Posts Categorized: Divorce

From now until the end of time, divorce attorneys will argue over money on behalf of their clients.  It’s the Holy Grail of settlements.  But what happens when your soon-to-be ex-spouse tells you one thing about his/her financial status and posts something else on Facebook?   Recently a Time magazine cover story highlighted examples of soon-to-be ex-spouses swearing they’re not making any money but posting pictures of new pricey purchases on Facebook and other social networks...   Read more ...  

  Earlier this summer, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on a dispute between divorcing parties regarding the division of assets, and, in particular, how spouses’ pensions plans and future Social Security benefits should be taken into account when dividing marital assets.   Division of Assets and Marital Property The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) addresses the division of assets related to a divorce. Upon divorce, parties can either reach an agreement or ha...   Read more ...  

Dissolving a marriage takes time; it is a process that may be equal to the time and effort it took to build the relationship once upon a time. Couples often find themselves in drawn out battles in the courtroom, costing each party a hefty total. Emotionally, the courtroom can become a source of distress and heartache for the divorcing parties. Rather than see the case through in a courtroom, many divorcing couples and their divorce lawyers in Chicago find success with mediation.   Mediation...   Read more ...  

Divorce Litigation – Deposition Preparation So, why is a deposition even necessary? Your spouse’s (opposing) counsel will take your deposition for three main reasons: To determine your personal knowledge of the facts and issues in the case.  In other words, it is to learn your version of the matters involved in the divorce and what you will say in court. To lock you in to a specific set of facts so that you will have to tell the same version in court. To potentially catch you in a lie...   Read more ...  

Is a Pretrial Hearing Right for Your Case? Divorce outcomes are often determined by a judge, however throughout my years as a divorce attorney, there have been many times that pretrial hearings have been used as a less formal way to resolve cases before a final divorce trial. Pretrial hearings are a valuable step within many divorce cases. They help familiarize the court with the pertinent issues of a case. They can assist in settling a divorce case before the case goes to trial.   What Is...   Read more ...  

Prove-up Hearing in Chicago Divorce How a Prove-Up Affects Your Divorce  Divorces can go many different directions. Obviously, some divorces are going to be very contentious, akin to how the media likes to portray them. However, in my many years as a divorce attorney I have witnessed far more divorces ending amicably with a settlement than acrimonious ones.   What is a Prove-Up Hearing? A prove-up is a specific type of hearing during which the parties to a divorce proceeding “prove-up,â...   Read more ...