Category Archives: Divorce
Estate Planning During a Divorce Proceeding
Our divorcing clients have a range of estate planning needs, but some issues arise for nearly everyone whose marriage is ending. So be prepared to look into the following five estate-planning tasks. Changing beneficiary designations. These include removing your soon-to-be ex as beneficiary of your life insurance policies, individual retirement accounts, land trusts, and… Read More »
Resources For Children Facing Divorce
Divorce is a difficult situation for every member of a family. Children of divorced parents must deal with many adjustments in their lives. For instance, a child may have to move to a different home or attend a different school in order to live with a particular parent. In short, major changes take place… Read More »
Family Law – 2017 Year in Review
Collaborative practice codified It’s been used for nearly three decades in more than two dozen countries and every state in the U.S. But starting January 1, 2018, the interdisciplinary model of conflict resolution known as collaborative law will be formally codified here through the Illinois Collaborative Process Act. Used most often in family law… Read More »
Social Security and Divorce
How is Social Security Affected by Divorce? According to Federal statute, Social Security benefits are not divisible in divorce proceedings, and therefore cannot be considered a marital asset subject to distribution. However, federal law does not prohibit the division of pension benefits that are received in lieu of Social Security. In some jurisdictions, courts… Read More »
Who Gets Fido in your Divorce?
How Do You Decide Who Gets the Family Pets? Effective January 1st 2018, a new Illinois divorce law will let a judge decide who is the best parent for the family pet. Previously, companion animals were treated like furniture in a divorce. They were divided up between the splitting couple as part of the… Read More »
Name Change After Divorce and a Better Approach to Maintenance
Family Law and Divorce Changes for 2018 On September 22, 2017, HB 2537 became Public Act 100-0520: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=100-0520&GA=100. This new bill makes changes to the Code of Civil Procedure and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), which has been the subject of a major overhaul in the past few years. The… Read More »
Email Service of Legal Documents in Divorce Cases
The Law of Email Service Effective on July 1st 2017, email service is required and the death bell has rung for service by fax. Faxing documents is no longer the proper method for serving them. In addition, attorneys must now include an email address when they themselves can be served with documents on all… Read More »