Posted on September 27, 2021 in Divorce

Ending a marriage can turn your entire world upside down. It is no wonder that divorce is considered to be one of the most stress-inducing life experiences a person can go through. Dealing with the legal, financial, practical, and emotional implications of divorce can be overwhelming for anyone.

Divorce coaches are mental health professionals who help divorcing spouses cope with the turmoil of divorce and make sound decisions during the divorce process. If you are thinking about ending your marriage, a divorce coach may help you reduce stress, avoid unnecessary contention, and work toward a favorable divorce outcome.

A Divorce Coach Can Help You Cope with Difficult Emotions

Anyone who has gotten divorced can confirm that the process is rife with emotion. Most divorcing spouses still hold anger and resentment toward each other. There are often years of built-up tension and frustration before a marriage officially ends. If this situation describes you, you may understandably have a hard time making decisions based on logic and reason instead of emotion during your divorce. A divorce coach helps you cope with these difficult feelings in a positive, non-destructive way so the emotions do not harm your chances of a favorable divorce outcome.

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 Posted on September 24, 2021 in Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements

When a couple is planning to get married, divorce is probably the last thing on their mind. When preparing for a life together as partners, a couple usually will not want to think about the possibility of their relationship ending. However, considering this issue can not only help a couple prepare for this unpleasant possibility, but it can also help them identify and address issues that may become a concern in their relationship in the future. After discussing these matters, a couple may find that creating a prenuptial agreement would be a good idea.

Reasons to Sign a Prenup

When creating a prenuptial agreement, or prenup, a couple will make decisions about how certain issues will be handled if their marriage ends, including through divorce, legal separation, or the death of a spouse. This can ensure that they will both have the financial resources they need in such cases, while also allowing them to minimize disputes during the divorce process. A prenup can be beneficial in many situations, including when:

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 Posted on September 20, 2021 in Property Division

There are multiple types of financial issues that can play a role in a divorce case. Determining how to divide marital property in a way that is fair while providing for the needs of both parties can be complicated enough on its own, but in some cases, additional issues may arise that can make this process even more difficult. Asset dissipation in which one spouse wastes or destroys marital property is one factor that may need to be addressed. A person who believes that their spouse has dissipated assets can work with an attorney to ensure that this issue is dealt with properly during the property division process.

Ways a Spouse May Dissipate Assets

Dissipation of assets involves the use of marital property by one spouse in a way that benefits themselves and is not related to their marriage or family. A valid dissipation claim must show that dissipation occurred while the marriage was undergoing an irretrievable breakdown. Some of the most common ways that a spouse may commit asset dissipation include:

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 Posted on September 15, 2021 in Divorce

During a divorce, spouses will often encounter multiple types of disagreements over the various issues that will need to be addressed in order to end their legal partnership. For parents, disputes related to child custody will often be some of the most contentious issues, and spouses may have completely different ideas about how to make decisions regarding their children or expectations about when children will live with each parent. By understanding how Illinois law addresses these issues, parents can determine how to reach workable solutions, or they can prepare to advocate for their rights through litigation in court.

Factors Considered in Child Custody Disputes

Parents are usually encouraged to work together to resolve issues related to their children and create a parenting plan that details how they will share parental responsibilities and parenting time. Parents can make sure they are approaching these negotiations the right way by understanding the factors that courts may consider when making decisions about child-related issues. This can also give them an understanding of what issues a judge may look at if negotiations break down and litigation will be required to resolve these matters.

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 Posted on September 14, 2021 in Divorce

The decision to end your marriage is likely one of the biggest decisions of your life. There is no "undoing" a divorce once it is finalized. Consequently, some states require married spouses to wait a certain amount of time before they can get divorced. Illinois used to have such a requirement; however, there is no longer a mandatory separation period or waiting period for divorce in Illinois. That being said, there are still certain criteria that must be met before you can divorce in Illinois.

Divorce Requirements and the Separation Period

To get divorced in Illinois, you or your spouse must have lived in the state for 90 days or longer. You may divorce in Illinois even if you were not married in the state.

Before changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, spouses also had to live apart for a certain period of time before they were eligible for divorce. In 2021, though, there is no longer a mandatory separation period. Furthermore, there are no longer fault-based grounds for divorce in Illinois. The only reason you can seek a divorce in Illinois is "irreconcilable differences." In other words, you and your spouse simply cannot get along anymore, and you wish to terminate your marriage relationship.

