Posts Categorized: Divorce

It’s a scene from any number of made-for-TV movies: a cunning private detective captures photographs of the cheating spouse in the act. This is the first thought that often comes to mind when imagining the use of private investigation in a divorce matter. But there are numerous scenarios where a private investigator can prove useful… Read more »

In order to begin a divorce proceeding in the state of Illinois, the divorcing party must notify their spouse that a petition for divorce was filed with the court. This is referred to as service of process, and it is accomplished in a number of ways. You may secure the assistance of a county sheriff… Read more »

Another celebrity divorce is making headlines as actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced that they are splitting up after 10 years of marriage. Further fanning the media flames was their declaration to People Magazine that they will continue to live together during and after the dissolution process. While it may sound like a fancy… Read more »

  The negative reputation that surrounds divorce is often well deserved. The dissolution of marriage can be mentally, physically and financially challenging. This reality is especially true when spouses are uncooperative and at odds with one another. To be sure, many individuals are unprepared for the financial burdens that often accompany a divorce, but advanced… Read more »

  Illinois lawmakers are making an effort to overhaul several of the state’s divorce and custody laws. The Senate reportedly passed SB57 in April. Now, its sponsors are hoping to find the same success in the House. The proposed legislation stems from a research study by The Illinois Family Law Study Committee, an advisory board… Read more »

Divorce is the ending of many things: a romantic relationship, a familial unit, a collaboration of finances and shared responsibility for debts. An article by the financial website Bankrate discusses divorce debt and the importance of protecting your credit score throughout the process. According to the article, credit scores often fall dramatically after divorce. This… Read more »

  Prenuptial agreements are contracts between two people in contemplation of marriage. Their purpose is to settle monetary and nonmonetary details that arise if the parties later divorce. Most people are familiar with these agreements, as they are often at the scandalous center of celebrity divorce stories in the news. The terms of the agreement… Read more »

  “For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…” These words are spoken each and every day by couples who vow a lifelong commitment to their spouse. But a recent study examines the significant number of marriages that don’t survive these vows, especially when a serious illness strikes the wife…. Read more »

While adultery is a viable ground for divorce in Illinois, courts cannot consider extra-marital affairs when awarding alimony, or maintenance. (Remember that maintenance is what one spouse pays to the other to ensure that divorce does not impoverish a lower-earning spouse.) However, adultery can affect the division of marital property, particularly if your spouse brings… Read more »

Married couples have three legal de-coupling options: annulment, legal separation and divorce (or dissolution of marriage). Annulment, which treats the marriage like it never happened, is only available in limited circumstances. A couple that legally separates is still married but may maintain separate residences and invoke judicial means to determine each party’s financial rights and… Read more »