When you think of courts ruling against one parent or another for child custody, you might automatically think of a couple of scenarios. These scenarios may include drug use, neglect or even abuse. Proving that a parent engages in these harmful behaviors may help children find their way to the safer living situation. However, some cases of child custody involve harmful allegations about disability. It might feel overwhelming if your spouse claims that your disability rules out your possibility as a parent. Disabilities in parenting According to the National Council on Disability, there are app ..read more

It is often hard for people to focus on anything outside of their situations when going through highly stressful or traumatic times, such as divorce. Despite this, people must still attend work and make a living. Thus, it is important to know how to continue attending to these daily tasks while coping with divorce. Tell the manager Chron discusses steps to take when dealing with personal problems at work. First, consider alerting the manager. It is possible for the stress of divorce to negatively impact a worker’s performance. If their supervisor understands the circumstances behind these chan ..read more

When you have a child with someone in Illinois and the two of you were not in a marriage, you need to establish paternity if you wish to either collect child support or secure parenting time for that child. There are several different ways to establish paternity in Illinois, and doing so offers numerous benefits for the child at the center of the matter. Per the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the state automatically considers parents involved in civil unions or marriages at the time of a baby’s birth to be the child’s valid, legal parents. Otherwise, the presumed father ..read more

When the romantic relationship ends between you and your son or daughter’s other parent in Illinois, you need to come up with a plan for raising your child together while living in separate homes. The state requires that you and your ex submit a parenting plan that outlines the terms you agree to follow when it comes to raising the child you share. Per the Illinois General Assembly, the state requires that you cover certain areas in the parenting plan you submit. In the event that you and your ex are unable to come to terms with the contents of your parenting plan, you have the option of havin ..read more

Decisions about who should get custody of a child are often difficult in divorce cases. When one parent has a substance abuse problem, custody can be even more complicated. Does substance abuse affect child custody in Illinois? How substance abuse can affect child custody Illinois law allows courts to restrict the parenting time and responsibilities of a parent whose substance abuse puts a child’s physical, moral or mental health or emotional development at risk. Courts may order the parent to avoid using or possessing illegal substances before and during parenting time. The court may require ..read more

Navigating child custody issues during and after your divorce can be complex. As you and your former spouse experience life changes and learn to co-parent, you might want to modify your child custody situation. Fortunately, there are legal ways to change your child custody agreement in Illinois. Awarding custody in Illinois Illinois courts strive to award custody in a manner that supports the best interest of the children involved. Judges consider the preferences of the parents and children as well as the family dynamics. In general, courts try to avoid splitting siblings and want to allow bot ..read more

As you head toward divorce, you may have many questions about how a judge might divide your assets. In addition to your own financial security, you may worry about how you will continue to provide for your children. In Illinois, the courts divide shared marital assets according to a rule of “equitable distribution”. However, a judge may not divide property that either of you owns separately. 1. Marital property is subject to division Under Illinois law, assets that either you or your spouse earned or obtained during your marriage are marital property and subject to division during your divorce ..read more

Divorce is difficult, but it does not always have to be a high-conflict process. There are many reasons why you and your ex may be choosing divorce, but it is also possible to choose peace during the process. It is possible to have a calm and equitable divorce process. According to marriage.com, it is advisable to have peaceable conversations with your spouse, and to get organized before and during the process. Speak calmly and thoughtfully If it is possible, make sure to have several serious conversations with your partner throughout the divorce process. Keep your voice low and calm, even if ..read more

The majority of Americans are on social media. Social media has improved the lives of many, making it easier to communicate with friends, family and even strangers both near and far. However, social media also has a number of pitfalls. Particularly if you are going through a divorce, you should be very careful with your social media use. In fact, according to Psychology Today, it is generally best practice to delete your social media during a divorce. The benefits of deleting social media For many, the temptation to vent anger on social media during a divorce is strong. While it is wise to “un ..read more

Joint custody has largely gotten touted over the years for its numerous helpful benefits for children of divorce. Studies across the board show that it helps with various things like the development of healthy coping mechanisms. But does this option suit every family well? Or would some families be better off choosing something else? Necessary levels of cooperation Psychology Today brings attention to the numerous benefits associated with joint custody. However, these benefits often depend on several factors. It starts with how well parents can get along after the split. Of course, it is not r ..read more