Illinois recently signed the Firearms Restraining Order Act into law, which allows someone to petition for the temporary removal of firearms from the possession of a family member who is deemed to be a threat to him or herself or others. With recent mass shootings in mind, lawmakers created the bill as a legal means for law enforcement to act on credible warnings of potential gun violence. Victims in domestic violence cases could petition for a firearms restraining order if they fear that their abuser may use a gun against them. However, the petitioner must prove that there is a need for the restraining order.

Order Details

Illinois already has a law that revokes a person’s Firearm Owner’s Identification card if he or she is convicted for domestic violence. However, an alleged offender may be a threat to use gun violence before a conviction can occur. An order of protection can immediately make it illegal for the domestic violence suspect to contact the alleged victim. A firearms restraining order addresses the specific threat of gun violence by:

Choosing where you will live is one of your most immediate concerns when you file for divorce but also one of the most consequential decisions you will make. The spouse who lives in the marital home will have an advantage when deciding who will keep the home during the division of property. When there are children involved, it is logical for the primary parent to stay in the home with the children. Absent children, you have more flexibility in deciding your living arrangements. Each option has its own financial and practical implications.

Keeping the Home

The instinct of many divorcees is to try to stay in the marital home and retain possession of it after divorce. The home is likely the most valuable property in your marriage and something you have greatly invested in. There is also an emotional benefit to keeping some stability in your living situation while going through a turbulent divorce. However, owning the home without your spouse can be expensive. You must consider whether you can afford:

Parents commonly disagree on how much supervision and protection their children need. While many parents seek a balance between freedom and control, some parents skew heavily towards one side. Helicopter parents believe their constant involvement protects their children and guides them towards the right path. Free-range parents believe that giving their children independence teaches them self-sufficiency. Both parenting styles have some merit, but laws favor helicopter parenting over free-range parenting because allowing a child to roam freely can be viewed as neglect. A divorcing parent who believes in a free-range style may also be at a disadvantage when a court determines the allocation of parental responsibilities.

Definition of Neglect

Parents in a divorce may accuse each other of neglect as a reason why they should be the children’s primary parent. Illinois has a legal definition of child neglect that includes:

From the perspective of Western secular society, arranged marriages seem immoral and unlikely to succeed. How could someone feel fulfilled in a marriage that has been forced upon him or her? Women are sometimes viewed as victims in arranged marriages because the practice commonly occurs in religious and conservative cultures that treat women as subservient. Forcing someone into an arranged marriage does not prevent him or her from using secular laws to seek a divorce. However, people in arranged marriages may feel pressured to remain in the marriage, even if they are unhappy.

Being Shunned

Arranged marriage is a tradition that is rooted in people’s religious and cultural beliefs. Parents agree to the arrangement because they believe that is what is best for their child and family. People who reject their arranged marriages are also rejecting their culture and may be ostracized as a result. A family may be angry at a relative who decides to divorce because:

Your mind can convince itself that you are not feeling stressed or depressed, but your body is more difficult to fool. Thus, your body may surprise you by feeling ill during your divorce. If your divorce is not causing you some stress, you either have nerves of steel or are completely oblivious to the high stakes of your divorce. Stress puts your body on a state of high alert as it prepares to react to a real or perceived threat. The constant stress of a divorce can wear your body down, and the mental strain may cause you to make poor decisions that do additional harm to your body. Here are seven symptoms that divorce-related stress can cause:

1. Weakened Immune System: People who experience excessive stress are often more susceptible to contracting colds and illnesses. Stress strains your body and makes it less capable of defending against sickness.
2. Fatigue and Insomnia: High levels of stress may cause your body to secrete hormones that tire you out but also make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. Insomnia can cause additional fatigue and stress, which perpetuates the cycle.
3. Headaches: People who are under stress often suffer from headaches. Though headaches are associated with several maladies, stress and anxiety are believed to be direct causes of headaches.
4. Digestive Problems: Stress can cause indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea. It can also exacerbate existing digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. The problems may result directly from the stress or dietary choices caused by stress.
5. Weight Gain: People may cope with their stress by binge-eating or indulging in unhealthy comfort foods. However, stress can also release hormones that cause you to retain more fat in certain areas of your body.
6. Heart Disease: Your body’s natural reaction to stress can cause an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to these conditions increases your risk of heart disease.
7. Adult Acne: Chronic stress increases your body’s output of hormones, which may cause an acne outbreak. People who feel stressed sometimes touch their faces more often, which can spread bacteria.

Dealing with Stress

There are physical and psychological ways that you can combat divorce-related stress. Regular exercise and a healthy diet relieve tension and strengthen your body. Counseling can help you process your stressful thoughts and create mental coping mechanisms for when you feel overwhelmed. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group will work to minimize your stress during the divorce process. Schedule an appointment by calling 630-584-4800.