Waukegan Family Law Blog

Is my partner cheating?

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in divorce on Sunday, March 10, 2019.

Many marriages cannot survive infidelity. Because this is considered to be such a serious issue, most spouses become quite alarmed when they notice signs that their partner might be unfaithful. While every person is different, Psychology Today provides the following tips on how you can recognize the common signs of infidelity in a marriage.

Many spouses become highly secretive when it comes to mobile devices when they are being unfaithful. This can include devices like cell phones and laptops, which may suddenly have passwords attached or the previous password may be changed. Also, be wary of the deletion of messages or browser history, as this can be a sign that your spouse is trying to hide messages or other information.

Set up a pet custody arrangement after divorce

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in animals and divorce on Friday, February 22, 2019.

When Illinois residents divorce, they typically need to consider what will happen to their pet. Some couples may decide to share custody of their pet and in this situation, they may need a custody agreement.

When people write a custody arrangement, there are several things they need to include in this document. The Legal Dictionary says that a couple should talk about which one of them can spend more time with this animal and who can afford pet care. If a couple has children, they might want to keep the kids and the pet together. Some people may choose to have joint custody of their pet. In this situation, a pet might spend an equal amount of time with both people and they may both pay for food and vet bills.

Don't let social media tank your divorce

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Strategy is everything when you are going through a divorce. That's why it's so vital to rein in your social media usage during the pendency of the divorce proceedings.

Does that mean that you have to permanently shutter your Twitter account and bid permanent adieu to Facebook? No, not at all. But it does mean that, at least for the time being, you will lower your social media profile and think twice before posting online.

How can I make the most of custody visits?

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in parenting time on Sunday, February 10, 2019.

If your ex has primary custody of your children, you’ll likely be allowed visitation. It’s crucial that you play a role in the life of your children and visits allow you to do just that. Making the most of your visits is also important, and Live About offers tips on how you can do so.

Be respectful to your ex

How can my family adjust when adopting an older child?

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in adoptions on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

Adopting an older child in Illinois can be challenging for many families. While your heart is surely in the right place, the transition from one situation to another is often difficult for many kids, especially those who've been in foster care for some time. In this case, Live About offers the following advice, which can help the whole family adjust.

It’s important to keep your adopted child’s previous living situation confidential. This is especially true for children coming from troubled backgrounds, who may feel ashamed about their situations. While most people are bound to be sympathetic, others may react to the information in an unproductive way. Additionally, all people must be able to retain privacy as they see fit, especially in a situation like this.

Divorce or uncontested divorce- which is right for you?

By Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in divorce on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

Ending a marriage can be a complicated and emotional process and if you're contemplating divorce, you may be wondering about your options. Depending on how amicable a relationship is and whether a couple agrees on the issues of their separation, a couple can choose to pursue an uncontested divorce, saving themselves both time and money.

Divorce and uncontested divorce have the same result, but the way that they arrive at that result is different. Knowing the differences between them can help you determine the best path for your situation.

How can I recover financially after divorce?

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in family law on Monday, January 14, 2019.

Divorced people in Illinois often don’t realize how much their finances will be impacted as a result. Asset division and orders to pay child or spousal support can affect your bottom line, to the point where you may be concerned about making ends meet. In this case, Entrepreneur offers the following advice on how you can recover financially after a divorce.

The first step is to identify your debt to income ratio. This will give you an idea of how much money you need to meet your financial needs each month. If there are deficits, look for areas where you can cut back on spending. For instance, if you eat out often consider making more meals at home. You can also take on more hours at work to increase your income until you reach financial stability again.

Who gets the dog in divorce?

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law on Friday, January 4, 2019.

If you’re in the midst of a divorce, you know that there are a number of hot-button issues to consider as you disentangle your lives, such as child custody and dividing up the property and assets. But an increasingly common and heated topic couples face is who gets to keep the dog after they split.

Families have long considered their pets to be a member of their family and the thought of losing Fido to your ex can be heartbreaking. People have strong bonds with their dogs and cats which makes deciding pet custody an emotional and complicated process. A recent change to Illinois law agrees.

What are the types of adoption?

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in adoptions on Monday, December 24, 2018.

Adoption is a wonderful process where you can give a child a loving home in Illinois. It enables you to be a part of another person's life and make a huge impact. When considering adoption, it helps to learn a bit more about the options. The Adoption Center explains there are three different types of adoption, excluding step-parent adoption, which is different than adopting a child not already in your family.

When people think of adoption, they often think of independent adoption. This is where you work with a company that specializes in placing children with new families. This is usually the most expensive type. It often allows you to adopt a child as an infant. It may also be possible to be involved with the mother when she is pregnant.

Overcoming the financial strain caused by a divorce

On behalf of Thomas M. Gurewitz, Attorney At Law posted in divorce on Saturday, December 8, 2018.

Divorce can influence many areas of a person's life in Illinois. They may experience changes in the relationships they have with their children and people who were mutual friends of both them and their ex. They may notice that their job performance is affected as they cope with the emotional turmoil of their split. Perhaps the most prevalent, they may experience financial strain as they work to reestablish their independence.

Experts recommend that despite the chaos and momentary uncertainty of the future, that people refrain from panicking because of their divorce situation. With the right tools, resources and professional intervention where necessary, people can recover from divorce and continue to live a successful life from a financial standpoint. They also recommend that people formulate a plan for their future and establish a budget where they can be confident about knowing how their money is being spent.