Planning for the Future: College Expenses & Divorce Negotiations

 Posted on May 22, 2014 in Divorce

There are several items to negotiate during a divorce and because of this, it is easy to overlook issues that can later turn out to be essential ones. Many divorcing couples with young children do not consider the issue of college expenses and tuition because it seems years away. However, with each passing year, high school graduation dates move closer to reality.

Regardless of the age of your children, make sure you discuss how college expenses will be divided and shared between both you and your ex, and that it is specifically spelled out in the divorce agreement. Otherwise, one parent could end up footing the majority, if not all, of the expense. And it is not just tuition that needs to be agreed on. Remember to also include other expenses such as fees, books, supplies, housing, transportation, and any other expenses incurred by college students.

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The Benefits of Premarital Counseling before Saying "I Do"

 Posted on May 21, 2014 in Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Come this November, voters in Colorado could be voting on a ballot initiative that would require mandatory pre-marriage education classes for couples wanting to get married. Those getting married for the first time would be required to complete 10 hours of marriage education classes. For people who are planning their second marriage, 20 hours of marriage education is required. And for those making their third trip to the altar, 30 hours of class time would be required.

The pull to initiate premarital counseling was started by Kids Against Divorce, with Colorado being the first targeted. However, the group has plans to present similar bills throughout several states. And although there are currently no states that require pre-marriage education, some couples do choose to attend premarital counseling sessions before they wed.

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Do You Know How Much Your Marital Estate is Really Worth?

 Posted on May 14, 2014 in Divorce

One of the more difficult aspects of divorce is balancing the emotional with the need to stay rational and focused for the “business” side of the divorce. It is especially difficult if you are hoping to reconcile with your spouse before the divorce actually happens. Even if you are the one who wants the divorce, it can still be emotionally painful at times. No matter the situation or how you feel about the breakup of your marriage, there are steps you should take to financially protect yourself, especially when determining how the marital estate will be divided.

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How Interspousal Gifts Can Affect Divorce Settlements

 Posted on May 12, 2014 in Divorce

When discussing divorce property settlements, most people think of items such as the family home, vacation properties, bank accounts, and other financial accounts. However, several other items are also part of a marital estate that do not typically come to mind, including interspousal gifts.

A Florida woman recently learned how a cemetery plot, given to her by a family member, became part of the marital estate due to the legal rules that apply to interspousal gifts.

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Who Pays the Student Loans When a Couple Divorces?

 Posted on May 07, 2014 in Divorce

According to the Institute for College Access and Success, people who graduated with bachelor degrees in 2012 left college with an average of $29,400 in student loans. Those graduates who earned more advanced degrees had even greater student loan debt. And for young couples who marry today, that means double the student loan debt when both spouses bring their educational debt into the marriage.

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Committing Adultery: Still a Crime in Illinois

 Posted on May 05, 2014 in Family Law

As soon as Gov. Maggie Hassan signs the anti-adultery bill, which was recently passed by the legislature, it will no longer be a criminal act to commit adultery in the state of New Hampshire. Currently, adultery is a Class B misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of up to $1,200.

Adultery is still considered a crime in 21 states, including Illinois. The Illinois Criminal Code 720 ILCS 5/11-35 says adultery is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by a prison sentence of up to a year. Not only can the married person committing adultery be charged, but the person with whom they are committing adultery with – even if that person is not married – can also be charged.

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Dealing with Deadbeat Dads and Moms – Illinois Style

 Posted on April 29, 2014 in Child Custody and Support

Fill in the blank, deadbeat _______. More than likely “dad” came to mind. As a play on the word association game we often assume that the fathers are the only ones skipping out on the child support. Not so fast. According to Fox News, moms can be deadbeats too. Actually the percentage of moms skipping out on their obligation is higher than the percentage of dads falling behind in child support payments.

Governor Pat Quinn and the Child Support Services of Illinois highly recommend that parents not honoring their mandated child support orders think twice. Illinois has developed several creative ways of letting yodur employer, friends and neighbors in on your secret. Governor Quinn firmly believes that every child in the state deserves both financial as well as emotional support from each parent. The first step in rectifying a delinquent order is to contact a family law attorney in your area and have the order registered with the court as instructed under Illinois Public Act 097-0926.

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Unjust Child Abuse Allegations: Your First Call, an Illinois Juvenile Attorney

 Posted on April 25, 2014 in Child Custody and Support

For the past few days, your two year old toddler has not been acting like himself. He appears irritable and feverish. You decide to watch him for the next day or so to determine if a call into the pediatrician is warranted. Your son has other ideas. It is now two o'clock in the morning and you are trying to soothe your child who is running a high fever and tugging at his right ear. You make a call into your pediatrician's office as you buckle him in for a ride to the ER with what you suspect is a severe ear infection.

Upon arrival, the triage nurse takes you and your son into the triage room and confirms that your baby is experiencing intense ear pain and directs you to the nearest emergency room to await the on-call pediatrician. A young intern arrives and begins examining your child. You can not help but notice as they confirm the diagnosis that you are receiving odd looks by both the doctor and the nursing staff. She begins to discuss the treatment plan for the ear infection and you welcome the opportunity for relief in sight but then she blurts out, “can you tell me how your son received these bruises?”

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Special Issues Single Parents Face

 Posted on April 22, 2014 in Divorce

As the divorce rate increases, so too does the number of single parent households. Right now, there are fifteen million children in this country who live without a father. That’s 1 in 3 children. And there are almost 5 million children who live without a mother.

Dealing with the issues that come up when raising children can be hard enough in two parent households, but it can be twice as hard for single parents who are doing all the work alone. Single parents typically face more financial struggles, especially single mothers. Statistics show that the average annual income of married parents is $80,000. The average annual income for single mothers is $24,000.

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New Study Reveals Divorce Statistics Even Higher Than Previously Reported

 Posted on April 19, 2014 in Divorce

A new study by the Minnesota Population Center reveals that for the past 30 years, marriage experts have been reading the wrong data when it comes to determining the increases and decreases of this country’s divorce rate. And this new information shows that the divorce rate is even higher than previously thought – especially among baby boomers.

Divorce numbers began rising in the 1970’s as many baby boomers got married and divorced. They’ve kept up that pattern over the past three decades. According to the lead researchers, Steve Ruggles and Sheela Kennedy, the increase has spiked dramatically. In an interview, Ruggles said, “There has been a threefold increase in the divorce rate of people aged between 60 and 65 since 1990. And for those older than 65, the increase is fivefold.”

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