Posted on April 22, 2024 in Adoption

There are three types of adoption in Illinois when it comes to involving the biological parents: open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption.

• In an open adoption, the biological parents remain involved and maintain a relationship with the child.

• In a semi-open adoption, the biological parents are somewhat involved in the child’s life but are not in frequent contact.

• In a closed adoption, there is no contact with the biological parents at all. The adoption is handled strictly through a third party like an adoption agency, which fields all communication between the biological and adoptive parents.

Open adoption can be an attractive option, but it is not for everybody. This article will discuss the pros and cons of open adoption.

If you are unsure which type of adoption may be right for you, consult with an Illinois adoption attorney who will talk to you about the adoption process and what is in the best interest of the child.

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 Posted on April 16, 2024 in Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement is a legally binding document that some couples sign before marriage. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of each party in the event of a divorce, the most important of which is usually asset division. A prenuptial agreement can help make many parts of the divorce process go smoother because many issues have already been settled.

Signing a prenuptial agreement can improve your chances of having an uncontested divorce, which is when both parties agree on all parts of the divorce. Still, many couples shy away from signing an agreement because it is emotionally difficult to discuss the end of the marriage.

If you got married without signing a prenuptial agreement, the first step is to contact a qualified family lawyer in Illinois who can help you draft a postnuptial agreement.

What is a Postnuptial Agreement?

A postnuptial agreement is like a prenuptial agreement except it is signed after marriage. Under Illinois law, a postnuptial agreement addresses certain issues that can come up if the couple gets divorced or if one of the spouses dies. It can, for example, determine:

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 Posted on April 16, 2024 in Divorce

Making changes to child support payments, also known as child support modification, is not a simple process. Illinois law generally requires courts to wait two years before modifying a child support order.

But the law also recognizes that circumstances change and sometimes it is necessary to make adjustments. If you need to modify your child support payments, contact a family lawyer in Illinois who can advise you on whether you have good cause.

This article will discuss how courts calculate child support and when you can request to modify child support payments.

How Do Courts Calculate Child Support Payments?

When calculating Child support payments, courts want to find out how much a child needs and how much of that the parents can afford.

To find those answers, the court will look at several factors, including:

• The child’s financial needs

• The child’s educational needs

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 Posted on April 11, 2024 in Estate Planning

Going through a divorce is tough, and it can turn your whole world upside down. Through all the emotional turmoil, it is important not to neglect the practical matters, like updating your estate plan. If you have recently divorced, make sure to review and revise your estate planning documents with an Illinois estate planning lawyer who understands how divorce can affect estate plans.

Why Updating Your Estate Plan Is Essential

Under Illinois law, divorce automatically revokes any provisions in your will that benefit your former spouse. However, this automatic revocation does not apply to other estate planning documents, such as trusts, beneficiary designations, or powers of attorney. If you do not update these documents, your ex-spouse may still have control over your assets or healthcare decisions, even after your divorce is finalized.

If you have children, updating your estate plan ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your children are cared for by the guardians you choose.

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 Posted on April 03, 2024 in Mediation

As soon as people realize they are going to get a divorce, they often feel stressed and overwhelmed. Some of that stems from the truth that they will need to figure out how their assets, finances, property, and parental responsibilities will be divided. Some of it stems from preconceived notions about acrimonious divorces based on scenes portrayed on TV.

However, there are ways to end a marriage that are aimed at finding the best resolution for both parties and a minimum of negativity. If you are hoping for as cooperative a way as possible to end your marriage, you might consider divorce mediation. Speak with a knowledgeable DuPage County, IL divorce lawyer to find out more.

How Does Divorce Mediation Work?

For couples considering divorce who are not interested in a combative process, mediation offers a smoother approach. A mediator is appointed to facilitate communication. She is neutral and her goal is to foster the creation of a settlement that both spouses can accept. By focusing on communicating openly and honestly and cooperating, mediation can encourage creative thinking to find acceptable solutions to complicated issues.

