South Chicago Family Law Blog
Using a parenting plan to avoid disputes
Working together to raise children can be challenging for married couples, let alone those who are divorced. Knowing this, Illinois couples who are still in the process of divorcing would probably benefit from sitting down and carefully designing a parenting plan to...
Should you try to keep negotiating or take your divorce to court?
Most Illinois couples who are ready to end their marriages do not want it to drag on for months or years. They want to get through the divorce process as quickly as possible, so they decide to try to negotiate a settlement. Unfortunately, with all of the emotions the...
Parallel parenting could prevent a child custody battle
Like couples in other parts of the country, many here in Illinois cannot simply turn off their feelings for each other once a judge signs the divorce decree legally ending their marriage. Even so, if they are parents, they need to find a way forward for the sake of...
Mediation could be the answer to child custody issues
Illinois parents whose marriages are coming to an end may readily agree to work together in order to resolve their issues in order to spare the family the stress and conflict of a traditional courtroom divorce. They may make this agreement in order to make sure their...
Dealing with debts in a divorce
These days, most couples, including many here in Illinois, have debts they incurred together during the marriage. Couples divide their debts in a divorce right along with their property. The divorce settlement or decree outlines who is responsible for the payment of...
Avoiding tax penalties when dividing retirement
During marriage, many Illinois couples spend at least some time planning for their golden years. For many, that involves contributing to a 401(k) or earning a pension to fund those plans. If the marriage ends in divorce, the parties will more than likely each have a...
Options for the family home in a divorce
For many Illinois couples, the largest asset they own is the family home. When a couple decides to divorce, the disposition of this particular asset requires a great deal of consideration, especially since few people own their homes outright these days. Even so, the...
The benefits of preparing for divorce before marriage
As Illinois couples prepare to walk down the aisle and pledge themselves to each other forever, the last thing on their minds may be that it could all end. However, the possibility of the marital relationship not working out is there even with the best of starts. For...
Some things to know before deciding on co-parenting
If you feel pressured to co-parent your children because friends, family members and society as a whole seem to think you should, that puts a tremendous amount of pressure on you and the other parent. The fact is that co-parenting is not for all Illinois parents. In...
The benefits of establishing paternity for unmarried couples
The birth of a child is often a joyous experience for Illinois parents. They may spend time talking about the future and imagining the life their child will lead upon reaching adulthood. They think about making memories together and worry about their child’s safety....
