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When their marital relationship breaks down and spouses are looking at options for ending the marriage, most will immediately turn their thoughts to divorce. What you may not realize is that legal separation could be a route to consider, depending on your situation and objectives.   The concept once referred to the period of time a couple lived apart before divorcing, which is why there is some confusion about separation. Additional misunderstandings arise because the relevant statutory sec...   Read more ...  

Regardless of whether parents are in an intact relationship and living under one roof, both will have child support obligations under Illinois law. It is typically the nonresidential parent who will have to pay, as the residential parent is presumed to be contributing financially with the child living in his or her home.   However, beyond this general arrangement, the legal details under Illinois child support laws are far more complex. The state recently enacted legislation that implements...   Read more ...  

The legal concepts that apply to many aspects of your life are constantly evolving to accommodate changing times. The same is true for Illinois’ statute on child support. The basic duty to support has not been altered significantly, so both parents are still obligated to provide for their children. The amount runs according to statutory child support guidelines, which consider:   Each parent’s income. The number of children to be supported. How many overnights the child spends with the...   Read more ...  

When going through a divorce, couples will have to make decisions on many legal issues, including who will get the marital home. The party that gets to keep the marital home in a divorce, if either at all, largely depends on the facts of the case. Marital homes are generally considered marital property and as such, are subject to division during divorce.   In many cases, the marital home is sold and the couple divides the proceeds fairly. However, when one person wants to keep the home in a...   Read more ...  

After a divorce that involves minor children, one parent is typically ordered to pay child support, as well as other expenses related to their education, healthcare, and other costs. Child support is expected to help the other parent to pay for the child’s daily expenses. If you believe you are no longer responsible for paying support, it is important to speak to a child support lawyer in Chicago that can help you petition to terminate child support. Terminating Support Upon the Age of 18 It i...   Read more ...  

During or after a divorce, the financially advantaged spouse may be required to make alimony (spousal maintenance) payments to their former partner. In Illinois, there are several different types of spousal support, including:   Temporary alimony Reviewable alimony Fixed term alimony Indefinite alimony Both fixed term alimony and indefinite alimony can last for many years. However, these payments may stop early if the receiving spouse remarries or enters a new cohabiting relationship. Her...   Read more ...