Posted on January 22, 2024 in Divorce

The divorce process is typically characterized by some degree of conflict. In some couples, the spouses do not want to be in the same room as each other and seem to be guided mostly by a desire to spite each other. In other couples, the spouses appreciate each other and are sincerely attempting to pave the way toward a functional future for their family, but the fact that they no longer wish to stay married can be painful and disappointing nonetheless. Some conflict will remain between the spouses regardless of either of their actions, based on their emotional state. Other conflicts might be the result of their conduct during the divorce proceedings. If you would prefer to avoid as much conflict as possible, a knowledgeable St. Charles, IL, divorce lawyer can advise you on helpful ways to minimize conflict during your divorce.

Sincere Willingness to Negotiate

There is a difference between showing up to the negotiating table begrudgingly and being there with a true desire to reach a settlement you can both find acceptable. It is ok to disagree on various aspects and want different things. If you can both express what you want and what you mean without attempting to manipulate or “win” your divorce, chances are much higher for you to reach a settlement with greater ease. If you can both commit to avoiding drama and hope and trust that your spouse is doing the same, this can certainly help you minimize some conflict.

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 Posted on January 17, 2024 in Divorce Finances

Divorce tends to not be a simple matter regardless of the specific circumstance. Hurt feelings, financial concerns, and disappointment are typical. When the couple has what is considered a high asset divorce, the complexities increase. The significance of how assets are valued and distributed can be life-changing for some.

In some cases, both spouses are the owners of large companies, and dividing these can be very complicated. Sometimes, a couple’s wealth is the result of one spouse having an extremely lucrative and high-powered job, which was only made possible due to the other spouse staying home to take care of their family and household maintenance and therefore not earning their own salary. Whatever the reason, considering divorce under such conditions can be confusing and stressful. A Kane County, IL, high asset divorce lawyer can help you sort through the confusion and advocate fiercely for your rights.

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 Posted on January 10, 2024 in Divorce

Divorce can be a complicated process. It can be hard any time a relationship ends. It can be harder if the relationship is a deep commitment rather than something casual. If the relationship involves shared assets and perhaps children, the challenges the couple must face keep increasing. However, this does not mean that all people ending their marriage need to feel like sworn enemies interested in a zero-sum game who simply want their spouse to lose out. In fact, numerous couples find that they can productively and satisfactorily end their marriage through something known as an uncontested divorce. If you and your spouse can carry out productive communication and appreciate each other’s needs, a Kane County, IL, an uncontested divorce attorney can help you decide whether this is a good option for you.

What Makes Uncontested Divorce Different?

Some couples can agree on how their futures should look, even if those futures are not together. They need to ultimately be able to file for uncontested divorce. The main condition for this is that the couple can agree on every single one of the necessary aspects of any typical divorce. These aspects include:

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 Posted on January 04, 2024 in Child Custody

When parents end their marriage, their divorce settlement needs to include a parenting plan that covers several topics: Where will their children live? Who will pay child support? Which parent will be able to make which decisions for their child? One of the most difficult topics for divorcing parents to settle is parenting time. If you are unhappy with the parenting time arrangement from your divorce, a knowledgeable Kane County, IL, divorce lawyer can explain your options and help you figure out how to proceed.

How Is Parenting Time Decided?

The term parenting time, otherwise known as custody or visitation, describes the amount of time a child is with either of their parents. In most cases, the division of parental responsibilities in Illinois divorce settlements allows for both parents to have parenting time. The specifics of exactly how much time each parent gets is decided based on several factors, including:

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 Posted on December 28, 2023 in High Asset Divorce

Even though all people are different and unique, divorce is generally a difficult process to go through, regardless of your background and circumstances. Figuring out new arrangements like alimony, how you will divide parental responsibilities, who will keep the family home, and what will happen to any retirement funds either of you might have can be complicated and frustrating for anyone. When you and your spouse are a high-asset couple, there are aspects to the divorce settlement that can be even harder to settle. Suppose you and your spouse have considerable assets and are concerned about how they will be affected by a divorce. In that case, a knowledgeable lawyer with experience handling similar cases can guide you through this process and advocate for your rights and interests.

What Is Considered a High-Asset Divorce?

