Victims of Domestic Violence

 Posted on July 12, 2013 in Divorce

The first step that many people take when trying to get out of an abusive relationship is to obtain an order of protection. To prevent domestic violence, an order of protection, or restraining order, is a legal document that states that the abuser must stay away from the victim for a certain amount of time, and that the abuser can be arrested for violating the order. A person can obtain and order of protection by requesting one after criminal charges have been filed against the abuser, asking a Kane County family law attorney to request one, contacting your local domestic abuse hotline or by asking for one yourself at the local clerk’s office. Some people, after being abused still decide to move away to get away from their abuser. If you decide to stay in a place where your abuser can get to you though, you should take precautions at your home to protect yourself. Change your locks in case your abuser has a key, add a security system including outside lights and smoke alarms and arrange for your work calls to be screened. Also ask neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser and always report violations of an order of protection. If you choose to leave and get away from your abuser, be sure to involve the police for safety and bring with you the following:

• ATM cards, credit cards and your checkbook

Continue Reading ››

Divorce Finances- Planning for Your Future

 Posted on July 07, 2013 in Divorce

Divorce is very troublesome and exhausting for everyone involved. Not only has a relationship that was supposed to last a lifetime fallen apart, but children must adapt, and finances must be split. The couple has to split their assets and money and create new, separate, homes. Along with the emotional turmoil, there are also plenty of financial difficulties as well. To be prepared for the financial burden, follow these steps:

• Document your finances from the last five years. Include tax returns, investments, and assets like your home, vehicle and liabilities. This will be helpful to determine child and spousal support and especially if you believe that your spouse is hiding anything from you.

• Discuss division of property with a Kane County divorce attorney. Understand that some assets are valued differently than others. Assets are rarely split 50-50, but the values of what each spouse will take away in the divorce will be split equally.

Continue Reading ››

Order of Protection Hearings

 Posted on July 03, 2013 in Family Law

A Kane County family law attorney can help you today if you´re facing abuse.[/caption] Unfortunately, abuse within a household is too common and often occurs between spouses. If a person abuses his or her spouse one time, then it is very likely that it will happen again. It is important for the abused to get out of the relationship and get protection from the abuser as soon as possible so that the abuse will be stopped for good. Orders of Protection are granted for a person if they fear for their safety from another person, and are sometimes known as restraining orders. There are different types of orders, depending on how quickly the order is needed, and for how long. Hearings for Orders of Protection are held just as any other court case. The accuser speaks first, explaining why the order is needed, then the alleged abuser has an opportunity to defend himself or herself. The judge then decides whether or not an Order of Protection necessary. There are no juries at these trials. This decision may take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. One of the types of Orders is an Emergency Order of Protection, which can be granted in addition to a long term order during the weeks between the hearing and the decision. If the accused chooses to not be present on the day of the court appearance, the hearing will go on without them and the judge will make a decision based only on the accuser’s argument. If the accused believes that the court will side with the accuser, it is even more important for the accused to show up to the hearing so that he or she can present his or her side of the case. Although there is no jury, both parties do have the right to an attorney at your Order of Protection hearing. Contact a Kane County family law attorney for assistance. Goostree Law Group will help you with your Order of Protection hearing today.

Photo courtesy of Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos.com

Continue Reading ››

Illinois Child Custody Facts

 Posted on June 30, 2013 in Divorce

When parents are going through a divorce, it is very difficult to deal with emotionally as the relationship falls apart and both spouse’s lives are uprooted. Having children makes divorce even more difficult, because parents must put their personal issues aside and put the children and the children's needs first. Here are some facts that answer frequently asked questions about Illinois child custody and how it might affect your situation:

• The court has the power to decide the custody of the child if the parents live in different states, or if the parents have recently moved to a new state. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act determines which state is considered the “home state” of the child. The home state is Illinois if the child has lived there for at least six months or has moved out of Illinois within the past six months.
• If parents have some significant connection to Illinois, Illinois state courts may also hear the custody case.

