Even if ending your marriage is the right decision, your divorce may be hard on your kids. After all, children with divorced parents often experience anger, depression, anxiety and even academic decline. Providing structure and stability may help you combat many of...
Child Custody
Scheduling time as a non-custodial parent
Residents of Chicago and nearby areas of Illinois might want to learn more about what the non-custodial parent can do to ensure the mental and physical well being of their child. Sometimes imagined as "deadbeats", the non-custodial parent may bust this myth. They may...
Mistakes to avoid when drafting a parenting plan
Divorcing parents will have to work through numerous negotiations at every stage of the process. From financial affairs such as the division of assets and debt responsibility to physical elements such as the parenting plan, both parties must find a compromise that...
What is parenting time abuse?
Many Illinois parents go through the trouble of obtaining a court-ordered custody arrangement, willingly or otherwise, only to face repeated violations from the other parent. When your co-parent disregards a custody order, it is not only frustrating for you, but it...
Can parallel parenting help us post-divorce?
In the majority of cases, most persons post-divorce would be happy to not see their ex-spouse ever again or at least not for a very long time. However, if you are raising children with your ex-spouse, this is not a possibility. It is probable that you and your...
What are the dangers of parental alienation?
Illinois parents often struggle to strike a balance after a divorce. It is hard to co-parent your child with someone you likely are not on the best of terms with. However, many parents in your situation come up with a livable arrangement that works for all parties....
Excessive drinking and child custody
Whether you are struggling with an alcohol problem or your ex is battling a crippling drinking problem, it is very important to think about the different ways in which alcoholism impacts child custody. First of all, your child's best interests must remain a top...
Custody in cases of interstate or international moves, part 2: Akula v. Akula
Our prior post on interstate and international custody reviewed the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). In that post, we discussed the requirements for deciding which court has jurisdiction over a custody matter when one parent moves to a...
Child custody and addressing an anxiety disorder
There are many hardships that those working through the custody process encounter, such as concerns about a child's future to confusion regarding the ins and outs of the process. For some people, such as those with anxiety disorders, dealing with child custody issues...
Custody in cases of interstate or international moves, part 1: The UCCJEA
If your ex-spouse moves to another state or even another country and takes your child, which court will determine the custody of your child? It can raise difficult legal questions regarding which state (or country) has jurisdiction to make the original custody...
