Posted on September 05, 2024 in Family Law

It has become somewhat common practice to sign a prenuptial agreement. Not everyone signs one, but almost everyone has heard of one. However, even though a prenup can have a serious impact on your financial future, some people sign it without truly wanting to. Maybe their future in-laws gave them an ultimatum to pressure them into signing it. Perhaps they lacked the knowledge to fully understand that they were signing a document their spouse’s family lawyer drew up that unfairly represented the spouse’s interests. 

If you signed a prenup that you did not want to, it might not have seemed like a big deal at the time because you were sure you would live happily ever after. Unfortunately, most people do not anticipate divorce when they are planning their wedding, and many people find themselves in divorce proceedings with a prenup that they were never comfortable with. If you fall under this category, speak with an experienced Kane County, IL divorce lawyer to review your options.

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 Posted on August 29, 2024 in Divorce

There is no arguing that a divorce can sometimes seem like one enormous, horrible fight that hurts not only the spouses involved but also their children. But some couples can feel they should not be married and still want to avoid hurting each other. Once the divorce is finalized, parents still need to be involved in each other’s lives as they continue to raise their children, and that can be extremely challenging following a high-conflict divorce. When two people share the understanding that they can work together instead of against each other so that each can leave with a divorce settlement and parenting plan they can feel comfortable with, it can make a big difference. If you are your spouse do not consider yourselves enemies and are willing to take a less combative approach to ending your marriage, speak with a seasoned Kane County, IL divorce lawyer about an amicable divorce.

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 Posted on August 26, 2024 in Child Custody

Parents going through a divorce often fight when both want the most time with their children. Bitter custody battles can be a painful experience, but it can become even more traumatic if one parent decides to take impulsive action. In Illinois, if a parent violates the visitation schedule, they can be charged for parental abduction. If your child’s other parent might try to take them away from you, speak with a skilled Kane County, IL child custody attorney to hear your options.

 How Does Illinois Handle Parental Kidnapping?

Illinois courts prefer granting both parents some amount of visitation and parental rights. Even if one parent has primary custody, the courts try to ensure the other parent is involved in the child’s life. Unfortunately, some parents take their children without the authority to do so.

In addition to the emotional trauma of parental abduction, there are legal consequences. If a parent violates their parenting plan, they could face serious charges and consequences. According to Illinois law, the other parent can be convicted of parental abduction or kidnapping if they intentionally violate your custody order or intentionally hide your child or keep them away from you without your permission if you do not have a custody order. The charges they might face include:

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 Posted on August 21, 2024 in Child Support

This month, Illinois is marking Child Support Awareness Month by celebrating some newly launched initiatives aimed at helping parents and children across the state. By bringing attention to new efforts and improvements in how child support is handled, this awareness month places special focus on a legal issue that affects so many people. Child support can be an essential lifeline to parents after divorce by ensuring their financial ability to raise their children. If you have questions about child support, speak with a qualified Kane County, IL divorce lawyer to learn more.

New Child Support Initiatives in Illinois

With child support being such an important issue, the state of Illinois is introducing several new initiatives to improve how it works, including:

• Better online services: A new online portal has been launched to make it easier for parents to manage their child support payments. Parents can easily check their payment history, update their information, and even make payments directly online, making child support payments more convenient and accessible.

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 Posted on August 15, 2024 in Child Custody

We are all familiar with that image of the family that has made it and accomplished the American dream: a mom and dad with a few kids playing happily in the front yard of their home with its white picket fence. Unfortunately, the reality for many people is quite different. Raising children can be challenging, and making a decent living to provide them with a safe and healthy environment can be very hard. If someone becomes a parent while struggling with issues like addiction, mental health conditions, or financial instability, they might find that they are unable to focus on the child’s needs in the way a parent needs to. While it is quite rare, there are some times when a grandparent can be granted custody over children in Illinois. If you have significant concerns for the safety and well-being of your grandchild, speak with a qualified St. Charles, IL child custody lawyer to review your options.

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 Posted on August 09, 2024 in Family Law

More and more kids are creating their own social media platforms and content channels and are gaining their own followings. These child influencers often appear in videos, pictures, or live streams and tend to include child-related topics like product and food reviews, vacation diaries, and daily life vlogs. If you are a parent of a child influencer in Illinois, there are laws you should know about that can affect you and your child. If you have questions about issues like privacy, income, and working hours for young social media stars, speak with a knowledgeable Kane County, IL family law attorney to find out more.

