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3 Common Divorce Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them
Although divorce is a highly unique experience, there are some common challenges that couples may face. Fail to overcome them, and you could suffer extreme losses. Avoid them, and you may be able to improve the overall outcome of your case. Learn more, including how a seasoned divorce lawyer can help you successfully navigate the legal aspects of your Illinois divorce.
Having Unrealistic Lifestyle Expectations
In an Illinois divorce, the money and other assets acquired during the marriage are equitably split, and the time they have with their children is divided. These losses, when compounded with the grief that is often felt at the end of a marriage, can cause parties to have unrealistic expectations about what they deserve or need from their settlement. For example, a party may be dead set on keeping the family home, even though they cannot reasonably afford it. Alternatively, a parent may insist that they get their children for all holidays and the entire summer, even though they know their spouse wants some of this time as well. Unfortunately, holding on to these unrealistic lifestyle expectations can do them far more harm than good.
Adoption Process Can Be Emotionally Painful for Prospective Parents
Although adoption is usually a positive experience for families, it can take an emotional toll on the prospective parents. Sadly, few are aware of the challenges that they are likely to face, and so they may not be fully prepared for the process. Learn more in the following sections, including where you can find support during the adoption process.
Understanding the Challenges of Adoption
Adoption, in and of itself, can be a stressful process. There are many forms to complete, and parents often worry whether they will be considered a “suitable” parent by the adoption agency. In addition, there may be challenges that are specific to the type of adoption that a parent is pursuing. For example, a mother may change her mind in an infant adoption, and the prospective parents may have to start the process over - and that can be painful if they have developed an attachment to the child.
Additional Emotional Challenges Parents May Face
Children and Divorce - Maintaining Your Child’s Best Interests While Parenting in Separate Homes
Divorce can negatively impact all involved parties, but children tend to be at the greatest risk for long-term complications and maladjustment. Part of this is due to their lack of control in the situation, but there are also other factors that can influence their ability to cope with divorce (i.e. a history of abuse or neglect, parental alienation, developmental disabilities, etc.). Thankfully, parents can mitigate many of the risks by making intentional efforts to safeguard their child’s best interests during and after the divorce process. Learn more on how to effectively do this while parenting in separate homes, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned divorce attorney can help to improve the final outcome of your case.
Allowing Your Child to Love Both Parents
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that parents make in divorce is they get jealous over the time that their child spends with their former spouse. Alternatively, a parent may be so emotionally distraught that they feel they “need” their child around to be okay with their new way of life. Unfortunately, both scenarios (as well as any others that may hinder your child’s ability to freely love both of their parents) can cause permanent damage to your child’s well-being.
Managing Your Finances During a Divorce - Understanding the How, When, and Why
Divorce can be a financially crippling process, especially if you are not adequately prepared. Thankfully, with the right tools and knowledge, you can increase your chances of a favorable outcome. Learn more about managing your finances during and after an Illinois divorce, including why, how, and when to get started. You shall also learn how a seasoned divorce attorney can assist you in navigating your way through the process.
Understanding the Potential Financial Risks
While there are many potential risks of divorce, those that involve your finances are often the most devastating and long-lasting. For example, you could:
- Lose your portion of a retirement account or pension plan;
- Have an asset excluded from the marital estate, either because it has been hidden or was inaccurately deemed a non-marital asset;
- Experience improper valuation of a marital asset, which may reduce your settlement;
Arizona Governor Signs Bill to Allow for the Use of Embryos After a Divorce
Infertility can strain a marriage, sometimes to the point of divorce. So what happens when the parties go through fertility treatments, decide to call it quits, and still have embryos? In most cases, the embryos are either donated or destroyed. The Governor of Arizona is hoping to change that, at least in their own state, and that could set a trend for others. Learn more about the new fertility bill in Arizona, and discover more about what your rights are in an Illinois divorce where embryos are considered an asset, rather than a chance at parenthood.
A New Ruling for Unused Embryos in a Divorce?
All across the country, couples are fighting for the right to use their embryos after a divorce. Sadly, most have been denied rights to them, and some have been ordered to have them destroyed. That is essentially what happened to an Arizonan woman. She and her spouse had created the embryos when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When the cancer treatment ended, her spouse said he no longer wanted to have children with her and filed for divorce.
Moving On After Your Divorce - How Soon is Too Soon?
