Posted on May 25, 2022 in Divorce

Although all Illinois marriages start with high hopes and expectations, almost half of them end in divorce. While those who have never had to make the decision to get divorced may see people as either “married” or “divorced,” the truth is that there are often many steps in between a full commitment to marriage and resignation to divorce. After so many years of hard work, making memories, and raising children, when is it time to throw in the towel and give up the effort to save your marriage? Here are three signs from relationship experts that you may not be able to salvage your relationship.

You or Your Spouse are Abusive

Abuse of any kind is unacceptable and you do not have to tolerate it. If you cannot stomach the idea of leaving for yourself, consider your children and the example you want to set for them. You may hate the idea of your children growing up without their other parent, but it is rare that an abusive spouse spares the children forever. Unfortunately, spouses are often also mutually abusive to each other. If your relationship has reached the point that you are both engaging in unacceptable behavior, it may be time to call it quits and seek help.

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 Posted on May 24, 2022 in Divorce

While most people feel that lying is wrong, the unfortunate truth is that dishonesty is very common. Even people who consider themselves honest may be more likely to justify lying if they feel the circumstances warrant it. In some ways, an Illinois divorce is the perfect situation to make someone feel like lying is acceptable; so much is at stake, and spouses often feel terribly wronged by each other. While the strategy of lying during divorce often backfires on the dishonest spouse, it can have serious negative consequences for the other spouse and their children. If you are getting divorced and your spouse is trying to hide income, fabricate tales of domestic violence, or otherwise mislead a judge in your divorce proceedings, you will need to take action to fight their lies.

What Do Spouses Lie About During Divorce?

If your spouse has a history of lying, you can bet with near certainty that they will continue to do so during your divorce. Dishonest spouses may lie about many things, including, but not limited to:

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 Posted on May 19, 2022 in Divorce

Many things can be difficult to anticipate in an Illinois divorce, but spousal maintenance - also known as alimony or spousal support - does not have to be. While every divorce is made up of its own unique problems and solutions, Illinois courts must consider several factors when determining whether spousal maintenance is appropriate and they use specific formulas to determine the amount. If you are getting divorced in DuPage County and wondering whether you will pay or receive alimony, read this helpful blog post and then contact an experienced divorce lawyer who can help you with your case.

Income and Property

Courts will look carefully at the income of each spouse, as well as the potential earning power a spouse would have if they were fully employed. Because some spouses stay out of the workforce to raise children and keep a home, courts will consider whether divorce would put a homemaker spouse in a destitute financial situation and adjust spousal maintenance payments accordingly. Courts will also consider how long it would take a dependent spouse to get back on their feet after obtaining adequate training or education; if it is unclear how long it would take, or if there are young children whose needs would prevent a spouse from immediately seeking employment, courts can order fixed-term maintenance that is subject to review after a predetermined period of time.

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 Posted on May 17, 2022 in Divorce

So much of the content about the topic of divorce involves the period before and during the Illinois divorce process. Books, blogs, and TV series spend far more time focusing on the conflict of divorce and the difficulty of the process; the story often ends when each partner waltzes off into the sunset, newly and happily single.

As many divorcees can attest, however, the truth is more complicated and not quite so easy. Life after divorce can feel a bit like being suspended in midair. You still have the ongoing sense of urgency from the divorce - the feeling that tasks need to be done, the anticipation of something about to happen - but more time to yourself with far less to do. There is no longer a process, a plan. It can be hard to know what to do next. If you are getting divorced and are wondering what to expect about adjusting to life after the divorce is finalized, here are four things you will not often hear about life after divorce.

Life As You Knew it Has Changed

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 Posted on May 12, 2022 in Divorce

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get around the average cost of divorce. While it may be possible for some spouses who own very few assets and who get along reasonably well to save money by filing for an uncontested divorce, most couples have numerous issues that take time and resources to negotiate. But although you may already know that divorce is likely to be expensive, you may not know exactly which expenses to anticipate. At The Stogsdill Law Firm, we believe that the more information you have about divorce, the better prepared you will be to manage yours. Here are the most important expenses we see our clients manage in their divorce.