Laws and Regulations Related to Child Influencers

Illinois law includes several responsibilities that parents or other legal guardians of child influencers need to abide by. These include:

• Protecting privacy: Illinois has strict privacy laws to protect children. If your child is an influencer, you need to be careful about any personal information about them that is shared online. You should avoid posting your child’s address, school name, or other private details that could be misused. The Illinois Children’s Privacy Law helps protect kids’ personal information online, and it is important to follow these rules to keep your child safe.

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 Posted on August 07, 2024 in Domestic Violence

According to various reports, domestic violence deaths increased in Illinois by 110% in the year 2023. This troubling fact highlights the need for serious legal protection and support for victims. This is a real issue affecting families and communities and it needs real responses. This article will explain some legal measures that are already in place to help victims of domestic violence. If you are a victim and need legal advice, speak with a knowledgeable and compassionate St. Charles, IL family law attorney who can guide you at this difficult time.

Restraining Orders to Combat Domestic Violence

Legal measures exist to protect victims and prevent further violence. An order of protection, commonly known as a restraining order, is one of them. This legal order can help keep abusers away and provide safety for victims by imposing physical restrictions on where they can be in relation to their victims. It can include rules like prohibiting the abuser from contacting or coming near the victim or going to the victim’s school, work, or home.

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 Posted on July 31, 2024 in Child Custody

Homeschooling, once a fringe alternative to public and private schools, has become the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. At least five million K-12 children in the U.S., or 11.1 percent, are educated at home. Homeschooling has exploded since the pandemic, particularly among minorities. 

However, there are still plenty of parents who feel homeschooling is not the right move for their child. Home education can thus become a thorny disagreement for divorced parents who have opposing views on the subject. Ultimately, the decision will depend on how the parental responsibilities are divided, which this article will discuss. Consult an Illinois child custody attorney if you have disagreements with your ex-spouse that may affect your child.

What Are Parental Responsibilities?

There are two components to child custody. There is physical custody, which Illinois law calls parenting time, and there is legal custody, which Illinois law calls parental responsibilities. Parental responsibilities refer to a parent’s obligation to make major decisions for the child, namely in the following three areas:

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 Posted on July 25, 2024 in Children and Divorce

Going through a divorce and adjusting to life afterward is usually challenging for both spouses. While you may seek support for yourself, it is important to remember that the divorce process can have even more difficult effects on your minor children. A child’s emotional confusion and turmoil is often expressed through changes in behavior.

Understanding the underlying causes of these behavioral issues can help you address them more effectively. Co-parents need to be consistent to increase their chances of successfully dealing with and eliminating their child’s unhealthy behaviors. The right Kane County, IL child custody lawyer can help you draft a comprehensive parenting plan that establishes parental responsibilities and clear communication methods for parents to discuss issues involving your child.

Why Do Children’s Behaviors Sometimes Change During Divorce?

Children have specific needs, and divorce often disrupts their lives. Some of these needs change as children grow, so a child’s age is an important factor in behavioral changes. Many children are unable to process the confusion, stress, and emotional turmoil that often accompanies divorce. When internal processing is not possible, children may express their feelings through changes in behavior, such as:

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 Posted on July 22, 2024 in Divorce

When people think of the divorce process, they often imagine arguing their case before a judge. This is called litigation, and it is considered a traditional way to dissolve a marriage. It is also, however, considered a last resort. A court battle between two divorcing parties can be extremely costly and time-consuming, which may be why only five percent of divorces end up in litigation.

Most divorces are settled out of court in a process called alternative dispute resolution. There are two main types of alternative dispute resolution used for divorce settlements:

• Mediation

• Collaborative divorce

While mediation is more common, collaborative divorce is also rising in popularity. Both are best done with the help of an Illinois divorce attorney. This article will discuss what collaborative divorce is and its pros and cons.

What Is Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce is a private divorce process in which the attorneys for each side work together to try to reach a settlement. Each lawyer may hire teams of experts as needed, professionals who are neutral parties and can assist in certain areas. For example, one of the attorneys may retain a child development expert to shed light on a child custody issue. The other might bring in a forensic accountant to find hidden marital assets.

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