Benefits of Getting Married Young

 Posted on November 25, 2013 in Divorce

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Childhood Photo Characteristics Linked To Divorce Likelihood

 Posted on November 22, 2013 in Divorce

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Tips for Writing Your Prenup

 Posted on November 18, 2013 in Divorce

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More American Children Living With Grandparents

 Posted on November 14, 2013 in Divorce

More and more grandparents in America are “stepping up to help their adult children raise kids,” according to a recent study reported by the Huffington Post. The research was conducted by US 2010, a project that tracks changes in American society. Its findings correspond to a similar study conducted by the Pew Research Center that recently found that “7.7 million U.S. children—one in 10—were living in the same household as one of their grandparents in 2011.” In several of these cases, it’s not as if the grandparent was living with their adult child, having moved in so that their child could help with the ageing process. In most of these cases a single parent had moved back into his or her parents’ home. According to the Huffington Post AARP expert Amy Goyer told the Washington Post that. “grandparents have always been a safety net… adding that nearly 20 percent of grandparents with grandchildren in the house are living below the poverty line.” The 2007–2008 recession added to the number of children living with grandparents across the country, according to the Huffington Post. The study conducted by US 2010 also found that “almost one-third of grandmothers who live with their grandchildren are the primary caregivers.” The percentage of children living with grandparents increased depending on race and socioeconomic status. “Black and Hispanic grandmothers are more likely than white grandmothers to live with grandchildren and black grandmothers are more likely than Hispanic grandmothers to be the primary caregivers,” according to the Huffington Post. It’s not just in opening their homes that grandparents are helping parents out raising children, either. According to a 2012 Reuters report, “the AARP reported that a quarter [of grandparents surveyed] spent more than $1,000 a year on their grandkids, with 37 percent saying that they helped cover daily living costs.” Grandparental visitation and grandparents’ rights are an important aspect of family law, whether the child is living with the grandparent or not. If someone in your family has gone through a divorce and you’re curious about your rights as a grandparent, don’t go through it alone. Seek the counsel of a qualified family law attorney today.

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Norwegian Initiative to Curb Divorce: Date

 Posted on November 11, 2013 in Divorce

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Long-Term Separation vs. Divorce

 Posted on November 07, 2013 in Divorce

For many divorcing couples, a long-term separation may seem like the ideal way to warm up to the idea of marriage dissolution and determine if it’s really the best move for you and your partner. According to The New York Times, long-term separation works very well for some couples experiencing marital trouble. For one couple, John Frost and his wife, they see no need to divorce though they don’t even live in the same city. “Since separating we get along better than we ever have,” Frost told the Times. They still file joint tax returns and she’s still covered by his insurance. “To tie a bow around it would only make it uglier,” he says. “When people ask me about my relationship status, I usually just say ‘it’s complicated. I like my wife, I just can’t live with her.’” During the Great Recession of 2008, according to the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, “among those who were considering a divorce prior to the recession, a large minority of couples say the recession caused them to postpone or put aside divorce.” This meant that more unhappy couples were living together than ever before because they had no other option—but it also meant that many couples were opting for legal or long-term separation rather than divorce to save on divorce costs. Surprisingly, less than 30 percent of surveyed couples said that the recession brought financial stress to their marriage, which means that most couples that divorced during the recession likely were headed in that direction anyway. The idea that a long-term trial separation before a divorce is a good idea may not be true for everyone, however. According to Forbes, “without a formal legal agreement that defines its terms, long-term separation can be a recipe for financial disaster.” This is especially the case for women. According to Forbes, reasons that a long-term separation without divorce can be disastrous include (but are not limited to):

• An opportunity for the primary earner spouse to hide assets

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Cohabitation and the Termination of Maintenance Payments

 Posted on November 03, 2013 in Alimony / Maintenance

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Equitable Property Distribution in Illinois

 Posted on October 25, 2013 in Divorce

When divorcing, there are several factors that come into play. One of the more complicated processes of divorce—an aspect that has long-reaching effects well beyond divorce proceedings—is the distribution of property. Generally, anything acquired during the marriage, regardless of which partner’s name the purchase was in, is considered marital property and is liable to be split evenly. Yet states all have their own rules when it comes to property division after divorce, and, according to the Huffington Post, this matters. Most states, Illinois included, “use a set of rules called equitable distribution to divide a couple’s assets.” While this places “considerable power in the judge,” a fallible human being who happens to be presiding over that particular divorce, this is what most people consider the fairest way to divide marital property.

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How To Handle A Child Support Appeal Hearing In Illinois

 Posted on October 22, 2013 in Divorce

If the department managing child support has handed down a decision in your case that you do not agree with, you can appeal via a written request to the department within the time frame listed in your notice by working with your family law attorney. When you receive your notice, keep track of the contact information and dates listed in that documentation. Staying on top of the dates and being prepared goes a long way towards getting you a fair child support appeal hearing. You can only request an appeal or a change in child support amounts when there are significant circumstances in your life or the life of the child that warrant such a change. For example, a job loss or a reduction in income for the non-custodial parent is an adequate reason for an appeal. If you do appeal for an additional hearing, the review of your request will depend on submitted documentation. Some examples of commonly submitted documents include an amended or new court order and copies of any circuit clerk payment ledgers that have not previously been provided by you. Crafting a letter to the department will initiate your appeal hearing. You must include the reason you are appealing and details about the initial finding from the department. When you submit these documents, be sure to include our name, Social Security number, the name of the custodial parent, the order docket number, and your child support case number (this one starts with a “C”). These details should be included in any communication and documentation send to the child support department. If you are missing some of the documents needed to start your appeal, do not hesitate to send in what you have already, since the time frame for appealing is a firm deadline and could terminate your option to appeal at all if you do not adhere to it. Going through a child support case, and especially finding out that the determination obtained is not what you were expecting, can be difficult. Knowing the steps in a child support case and determination is important for putting your mind at ease. If child support will be an issue for you, contact an experienced Kane County family law attorney today to schedule a consultation about a child support appeal.

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Growing Trend May Lead to Child Support Filing

 Posted on October 18, 2013 in Divorce

Premarital cohabitation is growing trend among couples in the United States. While this trend may not always lead to wedded bliss, it can result in pregnancy. And, if the couple decides to split, one or both parents may eventually file for child support. Between 2006 and 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted The National Survey of Family Growth, and interviewed 12,279 women. The survey focused on the “trends and patterns in first premarital cohabitations among women aged 15–44 in the United States.” Nearly half of the women interviewed chose premarital cohabitation over marriage. Close to 20 percent reported a pregnancy within a year of moving in, for the first time, with a significant other. The survey also noted that 27 percent of the cohabitation unions ended within the first three years. While premarital cohabitation is one example that can result in procreation, it is not the only one. A pregnancy can occur under several circumstances, and when the parents are not together, one or both may eventually file for child support. Once a parent files, the other parent “may be required to attend a hearing and testify to a variety of questions,” as indicated by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The hearing, conducted by the child support services department or a judge in court, will require the non-filing parent to answer a series of questions. Child Support Questions May Include:

• Marital status

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