Let's face it, while incredibly rewarding, parenting also comes with many challenges. For parents who are divorced or separated and who share child custody and parenting responsibilities, these challenges are often compounded by communication problems and a general failure on the part of parents to come together and get on…
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For many people, Thanksgiving and the holiday season are about spending time with family members and friends, making memories and honoring traditions. Despite the celebratory and joyous overtones, for many, the holidays can be stressful. This is often especially true for individuals and families who have been affected by a…
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Even a seemingly smooth divorce process can be difficult for both parents and children to navigate from an emotional standpoint. Thus, battles involving child custody and other similar issues can cause even greater emotional stress -- stress that can have long-term implications. A few tips might help people in Illinois…
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Divorce is difficult. If children are involved it can make things more complicated. And, like an onion, the layers of complexity can lead to a lot of tears. To minimize the upset, experienced Peoria family law attorneys know the value of keeping the focus on what's most important -- for…
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The case we have been discussing, V.L. v E.L., has been on the U.S. Supreme Court's agenda since the end of December. The court is not ready to hear arguments, though. The parties -- and the rest of us -- are waiting to find out if the court will hear…
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We are talking about a case that may be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. It comes out of Alabama, and it addresses an issue that was not settled when same-sex marriage became legal in every state last summer. The issue at hand is adoption by same-sex couples.The parties are…
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We are wrapping up our discussion of upcoming changes to child custody laws, specifically the laws regarding the relocation of a custodial parent. The changes are not minor tweaks. Rather, the Illinois General Assembly has completely rewritten the laws that relate to divorce, custody, visitation and support. The new law,…
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We are talking about one change in Illinois family law that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The General Assembly has completely reworked the state's approach to the dissolution of marriage, especially laws that address the parent/child relationship.The new statutes are designed to reduce the negative effects of…
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In our Feb. 23, 2015, post, The challenges associated with child custody relocation cases, we wrote about what divorced parents in Illinois must do if one parent wants to relocate. On January 1, 2016, the law will change significantly. The current law only applies if the child of divorced or…
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The custody dispute we have been talking about has taken a number of very unusual turns. At times, the situation sounds like the plot of a movie, with international locations, accusations of abuse and kidnapping, and years of fighting over visitation agreements. The parents are at war, and the effect…
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On July 21, 2015, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 57 into law and, with that signature, took the state many steps closer to a more modern approach to family law. The act will significantly change the laws governing marriage, divorce, custody and other matters that fall under the…
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Earlier this week, the world was introduced to Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner, who was formerly known to the world as famed Olympic athlete, Bruce Jenner, has shined a spotlight on the many issues and challenges faced by transgender men and women.Jenner, who is age 65, is also a parent and his…
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In an ideal world, a child would live with both of his or her parents and a home would be dominated by love, stability and support. Unfortunately, in the real world, an analysis by the Pew Research Center revealed that only an estimated 43 percent of U.S. children today live…
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We often discuss the many important matters that must be decided during a divorce. From dividing marital assets to deciding child custody and support issues, ideally the culmination of the divorce process means that both parties walk away with clear and established assets, custody rights and child support expectations. Except…
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In the wake of a divorce decisions related to child custody are often a major source of anxiety and concern for both parents. Divorced fathers often have special cause for concern as U.S. family courts still award sole child custody, primarily to mothers, in roughly 80 percent of custody cases.…
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In previous blog posts, we've discussed child custody cases and how the guiding principle in all child custody decisions is what's deemed to be in a child's best interest. Under this premise, the family courts must take numerous considerations into account when making child custody decisions including a parent's fitness…
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When a child's parents divorce, he or she is likely to be impacted by many changes. For children from wealthier families, these changes are likely more significant in number and impact thereby leading to negative behavioral changes. This is one theory that researchers cite in helping explain findings from a…
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As the nights grow cooler and the days shorter, school-aged children in and around Peoria, Illinois are heading back to school. This time of year can be difficult for both parents and children as days are jam packed with learning, socializing, after-school activities and homework. For divorcing or recently divorced…
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Each year, divorcing couples in the Peoria area head to court to fight over custody of minor-aged children. In many cases, each parent is desperately seeking to be awarded as much time as possible with their children. However, even in cases where a father has and wants to continue to…
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For parents with minor-aged children, matters related to child custody are among some of the most difficult and emotionally charged of all divorce issues. In some cases involving children under the age of 18, parents are able to agree upon child custody and visitation matters. In many cases, however, parents…
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In the wake of a divorce, many newly single individuals feel liberated and excited as they look to the future. There's no doubt that divorce brings the opportunity to rebuilt one's life and focus on future goals. For divorced parents, divorce also presents challenges as, in most cases, regular contact…
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It's 5:30 on a Saturday night. You head to your 15-year-old daughter's room, knock on the door and ask her to come down to eat. As usual, you're met with silence. Several requests later, you pry open the door at which time she yells at you to go away. This…
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Around this time of year, it is normal to yearn for green grass, palm trees and sandy beaches. It is nor surprise that you may be seeing an additional number of Sandals vacation commercials. The same with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. But if you are newly divorced or have problems…
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Resolutions abound in January as most people want to start the new year with a fresh resolve. Some may pledge to lose weight, others may promise to go to church, while some endeavor to start new businesses. For those who promise to spend more time with their kids (especially if…
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With so much emphasis on whether parties should divorce during the holidays, or how people contemplating divorce should prepare for when they decide to file, we find it appropriate to focus this post on children. For kids, the holidays are supposed to be a special time, and oftentimes parents lose…
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If you see difficulty on the horizon regarding parenting time during the holidays, you are certainly not alone. The holiday season is notoriously the most difficult time of the year for divorcing parents (as well as parents who are newly separated). Because of this, old traditions are apt to be…
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Parenting is just as important when couples are married as they are when they are divorced. In some situations, parenting the children of divorce takes on an added significance, since these kids need additional guidance to deal with the emotional aspects of a split. For instance, kids of parents who…
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With Halloween coming next week, it is expected that children will be excited about dressing up as their favorite super hero, terrifying zombie or princess. They also look forward to canvassing their neighborhood in order to get a bounty of candy and treats.However, what has become an annual occasion for…
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State jurisdictional issues can make child custody battles very complex. When tribal sovereignty and federal laws are added to the mix, a case becomes even more complicated, as the "Baby Veronica" saga has recently demonstrated. In fact, the Baby Veronica case has gone on so long that the child at…
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Last week, NBA star Dwyane Wade agreed to pay his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, $5 million in a divorce settlement after a five-day trial in Chicago. The settlement came three years after the couple's divorce was finalized by a Cook County family court. However, the drama didn't end there. On the…
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In Illinois, judicial circuit courts must offer mediation programs for child custody and visitation cases according to Supreme Court Rule 905. Earlier this month, the Illinois Supreme Court announced that the rules will be expanded to include child custody cases involving a request from the custodial parents to move with…
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While many Illinois residents are familiar with the phrase 'separation of church and state,' a case out of Minnesota this month has some people wondering whether a judge's religious views can really have a significant impact on the outcome of a child custody case. The concerns surrounding the 2011 child…
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Along with many other topics, immigration reform has become one of the top things that President Obama has decided to handle before the end of his second term. But while these new reforms will change how immigrants gain access to the United States, they may also have a major impact…
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