Divorce is one of the more emotionally trying situations in life, so it is no surprise that many people want to move on shortly after it is over. There is such a thing as moving on too quickly, however, and it has nothing to do with the feelings of your ex-spouse. Learn how you can find love and happiness again (and when you should start to pursue it) with some help from the following information.
Relationships During Divorce Proceedings
Some parties chose to move on before their divorce has been finalized. Most of these relationships are short-lived, unfortunately, because the individual was not fully ready for the emotional challenges that tend to arise during and immediately after the divorce process. Grief and a sense of loss are common and to be expected. Anger and bitterness may come into play as well. That is not to say you cannot have a relationship while navigating your divorce; just know that it is likely to be far more difficult to keep the new romance alive and healthy while dealing with the end of your marriage.
Women Over 50 Face Unique Challenges in Divorce
Women have long been disadvantaged in divorce - and usually because they have sacrificed their earning years to stay home and raise children. Even for younger women, this can be a challenge, but those who are nearing retirement run the risk of severe financial loss. Learn how to protect your financial future during a gray divorce, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned divorce lawyer can help you mitigate some of the most common pitfalls and challenges that you are likely to face during the process.
Know Your Assets and Entitlements
Mature women may face many challenges in divorce, but the lack of knowledge is perhaps one of the most damaging. It also happens to be one of the most common issues that women over the age of 50 can face. Many stayed home to care for children during their childbearing years, so they had little to no earnings of their own. A lot of these same women were also left “in the dark” about their financial situation, which only complicates matters even further. Thankfully, women can take back the power and control in such situations.
Should You Pursue a Nesting Parenting Plan in Your Illinois Divorce?
Whether or not we want to admit it, celebrities are often the trendsetters in life. Trends in divorce are no different, which is probably why the concept of birds nesting divorce has gained so much traction in the past few years. In many ways, it is a positive thing; it can allow non-celebrity parents the time they need to save money (especially if they are sharing a non-home location as well). However, it is not the right option for every couple. In the following, you can learn some tips to help you determine whether a nesting divorce may work in your case, or if another type of parenting plan may be more suitable for your Illinois divorce.
How a Nesting Divorce Works
In a nesting divorce, children stay and sleep in the same home every night (usually the home they lived in before the divorce) while the parents rotate in and out. Some experts believe this is less traumatizing for young children who may not do well with going from one parent’s house to the other. However, there are other studies that indicate even infants and toddlers can switch houses with little to no issue. Still, there are some things to be said about keeping the children in the family home.
Obtaining Child Support and Alimony Before Your Divorce Has Been Finalized
When one party is severely disadvantaged in a broken marriage, it can feel like an excuse to stay. Yet, unbeknownst to some, it is not necessary to do this. Instead, it may be possible for a party to obtain child support and/or alimony before a divorce has been completely finalized. Learn more in the following sections, including how to go about the process, and discover how a seasoned divorce attorney can assist and improve the outcome of your case.
Are You Eligible for Alimony or Child Support?
Not all parties are eligible for alimony or child support in a divorce. In fact, alimony is becoming less common in divorce, and some recent changes to Illinois’ child support laws have created situations in which neither parent pays support (i.e. parents have near equal income and near equal parenting time). However, if you are disadvantaged in your marriage - perhaps because of a health condition or because you stayed home to raise your children - you may be eligible for alimony, child support, or perhaps even both.
Divorce and Money - When Your Spouse Cashes Out Their Retirement Before Filing for Divorce
While most spouses embark on their divorce with no malicious intent, there are others who attempt to “get even” before they have even told their spouse that they want to separate. Some do this by running up debt, taking out new lines of credit under their spouse’s name, and intentionally dissipating their marital assets. Still, there are some who cash out an investment account, such as their pension plan or retirement account, and then spend or hide it to keep it from being added to the marital estate. Learn how to deal with this challenge in your Illinois divorce, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned divorce attorney can improve the final outcome of your case.
Tracking Down the Missing Money
Most partners who remove money from their pension or retirement account to avoid having it added in the divorce will allow a great deal of time to lapse before divulging their desire to divorce. The reason for this is simple: by waiting, they hinder your ability to track down the missing money. However, it may still be possible to determine whether they spent the money or are simply trying to hide it. In most cases, there is a paper trail or large and frivolous purchases. Financial experts and a seasoned attorney can help you in this step by providing you with support, assistance, and valuable knowledge and resources.
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