2016 brings to Illinois a revised and amended Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The new Act brings some substantive changes to the way that divorce and custody is adjudicated in Illinois, but the guideline advice for preparing for a divorce remains steady. If you find yourself headed for divorce,…
Articles Posted in Divorce Coaching
Kane County Divorce: Approaches to Healing: the Unexpected Divorce
One aspect of my practice is helping my clients manage what can be one of the biggest traumas in life….an unexpected divorce. As a divorce and child custody attorney, I am not involved in the practice of therapy, but any experienced and dedicated lawyer in this filed understands that one…
Divorce Loneliness during the Holidays: 10 Ways to Help
I have written in the past during the holidays on the subject of creating new traditions; the idea is that during or after divorce, creating new activities and places to celebrate the holidays with yourself and the children, versus lamenting the loss of past traditions. Trading lamentation for adventure takes…
DuPage Divorce: Mediation
One of the interesting aspects of divorce litigation is the requirement that parents mediate their child custody issues, with the judge assigning a mediator in the initial weeks of the case should the parents not have an agreement as to legal custody (joint vs sole) and parenting time. In some…
Kane County Divorce Lawyer: Managing Children in the Early Stages of Divorce
I had a conversation today with one of my new clients about how to manage the emotions of the minor children during the initial stages of the divorce. An article from Dennis Ortman is helpful and I have cited it below. I do feel that along with parents learning how…
Kane County Divorce: Women and Financial Life After Divorce
Studies confirm that women can suffer economically much more, over time, than men after divorce. You may be receiving child support and spousal support (maintenance), or a combination of the two called in Illinois “unallocated support,” but maintenance is sometimes periodic and reviewable, and you likely cannot rely solely on…
DuPage County Divorce Lawyer: Kids and Divorce
Many complex divorce and custody cases involve mediation sessions, appointments with custody evaluators and guardians ad litem, along with stressful court hearings. Sometimes neglected in the process of divorce is consideration for how the children in the family are faring while the divorce is being processed. In my practice, I…
Kane County Divorce: Divorce Mediation
Is Divorce Mediation for You? Are you wondering: • What is the most informed way, at the least expense, to get divorced? • Would I do better in mediation or in court? • What are the basic standards on parenting plans, child support, spousal support and property division (based on…
20 Reasons to be Thankful for Divorce
1. “I am thankful for becoming the person that I am. I’ve learned so much along the way. Even the pain served a purpose.” -Amber L. 2. “I’m thankful for my self-respect.” -Tom H. 3. “I’m thankful the two of us were able to rebuild our lives. We got out…
Insider’s Divorce Tips
Experienced divorce practitioners have come to develop ideas about certain issues or triggers that can cause the contested divorce process to spiral into chaos or high costs. I have my own ideas about these triggers, one of them involving the parties believing that more negative conflict and more “bomb throwing”…