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Legal Paternity and Biological Parentage Are Not the Same Thing Being a child’s biological father and being recognized as their legal father are two different things under Illinois law. Without legal paternity, a father has no enforceable rights to parenting time, allocation of parental responsibilities, or decision-making authority for his child. He also carries no […]

Downtown Evanston has seen a lot of turnover lately. Storefronts open, close, and change hands within the same year, sometimes within the same season. For business owners going through a divorce, that kind of instability raises a real question: what is my business actually worth right now? Why Retail Change Matters When a Business Is […]

Why the Rules Need to Be Set Early A divorce case in Deerfield can take months, and sometimes well over a year, to reach a final resolution. During that time, spouses often still share a home, have children in common, and carry joint financial obligations that do not stop simply because a petition has been […]

Separation and divorce are consistently among the most dangerous periods for domestic violence survivors. The moment an abusive partner realizes the relationship is ending, the risk of escalation rises. That reality doesn’t mean staying is safer. It means that leaving safely requires planning, and that legal steps taken before and during a divorce can meaningfully […]

When domestic violence is part of a marriage, its effects don’t end when a divorce is filed. In Illinois, abuse can influence how courts approach maintenance, what amounts are appropriate, and how long support continues. Understanding the relationship between domestic violence and maintenance in Illinois divorce proceedings matters for survivors who are concerned about their […]

When people talk about custody, they often use the word as if it means one thing. It doesn’t. Illinois law recognizes two distinct types of custody, legal and physical, and understanding the difference between them is one of the most important things a parent can do before heading into any kind of custody dispute or […]

For most couples, the family home is the biggest asset on the table in a divorce. But in high net worth cases, real estate often means a lot more than one house. Investment properties, vacation homes, commercial holdings, rental income streams, properties held in trusts or LLCs. The picture gets complicated fast, and how those […]

Your family law attorney works for you. But the best outcomes happen when clients actively support their lawyer’s efforts rather than simply waiting for results. Understanding how to be helpful throughout your case makes the entire process more effective for everyone involved. Our friends at Schank Family Law discuss how client engagement directly affects case […]

Parental alienation is one of the more damaging patterns that can emerge after a separation or divorce. It happens when one parent, intentionally or through repeated behavior, works to damage or destroy the child’s relationship with the other parent. Illinois courts take this seriously, and understanding what it looks like matters if you are in […]

Mediation vs Collaborative Divorce Illinois When couples want to end a marriage without a prolonged court battle, two options come up frequently: mediation and collaborative divorce. Both are designed to reduce conflict and give families more control over outcomes. But they work differently, involve different professionals, and suit different situations. Understanding those differences helps you […]