Parents who decide to end their marriage and get a divorce will need to make decisions about a variety of issues related to child custody. In many cases, parents may be able to agree on how to handle these issues either by negotiating a settlement or participating in mediation. If an agreement cannot be reached, litigation may be necessary, and the final decisions will be made by the judge in their case. Matters related to child custody will be addressed in a document called a parenting plan that will be incorporated into the couple’s final divorce decree.

Terms of a Parenting Plan

The two main components of child custody that will be addressed in a parenting plan are the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. Parental responsibilities, which are commonly known as legal custody, refer to the parents’ rights to make decisions for their children. A parenting plan will describe whether parents will share some or all of the areas of responsibility equally or whether one parent will have primary or sole responsibility in certain areas. The types of responsibility that will be addressed include decisions related to children’s healthcare and medical treatment, educational matters, choice of religion, and children’s participation in religious services and training, and extracurricular activities.

Parenting time, commonly known as physical custody, refers to when children will be spending time with each parent and staying in each parent’s home. A parenting plan will specify a schedule for regular, daily parenting time, detailing the days and times when children will be in the care of each parent. Parenting time schedules will also need to be created for days that fall outside of the regular schedule, such as summer vacations, spring break, school breaks during the winter holidays, other major holidays, and special days such as children’s or parents’ birthdays, providing a full understanding of which parent will care for children on these days.

Most people are familiar with the concept of alimony, in which one spouse makes payments to the other after a couple gets a divorce. However, the purpose of these types of payments is often misunderstood. Spousal support, which is known as spousal maintenance in Illinois, is not meant to punish or reward either spouse. In fact, the reason a couple’s marriage ended will usually not be considered when determining whether maintenance is appropriate. Instead, spousal maintenance is meant to address any disparity between the parties’ incomes and financial resources. It can help a spouse who earns a lower income maintain their accustomed standard of living and begin taking steps to support themselves.

Factors Considered When Determining Eligibility for Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance will not be awarded in every divorce, and it is usually only appropriate if one party requires financial support to be able to meet their ongoing needs. Spouses may agree that spousal maintenance will be paid as part of their divorce settlement, or a prenuptial agreement may specify that spousal support will or will not be awarded. If the spouses disagree about whether spousal support would be appropriate, the judge in their case will decide whether to award maintenance after considering factors such as:

• The income earned by each spouse, the marital property distributed to each party, and any separate property owned by either spouse
• The parties’ ongoing financial needs
• The standard of living the parties were accustomed to during their marriage
• Each spouse’s realistic ability to earn an income both currently and in the future
• Issues that affect each spouse’s employment and financial situation, including their age, health, education, skills, and liabilities
• Whether the spouse who is seeking financial support has experienced any impairment to their ability to earn an income due to focusing on household or domestic responsibilities, including delaying education or career opportunities in favor of providing care for the couple’s children
• Whether the spouse who is seeking maintenance will need time to receive education or training in order to pursue employment and become self-supporting
• Whether the spouse who is seeking spousal support assisted with the other party’s education, training, or career advancement, including through financial assistance or performing services.
• Whether the party who is being asked to pay spousal support has experienced any impairment of their ability to earn an income at present or in the future
• Whether decisions about child custody will have any effect on either party’s ability to pursue or maintain employment
• Any other relevant factors that are just and equitable

Contact Our Geneva Spousal Maintenance Attorney

Whether you believe that you should receive spousal support or do not believe that you should be required to pay support to your former spouse, the Law Offices of Douglas B. Warlick & Associates can advise you on how the law applies to your case. With more than 40 years of experience in family law cases, Attorney Warlick can provide you with representation and make sure that spousal maintenance and other issues are addressed correctly during your divorce. To schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you resolve your legal issues, contact our Kane County spousal support lawyer at 630-232-9700.

