Signs a Marriage Is Over

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

All marriages were are not created equally. Sometimes, for whatever reason, it just does not work out and it would be better if the two of you went your separate ways. But knowing when to call it quits can be a stressful and confusing time. While there is no magic answer to exactly when you should file for divorce, there are things you can consider when making your decision. You Are Only Staying Together for the Children Children understand and pick up on far more than most people give them credit for. They will know if their parents are in an unhappy marriage and studies have shown that parents staying in an unhappy relationship can actually be worse for your children than a divorce. While divorce will probably affect your children in some way, it will not be anywhere as damaging as growing up in a conflict-ridden home. You and Your Spouse Cannot Seem to Resolve Your Conflicts If you have tried to improve your conflict resolution and have even been to see a marriage counselor and still have not been able to overcome your issues, it may be time to think about a divorce. Counseling only works if both spouses are willing to critically look at their behaviors and change what is not working. If one spouse is not completely in it to win it, there is no way of reconciling what has been broken. You Are Being Treated Poorly Marriage should mean that you are being loved and respected by your spouse. If you have found that you are no longer being treated in a way that you deserve, it can be time to move on. If you are being abused, whether it be emotionally, physically, or in any other way, you should take immediate action by getting a domestic violence restraining order while you file for divorce. Nobody deserves to be treated in an abusive manner. Consult with a DuPage County Divorce Attorney

Even if you are not completely set on the idea of divorce, it can be wise to at least meet with a knowledgeable Aurora divorce lawyer to discuss your specific situation. While deciding to divorce is never an easy decision to make, in some situations, it is for the best. If you decide to go through with a divorce, the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. can help you with every aspect, from property division to dividing parenting responsibilities. To set up a consultation, call the office at 630-409-8184.

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Important Illinois Divorce Terms

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

When you are going through a divorce, it can be a confusing process, especially because of all the words and legal terms that are used in divorce proceedings and paperwork. Understanding all of the legal jargon that is used during this process is crucial to you reaching a divorce settlement that you are satisfied with. Even some words that have normal meanings can have different meanings when used in a legal setting, which is why it is important that you educate yourself on specific words and phrases used in Illinois divorce proceedings. Marital Property: The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act states that marital property is all property, including debts, that is acquired by either spouse during the marriage.

Non-Marital Property: The Act also states that there are exceptions to marital property, which is called non-marital property. Examples of non-marital property include:

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Uncontested Divorce: How to Speed Up the Illinois Divorce Process

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

In a divorce, things can get ugly and they can get ugly fast. Once you have made the decision to separate from your spouse, the last thing you want to do is spend months, even years, arguing with them over certain things, attending court hearings, and waiting for the courts to finalize everything. This is the case for many couples who cannot come to an agreement on things. When you make the decision to divorce, you want the divorce to go as quickly and as smoothly as possible. This is where a joint simplified dissolution of marriage may come in handy. What Is a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage?

This type of divorce is an uncontested divorce, meaning there are not any points of disagreement or argument between the two parties who are getting divorced. Generally, for the divorce to be uncontested, both spouses have to agree on:

• Division of the marital property;

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Items Often Overlooked in a Divorce Settlement

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

There are a million and one things that you need to cover in a divorce settlement. There is the house, child support, allocation of parenting responsibilities, splitting bank accounts, and determining spousal support. With so many things already on your mind, it is easy to forget about things that are smaller - but still just as important. These things may not be significant now, but they can affect you in the future. Debts or Other Financial Obligations Usually divorcing couples argue about who gets the money in the savings account and who gets to keep the house - nobody is arguing about who gets to repay debt. When you get divorced, you are not forgiven of your debt and you still have the responsibility to pay it back. Whether it be personal debt, credit cards, or a mortgage, you should outline who pays what so there is no confusion. Car Insurance If you have children, car insurance is something you will have to consider when they come of age to drive. Many insurance companies will increase your premiums automatically when your children reach the driving age, even if they are not actually driving your car. The sooner you can negotiate how those extra costs are divided, the better. College Costs for Your Children In Illinois, parents have the responsibility to help their children attend post-secondary education if they choose to. This means that the courts will require one or both parents to contribute to the child’s education if it is necessary. Portions of the parents' income or property could be used to cover costs such as college application fees, college entrance exams, books and supplies, living expenses and tuition. You can choose to outline your own college payment plans in a divorce settlement if you do not want the courts to decide for you. Collections and Memorabilia Things such as books, art, antiques, and coins can be just a hobby to you, but they can be worth a lot of money. Not only are they intrinsically valuable to you, they are also financially valuable, so it is important for you to decide what happens to them when you divorce. Get Help from a Kendall County Divorce Lawyer