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 Posted on April 03, 2024 in Divorce

The quickest way to get divorced in Illinois is through an uncontested divorce, which means that both parties agree on the terms of the divorce agreement. However, couples who cannot agree will file for a contested divorce with the help of a skilled divorce attorney. In this case, the parties will most likely be ordered by a judge to resolve their differences through mediation.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a legal process in which a mediator tries to help parties in a dispute come to an agreement without having to go to trial. Mediators are neutral parties appointed by the court to help both sides resolve their issues. Many of them are former judges.

A typical mediation session lasts approximately three hours. During that time, the mediator will speak to both parties together and to each one separately. The parties usually know by the end of the meeting whether an agreement will be reached. If there is a settlement, it will be submitted to a court to make it legally binding.

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 Posted on March 28, 2024 in Adoption

When you adopt a stepchild, you become the child’s legal parent. This means that you will be granted certain rights and have legal responsibilities toward the child as if he or she were born to you. Adoption, therefore, requires careful planning and attention to the legal process. Adoption law can be complex, which is why you should consult with an experienced attorney who can walk you through it.

Factors to Consider Before Adopting a Stepchild

Here are a few basic questions you might want to ask yourself before adopting a stepchild:

• How old is the child?
• Where are the child’s parents?
• How is your current relationship with the child?
• What needs does the child have and can you meet those needs?
• Is this adoption in the best interest of the child?
• How long will the adoption process take?
• What will life be like after adoption?
• What responsibilities will you have towards the child?

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 Posted on March 28, 2024 in Divorce

Labels can sometimes be useful because they help us understand the world by organizing it into various categories that share common traits. However, most people do not fit perfectly into labels. Things that work for one person might not work for another, and the way one person reacts to something can be completely different from how someone else would react to the same situation.

That is why there are several different ways of ending a marriage. Every couple, including couples who no longer want to be together, has its own unique dynamic and ways of dealing with situations. For some couples, the idea of fighting out their divorce in court simply does not suit them. People who meet the conditions necessary and have the means required to do so might consider trying to end their marriage through what is known as collaborative divorce. This article will explain what that means, and if this seems like it might be a good option for you to consider, speak with an experienced Arlington Heights, IL divorce attorney to find out more.

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 Posted on March 21, 2024 in Powers of Attorney

By nature, humans are an optimistic species. We do not want to think of a future where we can no longer take care of ourselves and need hired help to get us through the day. While many people end up living in nursing homes, most of them probably never pictured that when they were younger, preferring instead to imagine they would be forever young, healthy, and strong. Unfortunately, that is not the reality for most of us.

While it is human nature to prefer focusing on a rosy future, people can also manage to overcome that to plan for a hypothetical future that may not be so grand. That is why people draw up savings plans for rainy days, prenuptial agreements, wills, and even business contracts - they are forcing themselves to think about negative things that might happen and thus protecting their future selves in case that comes to be.

This same mindset is what leads people to sign over power of attorney to someone they trust. Again, no one wants to think of a future where they are incapable of making decisions for themselves, but power of attorney is there to protect them in the hypothetical event that it happens. If you have been thinking about this as well, let an experienced Lombard, IL estate planning attorney answer your questions and arm you with more information.

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 Posted on March 14, 2024 in Divorce

Anytime a couple goes through a divorce, they need to figure out how exactly they will divide all of their debts and assets. This means they need to consider the bank accounts that they currently use as well as anything they have put away for their retirement. Someone who has been working all their adult life and slowly putting away money to finance their retirement might be concerned that all their hard work was in vain and their spouse is going to take everything. If you are going to get divorced and worried about the fate of your retirement funds, an Arlington Heights, IL divorce attorney can review your specific case and offer insight and guidance for moving forward.

Will My Spouse Get Half of Everything I Have Been Putting Away for My Retirement?

Generally speaking, any assets acquired by either spouse during the marriage will be considered marital assets and will be subject to a division of assets in a divorce settlement. On the other hand, anything acquired before the couple was married will likely be considered nonmarital assets and not need to be divided.

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