Filing Fees

While filing fees represent one of the less painful expenses of divorce, they can still cost several hundred dollars. Filing for divorce alone costs about 350 dollars in Illinois; court appearances, child support annual fees, parenting classes, and the cost of serving your spouse divorce papers can all add up to quite a lot. Avoid unpleasant surprises by speaking with your attorney about how much you can expect to pay in fees.

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 Posted on May 10, 2022 in Divorce

The vast majority of parents are committed to discovering their children's needs and wants on an ongoing basis and most parents spend many sleepless nights trying to help their children solve life's problems and learn the necessary lessons they need to succeed. Divorce can throw a major wrench into the process of raising a child, however; not only do you have to continue raising your child with your ex, but now there are strict, legally binding guidelines dictating how you will make decisions for your child and where they will spend their time.

Some parents can manage this well together, even after divorce; some parents struggle to cooperate. But for some parents, there is an additional concern: What if the behavior of your child's other parent means they could be unsafe in that parent's care? Is it possible to get full custody of a child in Illinois if one parent is endangering the child? Read on to learn the answers to these questions.

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 Posted on May 05, 2022 in Divorce

While nobody hopes to get divorced, sometimes a divorce is the inevitable outcome of a relationship that seems unfixable. Unfortunately, not every attorney has the skill, knowledge, or characteristics to give their clients the best experience possible. While divorce can take time and some minor delays, communication mishaps, or billing disputes may be inevitable, if you are seeing behavior from your attorney that makes you question whether they are legitimately capable of representing you, you may want to consider seeking someone new. Here are five signs that it may be time to find a new Illinois divorce lawyer.

They Seem to Lack Experience or Knowledge of the Law

Sometimes attorneys fresh out of law school can provide clients with outstanding representation; other times, it takes them a few years to cut their teeth. If your attorney cannot answer basic questions, makes mistakes in front of a judge about the application of the law, or generally seems confused about which steps to take next, he or she may not have the experience necessary to provide great services.

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 Posted on May 03, 2022 in Divorce

By the time an individual or couple decides to get divorced, the relationship has often been over for quite a long time. The decision to get divorced can, therefore, feel like it has a sense of urgency and even couples who are still on good terms usually want to get the process over and done with as soon as possible. If you are a resident of Illinois seeking divorce, you likely have some questions. Is there a waiting period before divorce? And what does the divorce process look like? Read on to find out - then contact a knowledgeable Illinois divorce lawyer to get more detailed answers to your questions.

Illinois Has No Mandatory Waiting Period For Uncontested Divorce

Some states have a minimum waiting period before divorce to give couples a chance to cool down and consider the implications of a permanent separation more carefully. However, in Illinois, there is no waiting period before the process can start - that is, as long as both parties agree to get divorced.

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 Posted on April 28, 2022 in Divorce

International travel, global business operations, and wide-scale inward and outward migration mean that, more than ever, couples in Illinois are often made up of one American spouse and one foreign-born spouse. While this may be very romantic in the early stages of a relationship, it can introduce major complications during and after divorce.

If one parent moved to the United States from another country, he or she may want to return to their country of origin following a divorce. Parents who do this rarely want to leave their children behind. Unfortunately, this creates a situation where nobody ends up happy: The parent from Illinois does not want their children relocated outside the country, while the parent who is not from the U.S. may not have anything tying them to Illinois besides their former spouse. This can lead to ugly and protracted custody disputes over relocation, and, in worse case scenarios, sometimes the spouse from outside the U.S. will try to leave without permission and take the children.

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 Posted on April 26, 2022 in Divorce

Sometimes divorce is the inevitable end of a relationship and while you may be reconciled to the breakdown of your marriage, certain factors can make getting a divorce more complex. One of these is when a spouse lives in another state or cannot be located. You may be wondering whether it is possible to divorce someone who lives outside of Illinois, or whether you can get divorced at all if you do not know where your spouse is. In this blog, we will answer questions about interstate divorce and divorce by publication. Keep in mind that the only person who can give you legal advice tailored to your situation is an Illinois divorce attorney.

Can I Divorce Someone Who Lives Outside of Illinois?

If you have lived in Illinois for at least 90 days, you qualify for Illinois residency and can file for divorce in Illinois even if your spouse lives outside of Illinois. If you share children, you may need to live in Illinois for at least six months before you can file for divorce which will decide on parental responsibilities and parenting time.

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