Monthly Archives: October 2014

Two Homes Can Be Better than One for Children of Divorce

Life can get very confusing and complicated for children of divorce. Even in the best of situations, children can often feel like mere assets to be divided by their parents like furniture or cars. Regardless of how you feel about your ex during and after the divorce, it is extremely important that your children’s comfort and well-being are not overlooked.

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Guardian Ad Litem’s Purpose in a Custody Battle

In some custody cases, a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) is appointed to add a non-biased opinion on the matter. It is important for both parties to understand the GAL’s job, focus, and the weight of his/her decision before deciding whether to ask for this form of advocacy in a child custody case.

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Divorce May Cause Weight Gain in Men

Experts sometimes compare the psychological stress of divorce to that of the death of a close family member. The effects can be severe and the emotional scars can take years to heal, if they ever do. Weight gain is a common side-effect of stress so perhaps it may be somewhat expected for a person going through a divorce to put on a few pounds. What may be surprising, though, is that after a divorce, men seem to gain more weight than women.

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Legal Separation May Be an Option

When a marriage seems to have failed, many couples assume that divorce is not only inevitable, but the only available solution. For a large majority of couples in that situation, divorce may, in fact, be in their long-term best interest. In some cases, however, one spouse may instead wish to file for a legal separation.

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Signs Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets

In many marriages, one spouse is primarily responsible for the household finances. The other spouse may have a vague idea of the income and expenses of the family, but is often unaware of many of the details. An arrangement of this type may work just fine when both partners are fully vested in the best interests of the marriage. If, however, the relationship deteriorates and divorce becomes a possibility, the spouse controlling the finances may start trying to take advantage of the situation by hiding assets.

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Modification of a Child Support Order

There are an estimated 24 million children in the United States currently being raised in single-parent homes. While this may not represent every child of unmarried or divorced parents due to the nature of the study, it clearly indicates that a large percentage of American children may be subject to shared custody, visitation and child support arrangements.

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Protecting the Best Interests of Children, Part 2: Attorney for the Child and Child Representative

There are times when divorcing parents allow their own emotions to cloud their judgment related to what is best for their children. It is most often unintentional, but if not addressed, can have serious long-term consequences. Unfair or lopsided custody and visitation arrangements could result, for example, in one parent overwhelmed by responsibility while the other feels alienated. Possible negative effects are definitely not limited to the adults, and in fact, may be even more severe for the children.

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What are the Grounds for Divorce in Illinois?

Are you at the point in your marriage or civil union where you are considering a divorce? You may have some questions regarding your next step; for example, under what grounds can you get a divorce. Illinois is not considered a pure no fault state, and therefore, you must have a ground for a divorce and a separation period before you can even file for a divorce. If you do not properly meet the ground and separation period, the judge may dismiss your case.

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Protecting the Best Interests of Children, Part 1: Guardian Ad Litem

It is not uncommon in divorce cases for each party to retain their own attorney for legal advice and representation through the process. Concerns regarding division of property, spousal support and arrangements for the couple’s children all need to be addressed and eventually resolved. Both sides typically have their own beliefs as to how the agreements should be established, often at odds with those of their spouse. In many cases, litigation is necessary.

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Mediation Can Reduce the Stress of Divorce

When a marriage ends, it often ends badly. Anger, resentment, and bitterness between divorcing spouses can make the process extremely stressful and difficult. It may even be impossible for some couples to sit in the same room together due to the powerful emotions involved. Many others, however, are able to peacefully work together as they navigate the necessary steps toward completing the divorce. For these situations, divorce mediation may fit the couple’s needs perfectly.

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