Posted on May 05, 2025 in Family Law

The idea of spending any time with your children under someone else's supervision can feel humiliating and unfair, especially if the social worker is a supervisor and you are paying for their services. Yet some parents in Illinois are ordered to live with supervised parenting time every day.

Understanding why this happens and what the court wants to see is essential for getting through this tough time. It is important to remember that supervised parenting time is not necessarily indicative of your skills as a parent and that, with the help of a Wheaton, Illinois parenting time attorney, it is possible to move beyond this stage.

Why Would a Judge Order Supervised Parenting Time?

Supervised parenting time means one parent is not allowed to be with his or her child alone. If supervised parenting time is ordered and the court finds out the parent was with the child without supervision, it could potentially end the parenting time altogether. Parenting time is not supervised unless the judge believes the parent could endanger the child.

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 Posted on April 28, 2025 in Property Division

Going through a divorce is rarely easy. Challenges can still arise even when both spouses want the divorce and agree on most aspects. When both spouses cannot see eye-to-eye on virtually anything, those challenges increase, and the stress can be overwhelming. If your divorce is one of those relatively rare cases where everything appears to be going amicably, you will no doubt still have questions and concerns regarding how marital assets will be divided.   

Getting a handle on the marital assets to be divided and understanding the difference between marital and non-marital assets can make the process much easier. Separate, or non-marital assets, are those that one spouse had prior to the marriage and gifts or inheritances given to one spouse before or after the marriage. This is true unless those separate assets are commingled with marital assets or marital funds are used to make improvements or repairs.

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 Posted on April 23, 2025 in Divorce

Couples who are over the age of 65 are seeing a significant increase in the rate of divorce. Since the 1990s, the divorce rate for those over the age of 65 has tripled, while for those over the age of 55, the divorce rate has doubled. When you consider that one in 10 people who are divorcing in 2025 are over the age of 65, it is a phenomenon that psychologists struggle to make sense of.

Divorce for those over the age of 55 is known as "gray divorce." The increase in divorce among older Americans leaves a growing number of aging adults alone – and often financially insecure – in their "golden" years. Experts have had difficulty pinpointing the exact reasons for gray divorce, but typically attribute it to our increased longevity and the fact that people are less willing to endure unhappy marriages.

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 Posted on April 10, 2025 in Property Division

As the popularity of cryptocurrency continues to rise, it increasingly becomes a factor in divorce proceedings. Cryptocurrency is mainstream now rather than the niche financial asset it began as. In 2024, the global ownership of cryptocurrencies totaled 420 million people. Ethereum and Bitcoin continue to dominate the cryptocurrency market.

For couples in Illinois, understanding how cryptocurrencies are treated during a divorce can significantly impact asset division and financial settlements. The new administration enacted crypto-related orders on day one, and as digital currencies become increasingly common, their presence in the distribution of marital assets during divorce has grown significantly.

Dividing cryptocurrency during a divorce presents its own set of challenges that are both distinct and more complex than those associated with traditional marital assets. If cryptocurrency is a factor in your divorce, discuss with an experienced Wheaton, IL family law attorney what implications it may have on your divorce proceedings. Your lawyer will be able to provide clear insights for individuals facing a divorce involving cryptocurrencies.

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 Posted on April 04, 2025 in Child Custody

Often, when couples divorce, at least one of them will move. Whether this move is within the state of Illinois or crosses a state line can make a difference in how parenting time works. Divorce and the allocation of parental responsibilities begin in the most appropriate venue, which is almost always where the children live and will continue to live and attend school.

If the parents are living in different states during the divorce and the parental responsibility allocation, then the state where the children have lived for the past six months has jurisdiction. Many times, however, the parents may have lived in the same state during the divorce before one of them moves out of state.

There are many ways this can affect parenting time. Speaking to an experienced Wheaton, IL family law attorney can help you and your ex determine how parenting time will work from a significant distance. While it can be extremely challenging to exercise the right to parenting time from another state, it can be done.