There are many things that should be covered in a divorce settlement--too many things for you to remember on your own. If you are getting a divorce, you should contact a Naperville divorce attorney to help you keep everything straight. Rely on the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. to help you come to a comprehensive and agreeable divorce settlement. Call the office at 630-409-8184 to set up a consultation.

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What to Do and Not Do During Divorce

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

One of the most complicated and confusing times of your life can be your divorce. Divorce can bring about a plethora of emotions such as anger, jealousy, resentment, sadness, and rage. These emotions are normal, but they can make you lose sight of what is really important when it comes to divorce. Here are some do’s and don’ts that you can follow during your divorce to help you keep your sights on what is important. These tips can help remind you of what you should focus on during your divorce.

Do:

• Stop arguing with your spouse. It is doing nothing positive for you or them and is only stressing you out more.
• Try to resolve things together. Your goal should try to keep things as amicable as possible between you and your spouse. It will save you a lot of time, money and stress in the long run.

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Mistakes to Avoid in an Illinois Divorce

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

Getting a divorce is a time-consuming, stressful and frustrating process. Not only are you legally separating yourself from your ex, but you are also emotionally cutting them out of your life - a divorce is a loss and it should be treated like one. There are many considerations you must make when you get a divorce and that are a lot of ways you can make mistakes, but an Illinois divorce attorney who has experience in successful divorce cases can help you make the right decisions for your family. From issues with finances to issues with your emotional wellbeing, here are five mistakes that you should avoid making during your divorce: Not Being Prepared and Informed The thing that is going to help you most during your divorce is being prepared with all of the information that you are going to need and being informed about your financial situation. Prior to beginning a divorce, make sure you have enough money set aside for legal fees, court costs and other costs you may incur. You should also have copies of all important financial documents and records including bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns, property deeds, vehicle titles and registrations, wills and trusts and any other pertinent information. Not Considering All of Your Options Many people think that their only option when it comes to divorce is the traditional divorce litigation. Now, there are many forms of alternative dispute resolution to choose from when you want to divorce, including mediation, collaborative law, and simplified dissolution. You should talk with an attorney to discuss all of your options before you choose one. Not Putting Your Children First With everything that you are thinking about and dealing with during a divorce, your children can be unintentionally put on the backburner. You should always have your children at the forefront of the decisions that you are making. Make sure you have a parenting plan created when you get a divorce so that you and your children know what will happen once the separation is final. Letting Your Emotions Take Over Though it may seem impossible, letting your emotions get the best of you during your divorce is not good for anyone. You may have feelings of anger, sadness, grief, and resentment boiling in your mind, but you cannot let those feelings fuel your decisions that will affect you for the rest of your life. Seeing a counselor or therapist can help you sort out these emotions during this troubling time. Not Hiring a Knowledgeable DuPage County Divorce Lawyer

One of your biggest mistakes can be not hiring competent legal representation. You should always have some sort of legal counsel with you when you are negotiating terms of your divorce settlement so that you can be informed about the decisions you are making and how they will impact you later. By hiring a well-versed Aurora divorce lawyer, you can be sure that all of your needs are being taken care of. The attorneys at the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. will advocate for you and guide you every step of the way through your divorce. Call the office at 630-409-8184 to schedule an appointment.

