Category Archives: Family Law
Knowing the Grounds for Divorce – Part 2
Fault
It is simply a reality of modern life that marriages sometimes fail. Couples who marry with the best intentions often find themselves facing a divorce when, for whatever reason, the relationship breaks down. In many cases, there is not just a single underlying cause for the divorce, but the combination of numerous smaller issues. Like most states, Illinois law has provisions in place to allow for divorce in such a situation without assigning fault to either spouse.
Why Hire a Divorce Attorney?
There are so many issues and decisions to make during a divorce that one person cannot make an informed decision without consultation. If children are part of the marriage, the issues can get even greater and more complicated. Below are a few issues that can be made easier with a divorce attorney.
Divorce and College Expenses for Children
Often during a divorce, the children of the separating parents are young and the thought of college is far in the future. However, if you are currently facing a divorce, you need to think about divorce and college expenses for children as one of the issues. Securing college expenses is an important part of relieving future stress and arguments.
Protections for Surrogate Mothers in Illinois
Gestational surrogacy describes the process in which a surrogate mother is implanted with an egg and sperm, or in some cases only sperm, of the intended parents. The surrogate mother then brings the baby to term, delivers the baby, and transfers parentage to the intended parents, usually in exchange for compensation from the intended parents. Illinois enacted the Gestational Surrogacy Act in 2005, which provides standardization and legal protection for all parties involved in a gestational surrogacy contract.
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Expanding Your Family by Adoption
If you have ever considered adopting a child, you are not alone. This year, approximately 140,000 children will be adopted in the United States. This amounts to nearly 380 adoptions taking place every day. Current estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau report that there are 8.5 million adult and child adoptees living in America comprising about 2.5 percent of the population.
Consequences of Divorce on Children in Illinois Child Custody Cases
Getting a divorce from a spouse who you have children with can be one of the most difficult and emotional times of your life. Unfortunately, this same emotional and psychological stress often carries over to your former spouse, and subsequently, to the children as well. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make during an Illinois divorce; causing negative consequences may be seen immediately, but also can have terrible long term effects on the childrens’ physical and mental health.
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Child Custody Problems: Substance Abuse and Divorce
A divorce can be one of the most turbulent times anyone ever has to go to go through. There are many factors that can further complicate the divorce process, even as it is already unpleasant. Some common problems that come up are issues splitting finances, disputes in child custody, and child support and alimony payments.
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Understanding Illinois Custody Statutes
If you have children and are going through a divorce, separation, or are not married to your children’s mother/father, you know that custody and visitation issues can be difficult. Understanding your rights and the reasons behind the laws is an important step to making an ultimate decision.
The Basics of Protective Orders
Unfortunately, sometimes a marriage or a live-in relationship can get abusive and it’s hard to know what steps you can take to remove yourself from the situation. In Illinois, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA) is a law that specifically forbids any family and household members from continuous abusive acts.
Illinois Ranked Third Most Pro-Surrogate State
The modern, nuclear family has evolved as technology has allowed it to. The men and women who volunteer their genetic material, either as sperm and egg donors, or as surrogates, provide an incredible service to young couples, heterosexual and same-sex, who want to start their own family. These sperm and egg donors and surrogates act as non-traditional storks, providing an option to couples who may have been unable to conceive naturally, or through in-vitro fertilization, fertility drugs, and reproductive surgery, among others procedures. However, as seen in the news regarding the sperm donor required to pay child support, it is incredibly important that parents-to-be and their surrogates or donors outline the legal responsibilities and roles that each party will take on prior to the child’s conception.
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