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

What should be included in a parenting plan? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, August 3, 2018. A parenting plan is the schedule and set of expectations that Illinois parents agree to follow when they must share custody of their children. They are often created in conjunction with divorces and may be created based on the negotiations of the children’s parents. There are some key terms that should be included in each parenting plan to make sure that it is sufficient to support the best interests of the child or children that it

The role of spousal support in an Illinois divorce On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Friday, July 20, 2018. Although it is not uncommon for both of the partners in a marriage to be employed and earn significant incomes during their lives, some couples still practice the more traditional path of having one partner manage household responsibilities while the other works outside of the home for pay. In the past, women were more likely to be stay-at-home parents and household managers than their spouses, over time more men have embraced this role as well. When

Helping clients evaluate their ongoing child custody needs On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, July 5, 2018. When parents in Illinois work to establish a child custody plan that will dictate where their children will spend their time, they are tasked with ensuring that the product they come up with serves their kids’ best interests. This can be a daunting undertaking for many reasons. If the parents share multiple kids they may find that their children’s needs are different from those of their siblings, and they may also find that their kids’ needs

Brad Pitt gets more time with his children On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Fathers’ Rights on Thursday, June 21, 2018. After a divorce it can be difficult for a family to find balance, especially when children were involved in the process of undoing a marital relationship. Many Illinois parents struggle to discover ways of ensuring that parent-child bonds remain strong. For one former celebrity couple, court intervention was necessary to ensure that the father’s options for seeing and communicating with his kids were not infringed upon by their mother. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were married

Custody issues for unmarried parents On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Not every child custody issue that makes its way into the courts of Illinois is based on a divorce. In fact, many unmarried couples face custody struggles when they cannot come to terms with how to share their time with their kids. Although unmarried parents can create their own child-focused custody agreements and have those agreements approved by the courts, in some cases differences between the parents prevent them from creating their own parenting plans. Custody matters can turn

Does your custody plan serve your child’s best interests? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Having a child is hard, but having more than one child can be even harder. Ask any parent of multiple children what it is like to juggle the lives of several dependents and they may launch into a discussion of varying schedules, differing needs and changing expectations. What a child in Springfield needs when they are a baby is different from what they need as a teenager, and a parent of more than one child

Service members have options when filing for divorce On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in military family law on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Not everyone is able to commit themselves to serve in the United States military, but those who do offer their fellow citizens an invaluable service. Serving in the military can be incredibly difficult for anyone, including those who are married and who have families of their own that they are separated from during their times of active duty. When stress and strain impact the marriages of Illinois service members, they may turn to the courts

What does it mean to have “joint custody” of a child? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, April 12, 2018. As previously discussed on this Springfield family law blog, a child’s best interests will guide matters related to their custody. To this end, different children may have very different plans that establish where they will live, if and when they will visit with their parents and how their custody will be divided. This post will briefly touch on one important way parents may share custody of their children, which is “joint custody.” Joint

Why is it important to establish legal paternity? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Fathers’ Rights on Friday, March 30, 2018. Under certain circumstances, a child is presumed to be the offspring of a woman and a particular man. For example, when the child is born to a married Illinois couple then it is presumed that the man and woman are the child’s biological parents. However, as readers of this family legal blog know, not all children are born to couples who have chosen to establish their relationships through marriage. When questions exist regarding the parentage of

What are the best interests of a child? On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, March 15, 2018. When a judge is tasked with the decision of determining child custody and/or visitation schedules, the first item he or she will take into consideration is commonly known as the child’s “best interests.” This is an all-encompassing term, which includes all aspects of a child’s well-being. The State of Illinois defines best interest in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, Section 602.7. Custody decisions, especially modifications after divorce, are not made nor taken lightly.

Assistance to facilitate adoption in Illinois On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Friday, March 2, 2018. Adopting a foster child who is currently under guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services can be a complicated legal process. For that reason, it is important for those navigating the process to understand what they can expect and how to best address any potential issues as they seek a positive resolution. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has created a guide to inform adoptive parents of their rights and responsibilities in selecting and