I recently wrote about the options for dividing, disposing of, or continuing to operate a business that was owned jointly by a divorcing couple. But, that’s just one of many scenarios that may arise when a business or interest in a business is at issue in a divorce case. Here are the key questions in play when one spouse wholly or partially owns the business: Is … Continue reading Dividing Assets When One Spouse Owns a Business
CO-PARENTING IN SUMMER: HOW TO AVOID THE LEGAL SUMMERTIME BLUES
Co-parenting under optimal circumstances requires prompt communication, incredible patience, and the flexibility to change a parenting arrangement with little, if any, notice. Some parents thrive with routines, while other parents adapt well to rapid changes. Rapid change for a child is called summer break, where the educational routines of the past nine months go out the proverbial window to be replaced by an active schedule … Continue reading CO-PARENTING IN SUMMER: HOW TO AVOID THE LEGAL SUMMERTIME BLUES
Parenting Across State Lines
Sharing parenting time can be a challenge, even when both parents live in the same town. Distance, of course, makes splitting time and exchanging children even more complicated. When the parents live in different states, there may be added legal issues and procedural requirements, as well. Practical Issues in Interstate Custody Cases One obvious challenge in most interstate cases is the way travel time and … Continue reading Parenting Across State Lines
How To Know When it’s Time to Divorce Your Narcissistic Spouse, By Dr. Natalie Jones, PsyD, LPCC
Divorce is not an easy decision to make, especially when you have always believed that you were going to be married forever. However, what you didn’t count on when you promised to stay with your partner forever is that they would drastically change. Your spouse literally became the living form of Dr. Jekyll and Mr./Mrs. Hyde. To say that living with them has become unbearable … Continue reading How To Know When it’s Time to Divorce Your Narcissistic Spouse, By Dr. Natalie Jones, PsyD, LPCC
Navigating Divorce When You Share a Business
Division of assets in a divorce can be a difficult and contentious process under any circumstances. When there’s a business in the mix, the stakes are often higher and the process even more complicated. The options for divorcing business owners vary depending on several factors, such as: Whether one party owned the business prior to the marriage How the business is structured and owned Whether … Continue reading Navigating Divorce When You Share a Business
Stare down the Serpent: A Guide for Divorcing a Narcissist
In recognition of the World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day on June 1st. Life with a malignant narcissist is crippling. These cads chip away at your self worth and confidence every day. Like a slow-growing cancer, you often don’t recognize the danger until it’s too late. They always blame you even when it’s not your fault. After being told daily that you are worthless (both directly … Continue reading Stare down the Serpent: A Guide for Divorcing a Narcissist
Residential Roulette: Marital Claims to Non-Marital Real Estate
For most, their home is the single most valuable asset of the marriage. But did you know that in Illinois, if one owns a house prior to marriage, it is considered his or her non-marital property? Upon divorce, the owning spouse takes back the entire asset (including all the equity accumulated during the marriage). Whether you are already married to somebody who owned a home … Continue reading Residential Roulette: Marital Claims to Non-Marital Real Estate
10 Ways to Lose a Child Custody Case
Note that I have framed the title of this article in the negative: how to lose a custody case, rather than how to win one. Why is this? It is because there are no sure-fire ways to achieve a successful result in a child custody case. There are, however, ways you can assuredly lose one. Here are ten examples of how to “lose” a child … Continue reading 10 Ways to Lose a Child Custody Case
Show and Tell: Pulling Back the Curtain Part Two
After we stabilize the family through temporary agreements or court orders, we work to develop an action plan to move forward. Child Custody Issues Before tackling the financial issues, we must first determine whether there are any contested issues involving the children. Courts require parents to try to develop a joint parenting plan. The parenting plan reflects the parenting arrangements to be implemented after the … Continue reading Show and Tell: Pulling Back the Curtain Part Two
Your Divorce: Pulling Back The Curtain Part One
What is it that we do when you entrust your divorce case to us? Most are unaware of the ways their lawyer works for them “behind the scenes.” I am writing this article to shine a light on what we do to help our clients through this difficult time. The GO Meeting When you retain our firm, we schedule a GO Meeting with you. During … Continue reading Your Divorce: Pulling Back The Curtain Part One