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Tips for Introducing a New Partner to Children After a Divorce

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

Divorce is not an easy concept for many children to grasp. Even if they understand the basics of what a divorce means, many children still cling to the hope that their parents might get back together. Introducing your children to your new partner is a task that can be daunting and requires a certain level of prudence. Your children should be at the forefront of your concerns, so dating after your divorce should be as unobtrusive to your children as possible until both you and they are ready to open their minds and arms to a new way of life. Timing Is Everything If you introduce your new partner to your children before they have had time to mourn the dissipation of their family unit, results could be less-than-desirable. Some experts say it takes at least a year before children are comfortable with their new life and have settled into their new routine of having divorced parents. You should also give the new relationship time so that you can evaluate the potential of the relationship. When children have new people in their lives, they tend to get attached to them. If that person is suddenly not there anymore, they will have to go through the break up just like you. While there are no guarantees that any relationship is long term, you should be sure that your new partner understands your concerns that you have about introducing them to your children. Be Honest with Your Children Though this is an age-sensitive topic, you should be as honest as is appropriate with your children. You can tell younger children that your new partner is your new friend and that you would like him or her to become friends with each other. With older children or teenagers, they might be more curious as to the status of the relationship. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can tell teenagers that you are dating and that your new partner is your new boyfriend or girlfriend. Get Help From a DuPage County Divorce Attorney

For some people, dating after a divorce can be an exciting and fun time in their life. You are able to explore your feelings for other people and enjoy the freedom from your ex, but you should also take into consideration how new relationships will affect your children. Going through divorce can be tough on children, but with the help of an Aurora divorce lawyer, you can help your children avoid the stress of a divorce. Contact the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. at 630-409-8184 to set up a consultation.

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Children and Divorce: How Different Age Groups React to Separation

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

There is no one answer for how children of any age will react to their parents’ divorce, but there are common reactions that have been observed in children of different age groups. These common reactions can give you things to look for in your children when you are going through a divorce and can help you plan how to deal with these reactions.

Infants (Ages 0 to 18 Months): At this time in their lives, the child knows only the love that their parents give them by holding them and spending time with them. A divorce can impact the amount of time that a parent spends with the child, which can have negative effects on the baby. Infants can sense a lot more tension in the home than you think they can. Possible reactions to the tension can be:

• Nervousness around new people;

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Tips to Make Your Divorce as Painless as Possible

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

There is no way around it - getting a divorce will be difficult at times, stressful during the divorce proceedings and emotionally demanding during most of the process. A divorce is the legal separation of you and your spouse, but it goes much deeper than that - divorce is also the emotional separation of you and your spouse and the end of your relationship. It is only normal for you to go through a mourning period, but there are things that you can do to make your divorce go as smoothly as possible, ultimately saving you a lot of pain and distress.

1. Think of Your Divorce as a Business Transaction

Though it will be difficult, emotionally distancing yourself from your relationship will help you immensely. Marriage is just a legal contract that you entered into with your spouse - now you are getting out of that contract, which is the divorce. Try to treat the process like you would treat a severing of a business relationship - your heart will thank you.

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Divorce Myths and the Realities Behind Them

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

When it comes to divorce, there can be a lot of confusion around how it works, the legalities of it and how it affects you in the long run. Some of this confusion can be attributed to the difference in laws between states, some can be contributed to the portrayal of divorce in movies and television, but much of the confusion surrounding divorce is because no two divorces are the same. Stories that you hear about other people and their divorces can be misleading because much like people, no two divorces are the same. Allowing yourself to be consumed by divorce myths can be detrimental to your divorce success. Here are four common divorce myths and the realities behind them.

If You Cheat, You Will Suffer in the Divorce

The notion that adulterers lose in a divorce is an antiquated one. While cheating brings about many types of issues and can be emotionally damaging, Illinois does not recognize cheating as grounds for making decisions about divorce-related matters. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act states that one of the purposes of the Act was to “eliminate the consideration of marital misconduct in the adjudication of rights and duties incident to dissolution of marriage.”

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