St. Charles Stay-at-Home Parent Divorce Attorneys

Divorce Lawyers for Stay-at-Home Parents in Kane County

Dissolving a marriage is a stressful experience for anyone, but for stay-at-home parents, the divorce process can have additional worries. When one parent has left the workforce to take care of the home and family, getting a divorce can cause significant anxiety. Stay-at-home parents often worry about how they will be able to take care of themselves and their children when they no longer have a spouse who earns income to support the family.

At the Kane County divorce law firm of Goostree Law Group, we are skilled in representing stay-at-home parents in the divorce process. Our experienced divorce attorneys provide personalized counsel and representation with a focus on protecting our clients' rights and interests.

Marital Property and Stay-at-Home Parents

Stay-at-home parents often have anxieties around the property division process when getting a divorce. They may fear that a failure to contribute financially to the marriage will put them in at a disadvantage when it is time to divide assests. However, the law does not differentiate between stay-at-home spouses and working spouses when dissolving a marriage. Any assets that are acquired by either spouse during the marriage (with a few exceptions) are considered marital property that are subject to division in a divorce. Illinois is an equitable distribution state, which means that marital property must be divided fairly between both spouses.

Alimony/Maintenance and Stay-at-Home Parents

When one spouse has been absent from the workforce for a significant amount of time to be a stay-at-home parent, immediately returning to the workforce is not always a realistic option. In many cases, the income-earning spouse will be ordered to pay alimony/maintenance to the stay-at-home parent. In Illinois, the amount of maintenance due is determined by a statutory formula, and the duration of the award is dependent on the length of the marriage. Receiving maintenance may provide a stay-at-home parent with the time and opportunity to gain the education and/or training to return to the workforce and earn a sustaining income. Our attorneys are experienced in arguing for the necessity of maintenance for our clients who are stay-at-home parents.

Child Custody and Support and Stay-at-Home Parents

The best interests of the child are the most important factor in deciding child custody matters. In many cases, a stay-at-home parent will be awarded primary physical custody of the child(ren). Since that parent had previously been the primary caregiver for the child, they may have most of the parenting time after the couple's divorce to ensure that children's lives are disrupted as little as possible. In most cases, a stay-at-home parent who has the majority of the parenting time with the couple's children will receive child support in addition to spousal support. To determine the amount of child support, Illinois uses a statutory formula that takes the income earned by both parents into consideration.

Contact Our St. Charles Divorce Attorneys for Stay-at-Home Parents

If you are a stay-at-home parent, and you are considering a divorce or are currently involved in divorce proceedings, contact us at 630-584-4800 to schedule a free consultation. We will answer all of your questions and walk you through what you can expect during your divorce. Our firm works with clients throughout Northern Illinois, including Kane County and the surrounding areas.