A guardian has the same responsibilities to a child as a child’s biological parent. An individual may obtain legal guardianship of a child in Illinois because a child’s biological parents cannot properly care for them, a child’s biological parents passed away in a tragic accident, a minor child is living with a disability, or senior adults do not have the ability to care for themselves.

Types of Guardianships

In Illinois, an individual can become a permanent legal guardian, a guardian ad litem, a standby guardian, or a short-term guardian. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these four types of guardianships are defined.

Dealing with divorce is hard enough on its own. However, when divorce is paired with the holidays, you may feel anxious, sad, and overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways you can cope with divorce during the holiday season, make the best out of this roadblock in your life, and experience the holiday cheer you deserve:

• Volunteer. Although you be tempted to stay at home, getting out and volunteering is an effective way to take your mind off your marital status and help those in need. Whether you volunteer at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, or local non-profit organization, you can remind yourself that life is not perfect and everyone has some type of hardship in their life.
• Focus on Your Children. If you have children, you should make an effort to ensure your divorce does not stop them from having fun and being happy during the holidays. Try to create a holiday social schedule with your ex-partner so that your children receive the opportunity to spend time with both of their parents. In addition, be sure to keep some old holidays traditions and create new ones.
• Socialize. In order to avoid feelings of loneliness and depression during the holiday season, you should socialize as much as possible. Spend time with your friends and family members, join a club, attend community events, and go to the parties and other holiday events you are invited to. Frequent socialization can help you make new friends and strengthen your current relationships.
• Eat Healthy and Exercise. It can be easy to disregard your health while coping with divorce during the holidays. By doing so, you can get sick and suffer from health issues that will only make this time more difficult. Therefore, you should make it a priority to eat well-balanced, nutrient-rich meals and visit the gym or exercise at home on a regular basis.
• Avoid Overspending. If your finances have taken a hit during your divorce, you should be mindful when spending during the holiday season. Credit card debt can add to your stress, making it crucial to create a holiday spending budget and stick to it. If you have children, speak to your ex-partner to create a plan for buying your children gifts.

Contact Our DuPage County Divorce Attorneys

If you are going through a divorce, contact our DuPage County divorce attorneys for legal guidance on the process or further advice on how to cope during the holiday season. We can be reached at 630-932-9100.

Domestic violence occurs when an individual(s) is abused by someone who is their relative, cohabiter, or significant other. Domestic violence can occur between parents, spouses or former spouses, individuals in dating or engagement relationships, cohabitants, or former cohabitants. 

In Illinois, domestic violence is considered to be a serious crime and a violent offense that comes with severe penalties such as prison time and fines. The five different types of domestic violence include:

       1. Physical Abuse

Child support can be a sensitive and complex matter, regardless of the child’s age or developmental stage. Yet, when dealing with special needs children, the stakes are often higher. If you are planning on pursuing support for a child with special needs, or if you expect that a case may soon be brought against you, the following information can help you better understand the laws in Illinois. You shall also learn how an experienced family law attorney can assist with your case, and why hiring one could be crucial to the outcome of your child support case.

Illinois Child Support Basics

When determining the amount of support that a parent is supposed to pay, the courts first examine the combined income of both parents. This information is then used to determine the amount of support that is needed for the child. The courts then examine the net income of each parent to determine what their share of the support should be. Parenting time may also be factored into the equation at this point, but this is typically only done when each of the parents has the child(ren) for at least 146 nights out of the year. Otherwise, the deduction may not apply.

For a majority of couples undergoing the divorce process, money is often one of the biggest concerns, as bank account balances following the end of a marriage can significantly impact one’s financial standing post-divorce. Bouncing back from and adjusting to the lifestyle transition that divorce brings about can be difficult under even the mildest circumstances, but lack of proper debt division and asset disputes can further complicate each party’s attempt to overhaul their finances.

Divorce Debts and How They are Handled in Illinois State

The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act includes debts and other standing obligations as financial matters to be considered among the division of marital property. The law defines “marital property” as any property (or debts) acquired by either spouse after the marriage took place. This means any joint loans, credit lines, or accounts opened in both spouse’s names are marital property and are considered the responsibility of both parties in the event of divorce. These responsibilities can include everything from cars, furniture, and savings accounts, to stock portfolios and retirement savings plans.