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

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

Is filing for divorce your New Year’s resolution? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Tuesday, December 22, 2015. As 2015 draws to a close, many people have made their New Year’s resolutions for 2016. While resolutions related to eating healthier and losing weight probably top the lists of the majority of Americans, filing for divorce may be on the lists of many others. Divorce attorneys throughout the U.S. report being busier in January that in any other month during the year. For those unhappily wed individuals who struggled to make it through one more holiday

Why it can be dangerous to mix divorce and social media On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Anger, fear, resentment, relief and vulnerability are all emotions that are commonly experienced by individuals who are going through a divorce. These feelings are normal and even healthy and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to lean on friends and family for support during this difficult time. This does not, however, include turning to your 450 closest Facebook friends. Social media websites like Facebook are great for connecting with old and new friends, posting harmless

Unwed fathers and child custody On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Fathers’ Rights on Thursday, December 10, 2015. Concerns about how child custody matters will be decided often weigh heavily on the minds of unwed parents. Perhaps more than any other family law-related matters, proceedings related to child custody and visitations are highly emotional and can bring out the worst in both parents. While a parent may fear and dread the possibility of sharing custody with an ex, it’s important to keep in mind that, while you may want nothing to do with an ex, he or

Taking control of financial matters during the divorce process On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Thursday, December 3, 2015. For anyone who is planning to file for divorce or was recently informed by a spouse of a divorce filing, concerns related to finances and maintaining your lifestyle are often top-of-mind. Fears about being left destitute after a divorce are often especially prevalent among individuals who, during a marriage, allowed a husband or wife to manage household finances. While anyone who is starting the divorce process is likely to experience a range of strong, confusing and

Avoiding the holiday drama: practical advice for co-parents On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Tuesday, November 24, 2015. Later this week, families throughout Illinois and the United States will gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. For parents who are recently divorced or going through a divorce, this holiday season is likely to be filled with many challenging firsts including having to communicate and coordinate with one’s ex or soon-to-be ex-spouse and not spending the entire holiday with one’s children. Even under the best and most normal of circumstances, the holiday season can be an

Frozen embryo lawsuit shows varying state views On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Sunday, November 22, 2015. Family planning takes on a whole new meaning as years pass. No longer does it only involve discussions between partners about when to start a family or what kind of birth control to use. Now, family planning conversations in Illinois can include the topic of frozen embryos and other advanced scientific methods.  A recent lawsuit in a different state highlights the new methods of family planning — and the legal as well as ethical complications that stem

How interstate custody can affect your life On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, October 16, 2015. When a married couple has a child and they decide to file for divorce, things can become very complicated. Custody of the child will obviously be at the top of the list of issues that need to be handled in the divorce. While there are some couples who contest custody, many others are able to agree to some form of joint custody. No matter what form of custody is agreed, the custody arrangement can become complicated when