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 Posted on March 28, 2025 in Property Division

You might be surprised to know that more single women (including widowed, separated, or divorced) are homeowners than single men, with the homeownership rate among single women at 53 percent. Women are also more likely to make financial sacrifices to own a home than men (42 percent vs. 32 percent). That said, women or men might decide to buy a home while the divorce is ongoing, especially if the divorce seems to be taking longer than expected.

The emotional implications of divorce can certainly be difficult to contend with, yet the logistical and financial consequences of divorce are often just as taxing. If you and your spouse have recently split up, you are probably looking for a new place to stay. Many people choose to rent an apartment or stay with family or friends while their divorce is pending, but others choose to actually purchase a home.

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 Posted on March 21, 2025 in Child Custody

Virtual visitation is sometimes used when a parent has parenting time following a divorce but is not geographically close to the child. Perhaps the other parent moved out of state, and it has become difficult to get time away from work and the financial means necessary to travel that distance every other week.

Virtual visitation is also known as electronic visitation or Internet visitation. The concept became much more popular during the pandemic when social distancing kept many divorced parents and their children apart. Virtual visits often take place using apps like Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime that use a webcam on a laptop, tablet, or cellphone.

Virtual visits are generally seen as an addition to "standard" electronic forms of communication like text messaging, instant messaging, email, or messaging through social media apps like Instagram or Facebook. These forms of communication lack the personal aspect of actually seeing the other person, which is why virtual visitation can help both the parent and child who are not able to see one another frequently.

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 Posted on March 18, 2025 in Child Custody

In Illinois divorce cases, the court seeks to ensure that the children are negatively affected to the least extent possible. The courts operate with the notion that the more involved both parents are in the child's life post-divorce, the better off the child will be.

Child custody issues have undergone major shifts over the past two decades regarding how parenting time is divided between mothers and fathers. While the presumption once existed that mothers primarily raised the children while dads were given limited visitation after a divorce, that is no longer the case.

Because of this, an important concept in Illinois child custody law that can significantly impact parents' rights and responsibilities is the Right of First Refusal. To understand this important concept, hire an experienced Wheaton, IL parenting time attorney to get the assistance you need for this matter and other matters related to your divorce.

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 Posted on March 06, 2025 in Family Law

Not so long ago, many states had restrictions on remarriage following a divorce. In some states, a divorced person was required to wait up to a year before he or she could remarry. Today, nine states, plus D.C., have laws that limit the right to marry after divorce. In Nebraska, you must wait six months to remarry unless your ex dies during that time.

Wisconsin also has a six-month waiting period; if you marry during those six months, your marriage is "voidable," which means it could be contested and only becomes valid when the six months are up. In Rhode Island, a remarriage within three months of a divorce is void, and in Alabama, a remarriage is void if it takes place within 60 days after the divorce – but valid if it legally occurs in another state (If you want to remarry the spouse you just divorced in Alabama, there is no waiting period).

In D.C., there is a 30-day waiting period following a divorce, and the same is true in Texas and Kansas. In the state of Illinois, you can legally remarry as soon as the ink is dry on your divorce decree. Since you can remarry immediately, the better question might be, should you remarry immediately? If you have questions regarding your divorce or a potential remarriage, a Wheaton, IL family law attorney can help.

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 Posted on February 28, 2025 in Divorce

The first winter season after a divorce can bring unexpected challenges. The colder months, with shorter days and frigid temperatures, can intensify feelings of loneliness and uncertainty. Whether you are adjusting to co-parenting, managing seasonal depression, or simply finding new ways to spend your time, it is important to plan for both emotional and legal stability. An Illinois divorce attorney can help you navigate post-divorce matters such as parenting time, financial concerns, and agreement modifications.

How Can You Emotionally Prepare for the Winter Season?

Winter can bring mixed emotions after a divorce. You may experience sadness over past routines, relief from an unhealthy marriage, or anxiety about the unknown. It is essential to acknowledge your feelings while taking steps to create a positive experience for yourself. It is also helpful to seek support and encouragement, whether it is through talking to friends, family, a therapist, or a support group. To combat seasonal depression, activities like yoga, walking, or fitness classes can help boost your mood. Other self-care activities, like reading, taking warm baths, or practicing meditation, allow you to prioritize your well-being and mental health.

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