On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Monday, June 17, 2013. Understanding the difference between marital and non-marital property is crucial to determining the best individual course of action in a divorce. As an equitable distribution state, Illinois courts distribute all marital property equitably, or fairly, although not necessarily equally. Most property acquired during the marriage is considered marital property, regardless of who owns it or how title is issued. Therefore even if only one spouse is named as the owner, both spouses have an ownership right inContinue reading
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Working moms and custody cases
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Thursday, June 13, 2013. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 70.5 percent of moms work outside the home. Additionally, 30 percent of working women make more money each year than their husbands. This change in gender roles has also resulted in a change in some cases regarding child custody, causing dramatic reversals in determining which Illinois parent should get primary custody and spousal support. Historically, most mothers, whether they were working or not, usually received the kids duringContinue reading
A pre-marital agreement will protect assets if a divorce occurs
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. When it comes to marriage in Illinois, many couples fail to discuss entering into a pre-marital agreement. In many instances, people believe that a prenuptial agreement is not needed as discussing such an agreement signals an uncertainty about the upcoming nuptials. No couple wants to discuss the possibility of a divorce before even walking down the aisle. Regardless of whether or not a couple feels that a prenuptial agreement applies to them, the fact remains that nearly halfContinue reading
Prenuptial agreements protect in the event of divorce
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Discussing prenups with a future spouse can be particularly difficult. A prenup is a contract that divides assets in the event of a divorce, and most couples simply do not want to converse with their loved one about what would happen if their marriage ended before they have even walked down the aisle. However, prenups are put in place to protect both spouses and specify how any and all assets will be divided down the road, mitigatingContinue reading
Ways to simplify a divorce proceeding
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Monday, June 3, 2013. Divorce can be a complicated process. Some Illinois residents may be interested to learn of a few ways that spouses contemplating divorce may be able to help make the process simpler. The first step is to set anger or hard feelings aside during the divorce proceedings. These cases tend to be emotional, but using anger or other negative emotions when negotiating may only make the process more stressful. When a dispute arises, some experts recommend reviewing the reasonContinue reading
Woman charged with felony child neglect
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Saturday, June 1, 2013. An Illinois woman will face neglect charges after one of her small children was found crossing a busy road while the other was alone in a car. Witnesses saw a three-year-old girl crossing the street, and she appeared to be coming from a restaurant. A motorist reportedly stopped and walked the girl across the street and attempted to determine why she was on the street alone. The situation eventually culminated in Child Protective Services takingContinue reading
Child-Support Laws: A Boon for Gold Diggers?
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Support on Thursday, May 30, 2013. Illinois residents may be surprised to learn of the staggering figures that are present in some child support cases. Recent child support cases involving celebrities have highlighted a problem with the existing system: some people may intentionally target others in the hopes of acquiring child support to support themselves. Charlie Sheen’s ex Brooke Mueller recently went to rehab and the former couple’s children were removed from her care. Although the children were then safely in the handsContinue reading
More Illinois women are paying alimony
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Family Law on Saturday, May 25, 2013. With the growing trend of women earning more income than their husbands, more women are being ordered to pay spousal support to their husbands in divorce cases. Alimony was once a means of providing economic and legal recognition for women, who mostly stayed out of the workforce. This allowed them to take care of the duties of running the household. In the event of a divorce, alimony acknowledged that the wife had sacrificed her earning powerContinue reading
Divorce finance: how to get your finances in order post-split
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Family Law on Thursday, May 23, 2013. After Chicago couples divorce, there are many steps that they must take to get their finances under control. A divorce may result in a woman having her name changed, which requires her to acquire a new Social Security card, passport, credit cards, bank cards and driver’s license. She also must report the name change to financial accounts, insurance companies and utility companies. This is just one part of getting a handle on finances after a divorce. OneContinue reading
Unmarried couples not recognized by courts
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Unmarried Couples on Monday, May 20, 2013. Illinois residents might be interested to hear that unmarried couples are not recognized by courts when they split up, or, essentially, ‘get a divorce” like married couples do. Studies show that nearly half of the adults in the U.S. in their 30s and 40s have lived together with their significant others even though they weren’t married. However, when it comes to finances, the law does not recognize relationships that aren’t documented on paper, which canContinue reading