Blog
Helpful information to assist you in making the best decision for you and your family.
The Cost of Dissipation in Divorce
What is Dissipation, and How can it affect my Case? In divorce proceedings, dissipation is the spending, by one party, of marital property for a non-marital purpose. Dissipation must occur after the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” Dissipation can take many different forms but is most commonly cash withdraws or transfers
Planning for the Unforeseen: Securing Maintenance with a Life Insurance Policy
At the end of divorce proceedings, parties enter into a Marital Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) with their soon-to-be ex-spouse. The MSA is incorporated into a final Judgement for Dissolution of Marriage that is entered by the Court. MSAs contain agreements between the parties about the division of property, maintenance, and child
Securing a Child Support Obligation through A Child Support Trust
Divorced parents often rely on child support from their former spouse as a way to make ends meet and provide support for their children. Generally, Courts award child support in a manner that suits the best interest of the child and statutory guidelines. In 2017, Illinois adopted the income shares
When Should you Review your Estate Plan?
It is essential that estate plans be updated whenever there has been significant change in your life, a change in the law, or a significant amount of time has passes since the plan was put in effect. If any of the following situations have occurred since the time of the completion of
Adapting to Summer Co-Parenting during COVID-19
As the summer of 2020 heats up, parents are faced with a challenging environment during COVID-19. Many parenting agreements make a provision for extra parenting time during the summer months, and many families have the long-standing tradition of sending the kids to summer camps or going on vacation. Unfortunately, many camps
Allocation of Parental Responsibility in Illinois
In Illinois, allocation of parental responsibility and parenting time (formerly child custody) is governed by two different laws. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (“IMDMA”) applies if the parents are divorced or in the process of divorcing, and the Illinois Parentage Act applies if the parents have never