After a trying year due to COVID-19, many people are looking forward to 2021 with a vaccine being distributed throughout the country. However, there is growing concern that there could be a pandemic within the pandemic. Reports of domestic abuse have increased during the months of 2020. With much of the country’s workforce laid off or working remotely from home, and the uncertainty of the virus, tensions in many households have run high. Although stay-at-home orders issued at the start of the health crisis were intended to protect the public and prevent widespread infection, they left many victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) trapped with their abusers. However, they do have options for protecting themselves and their children. 

Illinois Orders of Protection 

Those who are subjected to abuse or harassment can take legal action against their abusers. Orders of protection, also known as restraining orders, are typically sought by domestic violence victims. Under Illinois law, emergency orders can be obtained immediately and may last up to 21 days. Plenary orders can last up to two years but may be extended in certain situations. If someone fears for their safety or that of their children, then it is critical to seek help and take steps to get out of the dangerous situation.  

As this year draws to a close, Illinois residents and people throughout the world are no doubt looking forward to a healthier and happier new year. The coronavirus pandemic changed our way of life in 2020, and we all did our best to adjust to a “new normal.” In a concerted effort to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus, federal, state, and local officials issued orders to limit in-person gatherings and require that face masks be worn indoors. Many non-essential Illinois businesses were closed, and those that were allowed to stay open have reduced their staff and hours of operation. As a result, numerous individuals lost their jobs and filed for unemployment over the past nine months. This economic downturn has led some parents who are divorced or who were never married to worry about how they are going to pay their bills, including meeting their child support obligations.

Illinois Child Support Laws

There are many issues that need to be addressed in a divorce when children are involved, and unmarried parents may also need to consider these matters when they break up. If a couple cannot come to an agreement on certain matters, the court becomes involved. A judge will make decisions based on what is in the best interests of the children. Under Illinois law, child support orders are based on a formula that includes both parents’ net incomes. This is referred to as the Income Shares model, and it is meant to ensure that both parents contribute toward the costs of raising their children. 

Circumstances That Warrant a Child Support Order Modification

Once a child support order is issued in an Illinois divorce or child custody case, the payment amount may be modified if there is a substantial change in circumstances. For example, if a parent’s earning ability or a child’s financial needs have changed, that could be reason to request a modification. 

A divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life, regardless of whether you were married for a few years or a few decades. When you and your spouse have children together, adapting to life after the marriage ends can be very difficult. You will have to learn how to co-parent your children, even if you do not see eye-to-eye on everything. However, the most important thing to remember in a high-conflict divorce is to keep your children’s best interests in mind. “Parallel parenting” is an arrangement in which divorced spouses can co-parent by disengaging from each other, with limited direct contact, while remaining fully connected to their children. This version of co-parenting can be appropriate for ex-spouses who are unable to communicate with each other in a healthy or civil manner. 

Co-Parenting With Your Children’s Best Interests in Mind

One of the obstacles that divorced parents often face is determining how to resolve disputes over child-related issues, such as the allocation of parental responsibilities (child custody) and parenting time (visitation). In some cases, parents can agree who will be granted the majority of the decision-making authority, including decisions regarding medical care, education, and religious upbringing. If they cannot reach a mutual arrangement, then the court will decide for them based on factors that affect the children’s best interests. For example, one parent may assume the decision-making responsibility for medical decisions, while the other parent handles anything related to educational goals. While both parents may agree on major decisions regarding their children’s upbringing, they may separately decide the logistics of day-to-day parenting when the children are in each parent’s care. That means each household might have a different set of rules related to discipline or other issues.

With parallel parenting, the ex-spouses typically only communicate through written means, such as email or text messages. That means there is limited in-person contact, face-to-face interaction such as video calls, or even phone conversations. This type of co-parenting can be especially helpful for high-conflict divorces in which the former partners do not get along and are prone to arguing. By using this method, you and your ex can work out the details of where children will stay on certain holidays via electronic means instead of getting into a heated dispute in front of the kids.