The term high-asset divorce does not have an official definition, but it refers to people with considerable money, property, and other assets. A divorce is generally considered high-asset when at least one spouse has a million dollars. In some high-asset divorces, both spouses have these considerable sources at their disposal. In others, one spouse has vast assets, and the other does not, which can complicate the divorce settlement

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 Posted on December 22, 2023 in Divorce

Many people who wish to end their marriage commonly consider divorce as their option. Others might not feel ready to take this major step, for a number of reasons. If your marriage is no longer working for you but the idea of divorce feels too extreme, at least for now, you might consider legal separation. A knowledgeable Kane County, IL legal separation attorney can explain what is involved and help you figure out the best path forward for you.

Why Choose Legal Separation?

No two people are the same. People have their own unique personalities, backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape them into unique individuals. That is why every couple has unique dynamics and why different solutions work for different couples. While some couples who no longer wish to stay together will find divorce to be the most obvious solution, others might seek another option for several reasons, including:

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 Posted on December 19, 2023 in Divorce

The holidays are a time when families get together and forge cherished memories that can last a lifetime. But when the family’s parents have decided to get a divorce, things can become more complicated. If you are a divorced parent whose ex-spouse wants to make you change your holiday plans with your children, a knowledgeable Kane County, IL divorce lawyer can help you navigate this sensitive situation.

Why Might Holiday Plans Be a Source of Contention?

In some families with divorced parents, the parents might have different religious affiliations. This can make holidays difficult due to the parents’ differing assumptions about how a holiday should be spent. In some families, divorced parents might live very different lifestyles. If the parent with much more financial stability gets to have the kids for a holiday, the parents who live a more modest lifestyle might worry that the children will be given gifts and experiences that they would not be able to provide them with. In some families, one of the divorced parents might start dating someone and want to introduce that person to their children. This could make the other parent uncomfortable, knowing the children will be exposed to another adult whom they do not know themselves. This person could make an impression on the children or introduce them to religious practices that they do not want their children to adopt.

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 Posted on December 15, 2023 in Adoption

Gray divorce is a term commonly used to describe divorce between spouses who are 50 years old or older. The topic has been gaining coverage in recent years as the divorce rates for this age group have been increasing. There are several reasons for this, which will be described below. If you are in your fifties or older and find yourself considering divorce, a knowledgeable Kane County, IL divorce lawyer will be able to guide you based on their vast experience and ensure that your best interests are being fought for

What Are Some Unique Issues in Gray Divorce?

Because of the spouses’ ages, the life experience they have generally accumulated by the time they seek a divorce, and the length of time their marriage typically has lasted, there are several reasons why Gray Divorce is considered its own topic with its own characteristics: These reasons include:

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 Posted on December 11, 2023 in Prenuptial Agreements

Many people have heard the term "prenuptial agreement" before, but not many know exactly what this agreement entails. The truth is, some legal knowledge is necessary for a prenuptial agreement to be understood. If you do not have a good understanding of the law, you might end up signing something that is not in your best interest. Maybe you were given a document to sign right before your wedding, and you did not think it would ever be relevant, so you signed it just to move ahead with your plans. Maybe your spouse's parents said they would not allow you to get married unless you signed it. Whatever the case, if you were forced to sign a prenuptial agreement that did not suit you, and now you are considering divorce and feel concerned about what might happen, an experienced Kane County, IL divorce lawyer can answer any question you may have and challenge the agreement in court.

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 Posted on December 04, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce settlements lay out how any marital assets will be divided. Some assets are easier to divide and some are harder. One of the assets that can be complicated to divide is a business. If either or both spouses own a business, figuring out how it will be divided requires the consideration of many factors. If not done right, it could affect the future of the business. While there are several ways a business can ultimately be divided between ex-spouses, it is generally a great idea to do something called a business valuation. If you are considering divorce but are concerned about how it might affect the business you own, an experienced Kane County, IL, divorce attorney can advise you on how best to protect your interests.

How Can a Business Valuation Impact My Illinois Divorce?

Regardless of the size of a business and whether it is a family-owned business, medical practice, investment firm, house cleaning company, or any other type of business you can imagine, figuring out what will happen to your business after divorce can be a complicated challenge. In general, there are three ways to deal with business ownership in a divorce:

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