Before filing for divorce, you should plan as carefully as possible for the split, obtain legal advice, focus on your children, organize documents, and give yourself a minimum financial cushion of three months. If domestic violence is an issue, develop a safety plan and discuss your options with a lawyer. Steps to Take Before Filing for Divorce When considering divorce, people should take steps to prepare themselves emotionally, legally, and financially. The first step to take before … [Read more...]

A divorce decree in Illinois may be invalid if the judge made decisions based on wrong information or erred in interpreting or applying state law. For example, if one party proffered a much lower income as the basis for child support payments and the judge made a decision based on that income threshold, that might be grounds for appeal. Judges using evidence that was incorrect, insufficient, or legally inadmissible could also be what makes a divorce decree invalid. A recording obtained illegally … [Read more...]

Being the first to file for divorce provides some strategic advantages. However, being the first to plan for divorce is more significant and provides more advantages than being the first to file. When two people choose to end their marriage, they have to make many difficult decisions regarding their assets, futures, and possibly the custody of their children. Many couples attempt to keep their divorce as amicable as possible by pursuing an uncontested divorce. However, sometimes a couple’s … [Read more...]

Couples going through a collaborative law divorce should use interest-based negotiation to determine what they want when dividing assets. Couples who choose a collaborative law divorce seek to find a resolution that works for both parties and allows them to maintain a friendly relationship in the future. One way for parties to avoid unnecessary animosity is to try an interest-based negotiation to divide assets.  What is a Collaborative Law Divorce? A collaborative law divorce is a process … [Read more...]