Multi-State Divorce & Family Law Blog by Stange Law Firm, PC

Fighting to be a parent: the challenges faced by many unwed fathers On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Fathers’ Rights on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statistics from 2014 show that 40.2 percent of the babies that were born in the U.S., were born to unwed mothers. While some of these mothers were likely in committed relationships and even cohabitating with a baby’s biological father, when it comes to paternity and a father’s legal rights to parent his child, the courts have the final say. As U.S. marriage rates

Why saying I do to a prenuptial agreement just makes sense On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Gone are the days when the majority of men and women in the U.S. married straight out of high school. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1950 the median age for first marriages among women was 21 and men, 23. Fast forward to 2015 and the median ages at which women and men marry have increased to 27 and 29. Today, not only are more people delaying marriage, but the

How prepared are you to co-parent with your ex? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Monday, February 22, 2016. From sleepless nights spent walking the halls with a colicky infant to those spent waiting up for a rebellious teenager, being a parent is one of the most rewarding, yet challenging roles that an individual can hope to fulfill during his or her life. When a marriage dissolves, there’s bound to be an adjustment period. In addition to adjusting to life as a divorcee, divorced parents must also figure out how to successfully and peaceably

New app helps end squabbles over childrearing costs On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Divorce is meant to provide individuals who no longer wish to be married a fresh start. However, when there are children involved– for better or worse–divorced parents are forever bound to one another. Unfortunately, in cases where divorced parents aren’t able to overcome and move beyond their own resentment or dislike of one another, their child will end up paying the price. For parents, even after a divorce, issues related to money and raising a child

Planning to file for divorce? Do these things now On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Monday, February 8, 2016. After months or even years of toiling over whether or not you should divorce a spouse, you’re likely to feel a certain amount of relief when you finally make the decision to file for divorce. While finally breaking free from an unhappy, unfulfilling or abusive marriage is certainly a reason to celebrate; once a soon-to-be ex-spouse learns of a divorce filing things will never be the same and can escalate quickly. It’s important, therefore, to take

Ready to explore adoption? Why you need to hire an attorney On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Every child deserves to grow up in a loving and supportive home. Unfortunately, some children are born into difficult economic, familial and social situations and may subsequently be placed into foster care or an orphanage. For children who are eligible, adoption provides the opportunity to obtain much-needed stability in their lives and to become a cherished member of a loving family. For a variety of reasons, residents in and around the Springfield area

Learning to set boundaries during the divorce process On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Monday, January 25, 2016. Whether you chose to file for divorce or were blindsided by a spouse’s divorce filing, once the divorce process has been set in motion; there’s going to be a lot of changes that occur in your life. In addition to the general feelings of anxiety and worry you’ll likely experience as you attempt to sort out matters related to child custody, finances and real estate; you’ll also likely experience a range of difficult, confusing and conflicting emotions.

2016 signals changes to Illinois’ divorce laws On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, January 22, 2016. With the start of any new year, change is a common theme. People often make resolutions to make positive changes in their lives. Exercising more, eating healthier and taking time to pause and enjoy life are all common New Year’s resolutions. In cases where an individual is in an unhappy marriage, filing for divorce may also top one’s list of resolutions. For individuals who plan to file for divorce this year, the start of 2016 also signaled

How do military divorces differ from civilian divorces? Part II On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in military family law on Monday, January 11, 2016. In our last blog post, we began discussing the military divorce process and how a divorce involving an armed forces service member differs from a civilian divorce. Specifically we mentioned the importance of understanding the possible implications of filing for a divorce in one state vs. another and also an active service member’s right, under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act, to request an automatic stay in divorce proceedings. How the court’s

How do military divorces differ from civilian divorces? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in military family law on Tuesday, January 5, 2016. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of June 2013, an estimated 2.7 million people were serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, 1.4 million of which were designated as active duty service members. For the men and women who pledge to protect our country and put their very lives at risk, there are often many personal sacrifices. Frequent moves, lengthy deployments and difficulties associated with events that may occur during a deployment are just

Divorce and discovering hidden assets On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Thursday, December 31, 2015. The erosion of trust can be detrimental in any relationship. When it comes to marriage and the relationship between spouses, this is often especially true and marriages in which spouses lie or keep secrets from one another are likely to become part of the 50 percent that end in divorce. According to a 2012 study by Today.com and Self.com, a whopping 46 percent of married individuals admitted to keeping secrets related to money and spending from a spouse. The reasons