Escaping an abusive relationship can be a difficult and scary situation. Victims of domestic abuse are often afraid to speak out, and many have trouble finding the resources they need. Fortunately, spousal abuse claims are taken very seriously by family courts, which means that the most important thing a victim can do is act as…

Divorce can be difficult and stressful under the best of circumstances. Domestic violence–or even allegations of domestic violence–can trigger additional issues and challenges. If you are the victim of domestic violence, you may need a protective order before or at the same time you file for divorce, to secure temporary possession of your home and…

I recently wrote about the options for dividing, disposing of, or continuing to operate a business that was owned jointly by a divorcing couple. But, that’s just one of many scenarios that may arise when a business or interest in a business is at issue in a divorce case. Here are the key questions in play…

Co-parenting under optimal circumstances requires prompt communication, incredible patience, and the flexibility to change a parenting arrangement with little, if any, notice. Some parents thrive with routines, while other parents adapt well to rapid changes. Rapid change for a child is called summer break, where the educational routines of the past nine months go out…

Sharing parenting time can be a challenge, even when both parents live in the same town. Distance, of course, makes splitting time and exchanging children even more complicated. When the parents live in different states, there may be added legal issues and procedural requirements, as well.  Practical Issues in Interstate Custody Cases One obvious challenge…

Divorce is not an easy decision to make, especially when you have always believed that you were going to be married forever. However, what you didn’t count on when you promised to stay with your partner forever is that they would drastically change. Your spouse literally became the living form of Dr. Jekyll and Mr./Mrs….

In recognition of the World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day on June 1st. Life with a malignant narcissist is crippling. These cads chip away at your self worth and confidence every day. Like a slow-growing cancer, you often don’t recognize the danger until it’s too late. They always blame you even when it’s not your fault….

For most, their home is the single most valuable asset of the marriage. But did you know that in Illinois, if one owns a house prior to marriage, it is considered his or her non-marital property? Upon divorce, the owning spouse takes back the entire asset (including all the equity accumulated during the marriage). Whether…

Note that I have framed the title of this article in the negative: how to lose a custody case, rather than how to win one. Why is this? It is because there are no sure-fire ways to achieve a successful result in a child custody case. There are, however, ways you can assuredly lose one….