Many of our family law cases necessarily involve the appointment by the Court of a GAL or Child’s Representative. Sometimes, there is some question or confusion about the role of the GAL vs. that of the Child’s Rep. In Illinois family law, under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage…
The custody evaluator is a neutral, court-appointed professional (often a licensed psychologist) tasked with conducting an independent clinical evaluation to provide the court with objective information regarding the child(ren)’s best interests. Their role is to assess the family system dynamics, parenting abilities, and the child’s needs to make recommendations about:…
Understanding Dissipation of Marital Assets in an Illinois Divorce: In Illinois divorce cases, the concept of dissipation of marital assets can significantly impact the division of property. Dissipation refers to one spouse’s wasteful or improper use of marital assets for purposes unrelated to the…
Why High-Conflict Divorces with a Narcissist Are So Difficult Divorcing a narcissist is uniquely challenging, often escalating into high-conflict scenarios that drain emotional, financial, and mental resources. Narcissistic personality traits (NPD)—such as grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy—create a perfect storm of obstacles that make these…
Toxic narcissists often use gaslighting in divorce cases to manipulate their spouses and maintain control. Gaslighting—a form of psychological abuse where the narcissist distorts reality to make their spouse doubt their perceptions, memory, or sanity—serves several purposes in this context: Power and Control: Narcissists thrive on dominance. By gaslighting, they…
Parental alienation is often described in terms of three levels or degrees, which reflect the severity of the alienating behaviors and their impact on the child’s relationship with the targeted parent. These levels were notably outlined by experts like Dr. Amy J. L. Baker. Here’s a breakdown: Mild Parental Alienation…
Parental alienation is a serious concern in divorce and child custody cases, particularly in Illinois, where courts prioritize the best interests of the child. It occurs when one parent intentionally or unintentionally manipulates a child to reject, fear, or distance themselves from the other parent, damaging their relationship. This behavior…
Many of our clients have initial questions about how the major decisions for the minor children will be made after the divorce is completed. While joint decision making is conceptually ideal, in many cases requiring the parties to make major decisions together can create disagreements, leading to further litigation. In…
A parent seeking resources about divorce and searching for the right lawyer, is involved in a process that is stressful. It’s important to appreciate that an experienced Family Lawyer (such as our firm) along with other resources can make the process manageable and not unduly stressful for the parents or…
While our firm has strong financial expertise, Michael Roe has always had a strong focus on child custody issues, including complex child custody litigation. In Illinois law, the term “child custody” has been replaced by “allocation of parental responsibilities” and “parenting time” since January 1, 2016, under the Illinois Marriage…