Blog
Why Does Illinois Not Recognize Common Law Marriage?
If you live in Illinois state it is pretty likely you have no idea what a common law marriage is. Most states, including Illinois and except for 11 states give or take, don’t recognize common law marriage as legally binding in any form (with a few exceptions). So, what is…
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Stages Of Grief And Divorce
The loss of a marriage is traumatic. People going through a divorce experience a wide range of emotion, but a common underlying feeling is one of mourning. Mourning the loss of what the marriage was and what they hoped it would be. Spouses initiating the divorce often express the wish…
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I Want An Aggressive Divorce Lawyer
I am often told by potential clients that they need an aggressive divorce lawyer. Their spouse or ex is crazy, manipulative, narcissistic, and otherwise hungry for conflict. They cannot be reasoned with. They are looking for someone to fight back and stand up for them. They want to know if…
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Litigating After Mediation Fails
I am a vocal proponent of mediation. As a divorce lawyer and a child of divorce, I appreciate the need to avoid unnecessary conflict. Mediation can be messy and slow, but I’ve seen it work more often than not. However, there are times when mediation fails. It’s not the fault…
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I Think My Spouse Is Hiding Money
Financial transparency is essential in a divorce. Without a complete accounting of all of the parties’ debts and assets, a court cannot properly divide the marital estate. You can’t split what you don’t know exists. The same logic applies to hidden income. It becomes much harder to calculate an appropriate…
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