Continue Reading ››

Prenup Basics

 Posted on June 26, 2013 in Divorce

Putting aside the age-long question of the value of a premarital agreement, a.k.a. prenup, couples considering them must ensure that they meet the state minimum statutory requirements. Most couples hire a family law attorney to draft them professionally in order to avoid any potential issues. However, even with attorney help, here are a few things that couples should keep in mind. Unlike most contracts, prenups become effective once the marriage is official. Nothing of value needs to be exchanged, what contract lawyers refer to as consideration, is necessary in order for the contract to be valid. Second, prenups must be in writing and executed by both parties voluntarily. Generally, prenups set forth what is marital and non-marital property, and the method of distribution of said property in case of a divorce. Aside from property division, prenups can also cover spousal support, what laws would apply in case of a divorce and common issues that may arise. However, prenups may not adversely affect the right of a child to support. Another benefit of prenups is that couples may amend them after the marriage if circumstances change, provided that the same formalities are met (i.e., changes are in writing and signed by both parties). While a valuable planning tool, the history of prenups is rife with abuses, forcing the Illinois legislature to create certain defenses to enforcement. An otherwise valid prenup, is unenforceable if the party seeking to avoid it can show that it was not entered into voluntarily, its terms are one sided and there was inadequate disclosure of assets prior to its execution. This usually arises in the context where there is an uneven distribution of wealth. The wealthier spouse can afford to hire a family law attorney to draft the agreement for both spouses without the other spouse being represented by an attorney. In these cases, courts will be particularly suspicious of the motives of the party that had an attorney. Entering into a premarital agreement has long lasting consequences and each spouse should have an experienced family law attorney review the agreement prior to signing it. At Goostree Law Group, we have represented St. Charles clients with their family law needs, including premarital agreements.

Image courtesy of adamr / freedigitalphotos.net

Continue Reading ››

How is a Visitation Schedule Determined?

 Posted on June 23, 2013 in Divorce

Part of any divorce agreement that involves children is a child custody agreement and a visitation schedule. The parent that the children live with is the custodial parent. The parent that is living outside of the child's permanent home is the non-custodial parent. Child custody in Kane County can be changed with the help of an attorney if your current situation is not working for the children. Sometimes, custody and visitation agreements come easily, while other times it can be a definite point of contention. Most states divide the parenting time in an 80/20 split with the custodial parent having the children 80% of the time. The division may include things such as visitation with the non-custodial parent every other weekend, one weeknight during the week (depending on where the parents both live), a few weeks out of the summer vacation, as well as divided holidays. The schedule is determined by several factors, such as the age of the children and the geographic location of the parents. The schedule will be amended to accommodate things such as the extracurricular activities of the children. It is important to remember that the most important thing is that both parents actively participate in the children's lives. The children are going to go through the transition of not having both parents in the home. They deserve to have both parents in their lives, unless one is deemed an unfit parent. It is important to remember that visitation and child support are two separate issues that do not intertwine in any way. If the father does not pay his ordered child support, that does not give the mother just reason not to adhere to the order for visitation, and vice versa. If you have questions regarding establishing or amending an order for visitation or child custody in Kane County, contact an experienced Kane County family law attorney. Your family attorney will look over the existing order and make recommendations. If you choose to follow the recommendations, your lawyer can also represent you in family court.

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/Freedigitalphotos

Continue Reading ››

Communicating with an Ex after Divorce

 Posted on June 20, 2013 in Divorce

Being divorced with kids is a very difficult on both parents. Communication is often fragmented and strange between exes, but it is necessary to establish a new family dynamic for children. While a co-parenting agreement will lay down groundwork for raising the children, it may not guide you on talking to your ex. Rather than focusing on the bad things that your ex has done to you or the regret and anger that this makes you feel, focus on positive aspects of your ex. Although your relationship did not end up working, there is a difference in being a parent. The care and love that they give your child should help you form a new bond. Build that bond by sharing the exciting things that your children do. It is important to remain calm and patient with your ex during this difficult transition. Your ex may know what to say or do to set you off, but it is important to weather those moments. Your main concern is your children and ensuring that they are being raised in a kind and respectful environment. This also means that you should avoid antagonizing your ex as well. If you try to incite or one-up your ex, it could backfire against your main goal, raising your children the best way you can. If all else fails, setting some basic ground rules can limit the opportunities for you and your spouse to hurt each other.

