Divorce is one of the most challenging life events an individual can go through, especially when children are involved. Figuring out how to co-parent with your ex and create a stable, nurturing environment for your children can be very difficult. Good co-parenting requires flexibility, open communication, and a shared goal of doing what is best for the children. In this blog, we will discuss tips for successful co-parenting with an ex-spouse.

Communicate Frequently, But Get It In Writing

Even if your parenting plan spells out the terms of the parenting time schedule, allocation of parental responsibilities, and other parenting matters, you will still need to communicate with your child's other parent from time to time. Establish a respectful and open line of communication, focusing on the children instead of any interpersonal conflict with your ex.

Communication through text messages, emails, and other written forms is often preferred to phone calls or face-to-face communication. Written communication allows both parties to ensure that what they are saying is helpful and will not stir up unnecessary conflict. Having your discussions in writing is also useful if there is ever a misunderstanding or question about the plans that were made.

Most people are only vaguely familiar with the concept of marriage annulment. They may have heard about celebrity couples who get married only to have their marriage annulled a few days later or heard a rumor that you can get your marriage annulled if you have not had sexual intercourse yet. The reality of the situation is much more complex.

Annulment, or as it is called in Illinois, Declaration Of Invalidity Of Marriage, is permitted by Illinois law. However, you can only get your marriage annulled in a very narrow range of circumstances.

If you are married and wish to get your marriage annulled but do not qualify for an annulment, the only option you have for ending your marriage is divorce. In this blog, we will explain when and how annulment is possible in Illinois and what you can do if you require legal help to end your marriage.

Leaving a spouse who has physically harmed you, threatened violence against you or your children, or otherwise abused you is a frightening and complicated process. Having a safety plan in place is essential. As you develop your plan, keep the following considerations in mind. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911 right away.

Consider an Emergency Order of Protection

In Illinois, emergency orders of protection are granted based solely on the testimony of the petitioner, or person requesting protection. In other words, your spouse does not need to be present or even be aware of the fact that you are asking for an order of protection.

An emergency protection order can be customized to your specific needs. Most of the time, a protection order prohibits an abusive person from coming within a certain distance of the victim, contacting the victim through phone, e-mail, or social media, following the victim, or coming to the victim’s workplace or school. An emergency order of protection can also be used to temporarily evict a spouse from the marital residence. Setting up this legal protection creates a formal record of the abuse and gives you the right to call the police if your spouse violates any of the provisions of the order.

For working adults, retirement offers a much-needed break from the hustle and grind of their jobs. Unsurprisingly, what happens to retirement funds during a divorce is a top concern for many individuals planning to end their marriage. 

Every case is different. However, it is not uncommon for a divorcing spouse to be entitled to part of the other spouse’s retirement assets.

If you are getting divorced and you have questions about how retirement assets or Social Security retirement benefits are handled during a divorce, make sure to work with an experienced divorce attorney who can give you personalized guidance.

The end of a relationship or marriage often brings out the worst sides of people. Sadly, children from the relationship often get caught in the middle. Parental alienation is a form of emotional abuse in which a parent intentionally turns his or her child against the other parent. The parent may tell the child lies about the other parent, punish the child for showing love or affection toward the other parent, or refuse to let the other parent spend time with the child.

Illinois courts do not specifically use the term “parental alienation” when referring to this type of behavior. However, a parent’s behavior toward their child can certainly affect the court’s decision regarding child custody issues, including the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time.

Parents Are Expected to Foster a Positive Relationship Between the Child and the Other Parent

As we have discussed several times in previous blogs, Illinois courts always want to do what is best for the children in any child-related family law dispute. When a parent engages in a campaign of denigration against the targeted parent, this can be extremely damaging to the child. The child may feel confused, guilty, angry, and depressed. Using a child as a pawn to get back at the other parent is extremely harmful and unethical.