Every young couple in Chicago has at least considered adopting a pet together. Newlyweds might buy a puppy together, thinking they’ll raise it together for the rest of their lives. However, what happens to the puppy if you and your spouse decide to split? The court...
Firm News
The rocky landscape of LGBTQ family law in the U.S.
The amount of research done into LGBTQ families has been growing all the time, and it's only through the work of scholars and researchers that some of the harmful myths surrounding these communities have finally been dispelled. These types of families are nothing new,...
What financial stressors are unique to grey divorce?
Grey divorcees, who are 50 and over, often face problems that younger divorcing couples may not even think of. In particular, many of these hurdles come in the form of financial problems. But what are these problems? How do they impact you? And what can you do to...
How can you handle the stress from a divorce?
To divorce, your partner may be one of the most stressful moments of your life. While it can be a new beginning and the start of a better life, it can also be a source of fear and anxiety. Divorce opens a new chapter of your life. The Huffington Post explains that...
Establishing paternity or parentage for GLBTQ couples
In Illinois and other states, establishing parentage is an essential step to protecting parental rights. Most state laws and court rulings have primarily addressed heterosexual couples, and as such, most materials available to the public address paternity for...
Navigating the adoption process as a hopeful LGBTQ parent
If you are a member of the LGBTQ community, you may worry about challenges you could face on your path to adopting a child. The Child Welfare Information Gateway answers questions you may have about navigating the adoption process as an LGBTQ parent. Preparing for...
Contesting prenuptial agreements
As your marriage ends, you and your spouse may disagree about how to split up your belongings. Perhaps you signed a prenuptial agreement spelling out who has the rights to what property. Yet now that divorce is upon you, the agreement may seem questionable. Certain...
Creating pet agreements before or after a marriage
Illinois considers inherited or gifted assets acquired by an individual during a marriage as separate property. All other assets obtained during a marriage, however, belong to both spouses unless an agreement states otherwise. As noted by Forbes magazine, a prenuptial...
How can I increase parenting time while maintaining my career?
Maintaining a good work-life balance is challenging even under the best of circumstances. When going through a divorce, you may find yourself struggling even further. It is important for both parents to spend ample quality time with their children, but it is also...
Tips for same-sex adoption
Same-sex couples in Illinois who want to start a family must understand the unique obstacles standing between them and successful adoption. According to The Chicago Tribune, nonprofit adoption and foster care advocacy groups encourage more same-sex couples to adopt,...