Category: Family Law

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein.

Status Date in Illinois Divorce
Cook County Law

What Is A Status Call In An Illinois Divorce?

Most court cases involve a moment in time: a crime was allegedly committed or an accident happened. A divorce, however, is an evolving situation. Because of the ongoing nature of a divorce case, the courts require frequent check-ins to ensure that the parties and their children (if applicable) are cooperating with the court’s requirements and

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Divorce in foreign country vs. Illinois
Family Law

Divorce In A Foreign Country And In Illinois

Divorce laws are different all over the world. It can be tempting for a party to an Illinois divorce to say “I don’t like the divorce laws in Illinois. So, I’ll just file for divorce somewhere else.” Filing a divorce in a foreign country may or may not have an impact on any divorce filings

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Legal harassment in an Illinois divorce
Family Law

Harassment And Divorce In Illinois

People who are getting divorced do not like each other. That dislike can sometimes manifest into behavior that can be characterized as harassment. Harassment exists on a spectrum from physical violence to mere annoyance. “Harassment is the result of intentional acts which cause another person to be worried, anxious, or uncomfortable. Harassment can therefore occur

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Talking To Spouse During Divorce
Divorce

Can You Talk To Your Spouse During An Illinois Divorce?

Divorce is the end of a relationship but the relationship is rarely truly over. During a divorce, the marriage is still unwinding as parties arrange schedules with their children, divide assets and debts and arrange for support. During the divorce, the parties may have their own divorce attorneys who communicate with each other regarding the

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QILDRO Divorce
Divorce

What is a QILDRO in an Illinois Divorce?

There are so many acronyms in Illinois family law: HFS, MSA, OC, QDRO, QILDRO. It’s hard to keep track of terms that are only relevant in an Illinois divorce…while you’re in the middle of an Illinois divorce. What is a QILDRO? “”Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Order” or “QILDRO” means an Illinois court order that creates

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Cohabitation Agreements In Illinois
Family Law

Cohabitation Agreements In Illinois

Update: Illinois may be passing the the Uniform Cohabitants’ Economic Remedies Act, which would render all of the below wrong/irrelevant. People are getting married a lot less but they’re living together as couples without being married. How can these couples memorialize their living arrangement? How can couples buy property together and later divide those purchases

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Facebook posts in divorce court
Divorce

Social Media Evidence And Divorce In Illinois

Social media; Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, etc., has changed everything. Like a giant wall of public graffiti, social media has exposed everyone’s inner most thoughts (if they cared to share them) to the world. These thoughts can later be screenshot, printed and presented as evidence in any kind of court case…and they come up

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Foreign Service Illinois Divorce
Divorce

How To Serve An Overseas Spouse In An Illinois Divorce

Married couples drift apart. Some married couples literally drift oceans apart to the point where they are no longer in the same country. When the member of the couple that is an Illinois resident files for divorce, that person needs to serve their overseas spouse in order in order for the Illinois court to have

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W2 divorce
Discovery

How To Read A W-2 In An Illinois Divorce

In almost every Illinois divorce financial documents will be exchanged between the parties. This exchange always includes the parties’ taxes, which may have been filed together. The tax return usually tells 90% of a divorcing party’s financial story in regards to income. Understanding a spouse’s income may not be possible by reviewing their income tax

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Living with new boyfriend or girlfriend after divorce
Divorce

Cohabitation And Divorce In Illinois

People get divorced but the marriage is rarely their last relationship. I will joke with my clients that “love is waiting for you” during the darkest hours of the divorce process. A year later, I’ll see them on the street with their new boyfriend or girlfriend. Getting into a new relationship either during or after

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