When a couple heads towards divorce and one party was the stay-at-home parent or homemaker, the courts take into consideration the non-monetary contributions to the home when considering things like alimony, distribution of property, and determining earning capacity. In Illinois, protections are in place to ensure the stay-at-home spouse is able to return to the workforce and succeed after the divorce is final. How a Homemaker Contributes to Household Finances In a marriage where one … [Read more...]

Child support obligations do not generally cease when the paying parent becomes disabled, but disability can affect payment amounts as well as when and how they are received. The expected duration of the disability, whether the paying parent has private, employer-sponsored, or social security disability benefits, and whether back payments are owed can all impact future child support.  Child Support Obligations of Disabled Parents When disability leaves a parent unable to work, … [Read more...]

Going through a divorce with custody issues is hard enough, however, the level of contention increases exponentially when one parent is a narcissist. In this situation, the other parent needs to remain strong and prepared for almost anything the narcissist might try to manipulate during the custody case. How to Know You Are Dealing with a Narcissist A narcissist is someone who suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Narcissists can be exceptionally hard to reason within court … [Read more...]

In cases where a child could come to immediate harm or risks removal from the state, parents can seek emergency hearings to obtain parental responsibility. While these cases often come with large amounts of stress, the process for seeking emergency hearings is relatively simple. Understanding the Circumstances for Emergency Hearings If a parent wishes to attend an emergency hearing, he or she will be required to file a petition with the court that indicates that there is an emergency … [Read more...]

When parents are embroiled in child custody battles in Illinois, failing to be involved in the child's daily activities, not addressing drug, alcohol, or other parental fitness issues, or disparaging the other parent can cause them to lose a custody case. Both parents have equal rights to pursue custody of their children and avoiding these types of conduct can help ensure that parents win custody of their children. Lack of Involvement Parents who do not help their children with homework, … [Read more...]