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 Posted on September 10, 2021 in Property Division

Getting a divorce can be a stressful experience, especially if you feel like your life is being completely upended as you separate from your spouse. As you determine how to divide your marital property and address other financial matters, one issue that will need to be resolved is ownership of your family home. Being attached to the home where you have lived is understandable, and you may wish to continue living there after completing your divorce. However, you will want to be sure to understand the ramifications of this decision and make sure you will be positioned for financial success as you move on following the end of your marriage.

Reasons to Keep the Family Home

Maintaining ownership of your home may seem like the ideal outcome in your divorce, especially if you have lived there for a significant time, built connections with others in your community, and want your children to continue to live in the home they have become accustomed to. After spending years making mortgage payments and building equity in your home, you may not want to give up this valuable asset, especially if you have made improvements and put your own personal touch on the property.

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 Posted on September 07, 2021 in Divorce

There are a variety of tax issues that spouses will need to consider when they get a divorce. When parents are divorced or separated, a child can only be claimed as a dependent by one party. In many cases, the custodial parent who has the majority of the parenting time will be able to claim a child, although a couple’s divorce settlement may provide for other arrangements, such as each parent claiming a child in alternating years. The parent who claims a child as a dependent can receive a child tax credit when filing their tax return.

In 2021, this issue has been complicated by a law that provides parents with an Advance Child Tax Credit. Divorced parents or those who are going through the divorce process will need to be sure these tax credits are addressed correctly.

What Is the Advance Child Tax Credit?

As part of the ongoing efforts to provide assistance to people who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has begun making advance payments to taxpayers who will be able to claim a child tax credit for 2021. The total tax credit for children who will be five years old or younger at the end of 2021 is $3,600, and children who will be 17 or younger at the end of 2021 will qualify for a tax credit of $3,000. Half of this total credit is being sent to those who can claim children as dependents in monthly payments from July through December of 2021. Parents will receive $300 per month for each child under the age of six and $250 per month for each child under the age of 18.

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 Posted on September 07, 2021 in Family Law

Prenuptial agreements are marital contracts that cover a wide range of issues. These documents are grossly misunderstood by the general public. Some people assume that prenuptial agreements are only necessary if a spouse intends to get divorced or does not take the marriage seriously. Others assume that if a spouse asks for a prenuptial agreement, he or she plans to take advantage of the other spouse financially. Although these myths are slowly being replaced by facts, it can still be a difficult topic to broach with a fiancé(e).

Wait Until the Right Time to Talk About a Prenup

Prenuptial agreements are increasingly popular among engaged couples, especially couples who own substantial assets or investments or have substantial debts. If you are interested in signing a prenup before tying the knot, you may be unsure of how to bring it up with your partner.

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 Posted on September 01, 2021 in Divorce

If you are getting divorced, you may be completely unsure of what to expect. How long will the divorce take? Will I need to go to court? What steps are involved in the divorce process? Questions like these are important. While there is no way to predict exactly how your divorce case will unfold, educating yourself about the Illinois divorce process will help you prepare for the different possibilities. The "discovery" phase of the divorce involves gathering facts and information using discovery tools such as interrogatories and depositions.

Discovery Depends on the Spouses’ Transparency

Divorcing spouses are asked to fill out a financial disclosure form in which they list assets, income, and other financial data. If both spouses freely disclose accurate financial data and other relevant information, the discovery process involves little more than confirming this information. Unfortunately, in many divorce cases, spouses are not fully transparent about financial issues or other divorce concerns. They may refuse to disclose certain information, hide assets, or lie about parenting matters. Consequently, the spouses’ attorneys must use various legal methods to obtain this information and ensure its accuracy.

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 Posted on August 31, 2021 in Divorce

Marriages can break down for a variety of reasons, but infidelity is one of the most painful and emotionally difficult issues that can lead to divorce. If your marriage is ending because either you or your spouse were unfaithful, you will probably be wondering how this will affect your divorce proceedings. Whether you are struggling to come to terms with your spouse’s infidelity or you are concerned about whether your own behavior during your marriage will play a role in your divorce, you will want to understand how Illinois law applies in your situation.

Addressing Infidelity When Filing for Divorce or Resolving Disputes

Even though the wounds of your broken marriage may still be raw, it is important to understand that the legal process of divorce is not focused on assigning blame for the end of a relationship. When filing for divorce in Illinois, the petitioning spouse will not specify any fault-based grounds for divorce, and they will not give specific reasons for their desire to dissolve the marriage. Instead, a divorce petition will state that irreconcilable differences have led to the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This will allow you and your spouse to approach your divorce on equal terms without any disputes over who was at fault.

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