The make-up of the American family has changed dramatically over the last 100 years. One of the trends taking place throughout the United States is an increase in the average ages of marrying couples. Both men and women are getting married later in life. In 1960, the average age of first-time brides and grooms was 20 and 22, respectively. Presently, the average ages of first-time brides and grooms are closer to 30. This change has affected family law concerns, including prenuptial agreements and divorce.

Individuals Getting Married Are More Like to Have Significant Assets and Debts

Couples used to get married soon after high school. Modern spouses are much more likely to be in their mid to late twenties. This means that many brides and grooms have a college education, and consequently, student loan debt. Modern spouses are also more likely to own substantial assets, including a home or small business. This is one reason that many family law attorneys are seeing an increase in prenuptial agreements. A prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement is a legally enforceable contract that is used to describe spouses’ property rights. The contract may identify certain assets and debts as non-marital and therefore not subject to division during divorce. A prenup or postnup may also describe a spouse’s entitlement to alimony or spousal maintenance.

Divorce May Be Especially Complicated

Because Americans are waiting until they are older to get married, divorce cases often involve intricate financial and personal issues. Divorce involving children and stepchildren can lead to disputes regarding parental responsibilities, parenting time, and child support. Divorce involving complicated financial circumstances such as commingled assets, hard-to-value assets like cryptocurrency, and complex investments may also lead to contentious disputes.

The silver lining in any divorce is the hope for a better future. Many divorced individuals eventually meet someone new and get remarried. If you have previously been married, and you are now planning to marry for a second or subsequent time, you are probably busy planning the wedding and building a life with your new partner. However, it is essential that you take the time to consider how your remarriage can impact the terms of your previous divorce. It is also important to start thinking about the unique issues that may be present in a second or third marriage.

Spousal Maintenance Typically Terminates Upon the Recipient’s Remarriage

Per Illinois law, spousal maintenance or alimony terminates if the recipient gets remarried. In addition, spousal maintenance usually terminates once the recipient begins cohabitating with a new partner. If you plan to remarry, you must inform your ex. If you do not tell your ex, and he or she pays you maintenance after you are remarried, you may be forced to reimburse him or her for any maintenance you received after the date of your marriage.

Child Support Can Be Influenced by Remarriage

Child support may or may not be influenced by the remarriage of either parent. Step-parents do not have a legal obligation to financially support their step-children the way that biological parents do. However, the court considers each parent’s financial circumstances when determining a fair child support payment amount. If a parent gets remarried, and this significantly increases the amount of disposable income the parent has, this may influence the amount of support he or she pays or receives.

As any married individual can attest to, it is not always easy to know when a marriage is truly over. You may be unhappy in your relationship, but you may still have a glimmer of hope that you and your spouse can resolve your differences. However, even if you are not yet ready to pursue a divorce, you will likely still need to address key issues related to your finances and your children. In situations like these, a legal separation may be the right choice. Read on to learn about the purpose of legal separation in Illinois as well as the differences between legal separation and divorce.

Understanding The Process of Getting Legally Separated in Illinois

There are many misunderstandings about what it means to be legally separated. A legal separation does not simply mean that you and your spouse are living separately; instead, it is an official legal status. During a legal separation, you and your spouse can establish arrangements about the same issues that you would need to address during a divorce. You may then submit your agreements to the court, and these agreements will become legally-binding court orders. During a legal separation, you can formally address:

• Spousal maintenance (also called spousal support or alimony)

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As any grandparent can tell you, the relationship between a grandparent and a grandchild is special. Grandparents offer guidance, wisdom, and support to grandchildren that is informed by decades of life experience. When a married couple with children divorces, grandparents are often worried about whether they will get to see their grandchildren as often as they would like. If you have found yourself in this situation, you may wonder if grandparents have a legal right to spend time with their grandchildren or may be granted “grandparent visitation.” As with many Illinois family law concerns, the answer to this question is complex.

Under What Circumstances Are Grandparents Granted Visitation?

Family dynamics can be very complicated – especially when divorce is involved. If you are a grandparent who wants to ensure that you still get to spend time with your grandchild, you may wonder if you can petition the court for visitation. Typically, court-ordered parenting time only involves the child’s two biological parents. However, the court may grant grandparent visitation in certain circumstances. You may have a legal right to visitation if:

• Your grandchild’s parents are divorced, and one or both of the parents approves of grandparent visitation

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Every child deserves a safe home full of people who care about him or her. For many children, adoption is their best hope of finding a loving home. The decision to adopt a child can be one of the most consequential choices a person ever makes. It is important to remember that adopting a child is also a major legal decision. Before you start the adoption process, it is essential to know the law in Illinois regarding adoption.

Who Can Adopt?

If you want to adopt a child, you should know about the adoption requirements established by Illinois law. To adopt in Illinois, you must:

• Be an adult over the age of 18

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