Posted on August 23, 2017 in Child Support

When parents end their marriage in divorce, the parent who retains primary custody of the couple’s children usually receives child support from the other parent. For the past several decades, the law in Illinois determined the amount of these child support payments using a straightforward calculation. The paying parent would be obligated to pay a percentage of their net income based on the number of children being supported. However, this method no longer addresses the financial realities of many families, since both parents now typically earn an income and contribute to their children’s care.

Illinois recently modified its child support law to reflect these changing realities, and these changes went into effect on July 1, 2017. Under the new law, child support obligations will be based on both parents’ incomes, and the amount of parenting time and parental responsibility each parent has will also be taken into account.

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 Posted on July 28, 2017 in Divorce

Wedding vows are easy to say when the day is beautiful and everything goes according to plan. When people make the statement “I promise, in sickness and in health,” they usually envision a common cold, in which their significant other looks miserable and needs some extra attention, tissues, and soup. However, the intention behind this statement is much deeper. What if something unimaginable happens to the person standing in front of you? Will you love them through the countless hospital visits, the emotional meltdowns, and the monumental medical bills? Unfortunately, when it comes down to it, the stress can become too much to handle, and many marriages end in divorce.

The Statistics

A 2015 study followed over 2,700 marriages for almost two full decades, making a note of every divorce, illness, and death. The study followed couples in which one of the partners was at least 51 years of age when the study began. A few of the results were as follows:

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 Posted on June 16, 2017 in Divorce

Preparing for divorce is often an overwhelming task, especially when the end of your marriage seems to have happened suddenly, without much warning. Although many marriages tend to dissolve slowly, over time, some end abruptly. This can result in couples having to scramble around at the last minute and attempt to sift through a list of tasks that must be addressed in order to finalize the separation.

Preparation Basics

Whether you sense your marriage is coming to end, have already discussed the idea of separating with your spouse, or have been blindsided by the rapid unraveling of your relationship, it is time to hunker down and get to work. Preparation is key for any undertaking as vast as the divorce process. The earlier you begin planning, the better off you will be. Even if your divorce is sudden, however, there are still a number of steps you can take in order to make the separation experience as efficient as possible.

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 Posted on May 29, 2017 in Divorce

In high-asset divorces, one issue that parties can run into is the division of uncommon assets. Company stocks are a type of asset that some couples will have to divide.

Stock division can be complicated, which is why you may wish to gain an understanding of this issue at the outset of your divorce.

There are two types of stock that may be at issue in your divorce: stock options and restricted stock.

1. Stock Options. A stock option is the right to purchase stock at a certain price for a certain period of time (usually years). Many employees are given stock options as part of a compensation package. The idea is that in several years the employee can purchase stock at the agreed-upon rate, which would be lower than the current valuation.

2. Restricted Stock. This is company stock given to employees; however, the employees are restricted from selling it until certain conditions are met. Conditions include working for a set number of years at the company, for example.

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 Posted on April 19, 2017 in Divorce

The divorce process is never easy on anyone, even under the best of circumstances. Yet sliding into a new family blueprint when stepparents and new siblings are involved can be especially challenging. Divorce alone is an emotionally taxing experience, so adding new family dynamics to the mix can easily cause anxiety levels to spike for everyone on the home front.

Setting Your Family Up for Success

When it comes to integrating a new spouse and new children into an existing household that has already undergone big changes, successfully making it through the divorce transition is a matter of a balancing act.

It is essential for parents to nurture their relationships with their children, while ensuring they do not neglect their relationship with their spouse in the midst of everything. Investing time and energy into forming new family relationships can be overwhelming at first, but doing so can help you build and maintain a new, healthy stepfamily structure that benefits everyone over the long term.

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 Posted on March 24, 2017 in Divorce

As income tax day nears, those in the divorce process, or those who have recently finalized a divorce, will likely have questions about what changes must be made to their tax returns this year.

Filing Status

Your marital status as of December 31 of the tax year determines your filing status for the whole year. Said another way, the tax year in which your divorce decree is final is the year you can file as single.

If you were in the divorce process as of December 31, 2016, you have two options for filing status. First, you could decide to file a joint return. Second, you could decide to file married, filing separately.

Head of Household

Many people prefer to file as “head of household” because you typically get a higher standard deduction, a lower tax rate and, most importantly, a larger refund. To qualify for head of household you must:

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 Posted on February 01, 2017 in Divorce

Numerous studies over time have revealed overwhelming findings about the effects divorce can have on spouses and their children, ranging from mental distress to more serious long-term physical damage that is sometimes triggered by such prolonged emotional fatigue. The divorce process causes an array of emotions to surface, often stirring up a storm of confused, conflicting feelings for everyone involved.

The Role of Self-Care in Coping

The American Psychological Association reminds separating couples to pay attention to basic self-care as they go through the divorce process. The better you care for yourself throughout an  emotionally draining transition, such as separation, the better you are able to cope and help others cope as you all work through the change.

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 Posted on January 04, 2017 in Child Custody

What is Parental Alienation Syndrome?

Parental Alienation Syndrome is defined as the psychological manipulation of a child so that the child shows unwarranted fear, disrespect, or hostility toward a parent or other family members. Essentially, parental alienation turns the child against the other parent.

In many cases, the person causing or attempting to cause the parental alienation is the other parent. In other cases, the manipulator is a grandparent or other family member.

One example of parental alienation is if you send your child a birthday present, your ex intercepts and keeps it from your child, and then your ex tells your child that you forgot his or her birthday. Even talking to your child inappropriately about the divorce or allowing your child to speak negatively about you can be considered parental alienation.

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 Posted on December 02, 2016 in Marital Agreements

Typically, when spouses decide to enter into a prenuptial (before marriage) or postnuptial (after marriage) agreement, the question is not whether an agreement is necessary or useful, but whether the agreement is drafted with your best interests in mind. A prenup or postnup is only an efficient tool when it supports your needs and protects your rights— otherwise, you are at risk for wasting a lot of time, energy, and money.

Ensuring a Successful Marital Agreement

Regardless of the type of marital agreement you decide to pursue, ensuring it is a successful one is paramount. The draft you create will determine your lifestyle in the event your marriage takes a turn for the worst, so the boundaries you establish in your agreement hold a significant amount of power. Ask the following questions when determining whether or not your pre or postnup will serve your best interests:

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 Posted on November 14, 2016 in Division of Assets

Recognizing when your soon-to-be ex-spouse is tucking away assets that you rightfully share ownership of can be difficult, especially when you do not know they exist. How are you supposed to claim assets and address them during negotiation settlement if they are invisible in the first place?

Hidden assets are a real problem for some couples, particularly for those dealing with high net worth divorce. If you have a large income or a significant amount of possessions, there is always the chance that your spouse, under tense circumstances, may be tempted to shuffle away some of those funds when the divorce process is underway.

Signs of Deception 

The first step in your search begins with recognizing the signs that your spouse might be hiding funds from you. If you find that your partner has taken complete control over your finances, has recently deleted any financial record keeping program, such as Quickbooks, or suddenly exhibits secretive behavior regarding your money, these may be common signs that he or she is concealing financial matters from you. Strange, new accounts or unusual purchases are also red flags that something might be amiss.

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