As a husband and father of young children, I want to insure that my wife and children will be provided for if something happens to me. To provide for them, I have purchased life insurance, as many people in my position will do. I am occasionally surprised, though, that parties going through a divorce are…
Custody and parenting time issues can be among the most difficult Family Law matters to resolve. Situations and issues involving children often increase the emotional in toil in the divorce process, sometimes escalating hostilities between the parties, and often prolonging the litigation. Children are often the only witnesses to the acts, good or bad, of…
Please forgive us this opportunity to boast a little bit. In addition to being considered one of Top 100 Family Lawyers in Illinois by the American Academy of Legal Advocates, Carolyn D. Jansons has been tapped for her knowledge in family law to author a chapter on practical instruction to attorneys in the Inside the Minds…
One common concern I repeatedly hear from people is whether a variation in overtime (or income generally) will impact child support. When the parent who owes child support regularly works overtime, receives bonuses or works on commission, and the income varies, these factors can make child support more difficult to calculate. This short article addresses three…
I read an article the other day indicating that children who come from divorced homes ingest more sugary drinks than children who come from intact families. It led me to wonder how many other habits leading to potentially lifelong consequences are impacted by the break-up of a family. It also led me to wonder about…
We are more than pleased to announce that Mark Brent has been chosen for membership in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. The recognition of Mark Brent for his dedicated service is an honor of the highest magnitude and follows from a professional life devoted to the advocacy of people often at the most vulnerable positions in…
Two months have passed since the new maintenance law took effect In Illinois on January 1, 2015, and Family Law attorneys are beginning to see how Courts are applying the new maintenance guidelines. What is clear is that the guidelines are here to stay and are being implemented throughout the State. Unfortunately, many questions and…
In my high school psychology class, my history teacher came and spoke to us one day about his disabled son. He read to us a short story in which he compared having a disabled child to a trip to Europe. The story began with a couple planning to go to Italy to tour all of…
Divorce mediation is a very cost effective, efficient way of handling a divorce. Many people would be better served by mediation than running into court and running up the cost of ending the marriage. Mediation can be chosen by the parties, though both parties must agree to it; and in some circumstances, mediation is a requirement. If…
The impact of new Illinois maintenance guidelines will be felt for cases divorce cases filed on or after January 1, 2015. Both payors and recipients of maintenance have long complained in Illinois about the lack of standards by which maintenance is established and the resulting substantial differences in maintenance awards from case to case and court to…