Joliet Family Law Blog

Gender role shifts in marriages could increase divorce risk

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in divorce on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Gender-equal marriages are becoming more common in Illinois and other states, but this isn't always the norm. In some situations, couples begin married life together in traditional roles that change over time. And this is when there's the potential for issues that may lead to divorce, at least according to a Swedish study.

Researchers found women who started marriages in traditional gender roles where they were either not working or earning significantly less than their husbands were more likely to get divorced if their earnings increased. One possible reason for the study's results is that women sometimes spend the early years of marriage raising children or relocating to support their spouses. Over time, however, some wives reach a point where their income equals or surpasses their husband's earnings.

Kevin Garnett in legal dispute with wife

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in divorce on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Basketball fans in Illinois and elsewhere may remember Kevin Garnett from his days as an NBA superstar. However, he is now in the news because of legal issues between himself and his wife. She claims that she signed a prenuptial agreement under duress and wants it to be declared invalid. Kevin Garnett has requested a trial to determine its validity before negotiating new asset division or spousal maintenance agreements.

Garnett's wife currently receives $100,000 a month in temporary support payments. However, that amount could increase if the current agreement is not upheld. Garnett claims that he made over $300 million during his playing career, and he also claims that his financial adviser embezzled $70 million from him. The couple has two children together, and Garnett's wife has asked for physical custody of both of them. A hearing regarding the prenuptial agreement is scheduled for July.

How to successfully co-parent a teen

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in child custody/allocation of parental responsibilities on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

Divorced parents in Illinois may have to consider several factors when it comes to co-parenting a teenager. Divorce can be especially hard on teens, who are already struggling with the changes that come with growing from a child to an adult. However, there are ways parents can make the transition easier.

Being flexible with scheduling is the first thing a divorced parent can do to help their teen cope. The average teen already has to juggle spending time with his or her friends, education and possibly work. Forcing a teen to adhere to a strict schedule for family time can be an additional source of stress.

Deciding whether to keep the family home in a divorce

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in divorce on Friday, May 17, 2019.

In Illinois, divorcing couples may have issues about who should get the family home. The home is commonly the largest asset that a couple has, and there may be emotional attachments to it. People who have children might also decide that they want one of the spouses to keep the home.

There are several questions that a person should ask before they decide to try to buy out their spouse's interest in the family home. People first need to figure out the amount of equity that they have in their home. They might need to get a valuation of the property to figure out its fair market value and then subtract the mortgage from it to arrive at the equity.

Who gets the house and who gets the cabin?

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Illinois is an equitable-distribution divorce state. That might sound reassuring, but someone experiencing a divorce should take a closer look. Your results may vary.

If you and your spouse have already amicably agreed on a division of your property, Illinois courts will usually defer to your wishes.

Fairness during divorce for stay-at-home parents

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in divorce on Monday, April 29, 2019.

When people in Illinois decide to divorce, they often know that there are serious financial consequences and changes to come. Of course, the end of a marriage comes with numerous emotional and practical challenges, but the financial effects can linger on for years after the other matters have been resolved. This can certainly be true for families in which one spouse is a stay-at-home parent. Illinois is an equitable distribution state, which means that property is divided in order to produce a fair outcome rather than directly in half.

Around 25% of American mothers stay home to raise their children as well as 7% of American fathers. These include 10% of mothers in the country with a master's degree or higher who would otherwise be expected to have a high-powered career but left the workplace to focus on raising their children. In most cases, they also put a significant amount of energy and effort into supporting their spouse's career and giving the working parent the freedom to dedicate most of their free time to the job.

A high-asset divorce for the record books

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in high-asset divorce on Friday, April 19, 2019.

Superlatives are thrown around a lot these days. But it is nonetheless noteworthy when the “world’s richest person” gets a divorce. We’re talking, of course, about Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon who is worth an estimated $110 billion. He will remain the world’s richest person even after his divorce settlement, the terms of which were recently announced.

Although none of us are likely to achieve anywhere near this level of success, there are several important things we can learn from studying the Bezos’ divorce. The first is that even the highest-asset divorce case can be resolved amicably.

Tips for raising children after divorcing

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in child custody/allocation of parental responsibilities on Monday, April 15, 2019.

Children need their parents to provide financial and emotional support regardless of whether they are married or not. Illinois parents should be sure that they remember to always put their child's needs first regardless of how well they get along with each other. Parents should also make sure to always put up a unified front when it comes to how they will raise their sons and daughters. This means that the rules should be the same regardless of which house the child is at.

A child should never be put in the middle of an argument between the parents. Disputes should either be resolved in private or with the help of a mediator. Online tools are available to help parents who may have no other way of communicating without sparking some sort of conflict.

Does the other parent have to pay college tuition in a divorce?

On behalf of Reich, Jumbeck & Stole, L.L.P. posted in divorce on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

There is a lot to deal with during a divorce. You likely are experiencing emotions like sadness, anger and maybe even some relief. When you have children, you are also trying to manage all your children's feelings. You want to protect your children of course, but there are only some many things you can protect them from in a divorce. No matter what, your children will no longer have two parents that live together.On top of that, you are also dividing all your shared property which may include a house, vehicles, savings accounts and retirement funds. If your children are younger, you may not have even thought about who will pay for the children's college tuition. However, before you finalize your divorce agreement, you may want to include an agreement regarding college expenses. Here is what you need to know about Illinois law regarding this issue.