, but children struggle with different issues and emotions depending on their ages. Books on divorce for children allow children to work through issues and see that they are not alone.
Parents of Chicago-area kids, tweens, and teens preparing for a gender transition and those who are post-transition should understand the legal challenges involved with custody issues and a formal name change. Birt Law has all the answers, including a couple of resources for Chicago LGBTQ minors in this informative post.
Child custody exchanges between parents can be happy, peaceful, awkward, or downright horrible, depending on the relationship or issues between you and your ex-spouse. Family mediation might be needed in very difficult situations, but below are some general tips to make safe and stress free child...
Your divorce planning is done and your final divorce hearing, or Prove Up Hearing, has arrived. This is when the divorcing parties formally request that the judge approve the terms of their settlement, enter a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage, and finalize the case. Below are some tips for y...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
Birt Family Law is committed to keeping the separating family out of court and working together towards a positive resolution.
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