Waukegan Family Law Blog
Stepparent adoption: Who must consent?
In a blended family, stepparents and stepchildren often form a close bond. However, that relationship does not give stepparents a parent-child relationship that is recognized by law. Adopting a stepchild allows stepparents to establish such a relationship with a child...
Illinois property division: What you should know
One of the most difficult topics to negotiate in the final divorce settlement is property division. Taking account of all the property and assets you have accumulated throughout your marriage and determining how to split it fairly may seem almost impossible. As you...
Tips for navigating co-parenting issues
Parenting can sometimes be challenging after divorce. You may no longer be married to your ex, but you must still co-parent together, which can bring up a lot of issues. You might be spending less time with your child than you would like, or you may be dealing with...
Is there a right way to tell your kid about divorce?
Illinois parents have a lot of steps to take when getting a divorce. There is an emotional and mental health toll besides the legalities. And, on top of all of that, your child’s mental health may be affected as well. The first hurdle is telling your children. How...
How should you handle living with an ex during and/or after divorce?
Perhaps you and your ex-spouse were reluctant to do so, but you remained together in your marital home in Illinois during and after your divorce. Often it’s due to not being able to solely afford the costs of the obligations on the house and sometimes it’s due to...
Pets get near-human status in IL divorces
It is not uncommon for parents to battle over the allocation of parental responsibilities. In most cases, parents want to keep as much parenting time for themselves as possible. This is especially common when one spouse handled most of the parenting responsibilities...
Sharing parental responsibilities after divorce
In the majority of divorces, parents share the allocation of parental responsibilities. These responsibilities include decision-making and parenting time. The reason for this is simple: children tend to do best when both parents are raising them, even if those parents...
What benefits does mediation offer?
If you and your spouse have begun thinking about divorce, but neither of you looks forward to hashing out your marital problems in a public courtroom, you may wish to consider obtaining a mediated divorce as opposed to a litigated one. Mediate.com lists the major...
4 benefits of an uncontested divorce
Most people believe divorce is always a battle, but that’s doesn’t have to be the case. If your relationship has reached its end, you have the chance to seek out a divorce that doesn’t cause you or your partner additional stress. Uncontested divorce allows you and...
Assess your pet’s well-being when you determine custody
Courts recognize the well-being of animal companions Pet parents in Illinois cherish their animal companions as family members. Since 2018, Illinois law has allowed divorce courts to approve pet arrangements similar to shared custody 750 ILCS 5/452-502. The law...