• Communicate briefly with your ex

Continue Reading ››

How to Co-Parent After A Divorce

 Posted on June 16, 2013 in Divorce

Divorce is stressful both financially and emotionally – and adding children to the mix makes a divorce even more complicated. It is important for the children to be able to feel secure, loved and like a priority to both parents. However, parents’ feelings for each other can add stress to raising the children in two different homes after a divorce. Though the parents may dislike one another, it is imperative to focus on the children as the parents' relationship changes from marriage to divorce. All frustrations and disappointments should be expressed when the children are not around. Children should never be put in the middle or used as a messenger between the two parents. Doing so would create awkwardness and confusion for the children. The key to a successful co-parenting in a divorce is communication. Although the relationship was once personal and intimate, the divorced couple must now become more professional and straight to the point. Making requests rather than demands helps keep a neutral team approach. As communication moves forward, it must be done with self control and open ears. Be sure to commit to communicating on a consistent basis about the children. Topics such as discipline, schedules and rules can be done successfully in both homes if parents are open and honest with one another and keep the children’s best interest at heart. If you are going through a divorce and are finding it hard to communicate with your soon to be ex, it might be in your best interest to contact a Kane County divorce attorney who can help you set guidelines and find a way for the communication to work. No one should have to go through a divorce without help.

Image courtesy of photostock/Freedigitalphotos

Continue Reading ››

Setting Up a 529 Account For College During Divorce

 Posted on June 12, 2013 in Divorce

In the throes of divorce, planning for the future may seem the farthest thing from your mind, especially when it involves planning for a future you would otherwise have spent together. And yet planning for your kid’s college in the midst of a divorce is an important thing to keep in mind. Just because you’re getting separated doesn’t eradicate the need for college savings and cooperation when it comes to your children, no matter how difficult that may be. Some couples decide to continue to save together for their kids’ college; others each decide to put what they can (or a pre-specified amount) aside and come together only to write the check later. “Saving for college after a divorce is a process of communication,” according to US News and World Report. “However, the communication is easier if a framework is set up during the divorce settlement.”  This framework could have many different structures, and it should be considered with both your and your ex’s divorce lawyer at the time of divorce. One such framework “could include freezing the current 529 plan account (a tax-advantaged investment account used for higher education), splitting 529 plan accounts when needed and deciding what proportion each parent will pay toward their children’s education,” according to US News and World Report. This also ensures that neither ex will be able to have access to the 529 account because no more deposits are being made, meaning that the only person who will have access to the account is the designated child. “Freezing the account would also prevent a parent from using account funds to pay for the education of child from a new marriage,” according to US News and World Report. If it seems risky to leave the investment decisions up to only one parent—the account owner—after divorce, the other option is to have the judge split the existing account 50/50. A qualified family law attorney can assist this decision, and many others. If you or someone you know is considering divorce, don’t go through it alone. Contact a dedicated Illinois divorce lawyer today.

Image courtesy of cooldesign / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Continue Reading ››

Thinking Emotionally can Cost a Woman in a Divorce

 Posted on June 07, 2013 in Divorce

According to a financial strategist, how a woman thinks could influence her financial outcome in a divorce. Going through a divorce can be very emotional for women but learning how to shift their thinking from emotional to financial could help them secure a solid financial footing and less regret after a divorce. Turing off your emotions may be easier said than done, but understanding that there are two groups of emotions may make it easier. The emotional feeling a woman has about her spouse is one group and those emotional feelings that she has towards herself is the other. Typical emotions towards her spouse may include anger, sadness, rage, or a feeling of relief. Those emotions that she feels towards herself may be a little more complex. Getting a better understanding of these emotions will help make the necessary shift from emotional thinking to financial thinking. The self-chatter that a woman may have while going through a divorce could block her ability to do what is best for her. It can also determine how well she recovers from the divorce. Staying healthy during this trying time will help. Often the overwhelming process of divorce could make women neglect a prior healthy routine of working out and eating right. This is not the time for her to stop taking care herself. Continuing to work out or starting a workout routine will help to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition, negative self doubt in her ability to choose a partner only works against her. Shifting her focus to what is best for the children, if any, and herself is advised. Having a divorce lawyer that will fight to protect her interest in another must have. If you are taking into consideration how your life might be as a single woman after divorce contact an Illinois attorney today for a free consultation.

Image courtesy of seat keawatavee/Freedigitalphotos

Continue Reading ››