Belleville and Edwardsville Divorce Law Blog

Do I Really Need a Family Law Attorney?

January 12, 2021

It is not uncommon for Metro East, IL residents to believe that their family law matters do not necessitate legal representation. Understandably, some may believe that investing in legal counsel would be wasteful, especially when a case seems very straightforward at first. The reality is that any legal affair can quickly escalate into a highly complex litigation battle. Many pitfalls wait for participants in the legal process who decide to forego legal counsel in their cases. Anyone considering filing for a divorce or other family law matter must seek legal representation. Your attorney can provide many valuable services and handle

FAQs About the Timeline for Divorce

December 9, 2020

Divorce is one of the most challenging experiences of a person’s life, and no two divorce cases will play out the same way. It is perfectly normal to experience a strong flurry of emotions once the idea of divorce becomes a reality, and you are compelled to act. An experienced Metro East, IL divorce attorney is the best available resource for anyone in this position. A good attorney can provide detailed insights about specific factors in a given case. How Does a Divorce Case Start? Divorce begins informally when a married couple mutually agrees to divorce or when one spouse

How Does a Prenuptial Contract Influence Divorce in Metro East?

November 10, 2020

Prenuptial contracts are widely misunderstood, and they can be incredibly valuable to more people than might realize it. These contracts are signed by two people who intend to marry. The prenuptial contract outlines each spouse’s rights and responsibilities regarding the marriage as well as procedures determined in advance for handling a future divorce. Some may think it distasteful to think about a marriage potentially ending before it even officially begins. Some people may consider it a sign of a lack of faith in the impending marriage for their partners to suggest prenuptial contracts. The reality is that these documents can

Benefits of Adoption in Illinois

October 14, 2020

Adoption can be a life-changing experience for a child. While most people think of divorce litigation and heated custody battles when they think of family court, many positive experiences come from family law proceedings in the Metro East area. Mixed families are becoming more common throughout the United States. It is not uncommon for stepparents to assume primary parental roles in children’s lives. In some situations, adoption is possible. Seeing this process through can provide an adopted child with all of the legal rights and protections afforded to a biological child. If you are planning to marry a new partner

My Children Are Scared of My Ex, What Can I Do?

September 9, 2020

It is not uncommon for a child to prefer one parent over the other. Having a favorite parent is a natural inclination and may even shift throughout childhood development. However, when it comes to divided custody, a parent who recognizes that their child is legitimately afraid of the other parent should take this issue very seriously. Children who have grown up with both parents have likely formed strong bonds to both of them, but divorce can rock their world and cause kids of all ages to act out unpredictably. This sometimes leads to a child preferring to spend time with

The Benefits of Respectful and Cooperative Coparenting

August 12, 2020

If you live in Metro East and are considering divorce, you probably have lots of questions about what is going to happen as your divorce unfolds and how your life will change. Your concerns are likely even more significant if you have children. Many divorced parents struggle to separate their personal feelings about their exes from their obligations to their children. If you have children with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, your ex-partner will be a part of your life for the next several years as the two of you co-parent your children. The two of you are going to need to

4 Things to Expect with High Net Worth Divorce in Metro East, IL

July 17, 2020

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Friday, July 17, 2020. Divorce is often a difficult issue to handle, even when a couple decides to separate on mutually agreeable grounds. No matter how two soon-to-be ex-spouses may feel about one another, the fact remains that divorce in the Metro East area requires negotiations concerning property division. The more property a married couple possesses, the more likely it is for divorce proceedings to become messy, complex affairs. When a couple owns significant amounts of wealth and assets, their divorce will be a high net worth divorce in

Consider the parenting time schedule carefully

May 15, 2020

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, May 15, 2020. One of the most stressful things to handle when you divorce and have children is the child custody plan. Trying to come up with a parenting plan that you and your ex agree to might seem impossible. If both adults can put their own feelings aside, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to work something out that puts the children’s best interests first. We know that trying to work with your ex isn’t easy, but we’re here to help our clients find creative solutions to the

Understand medical care expense division in child support orders

May 1, 2020

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Support on Friday, May 1, 2020. Raising a child is costly, so when parents split up, one parent shouldn’t be left trying to cover all the expenses. This is why child support orders are put into place when the parents aren’t in a relationship. The order will cover regular payments from one parent to the other. It also governs things like who pays for school expenses, health insurance and related costs. It is imperative that both parents fully understand the terms of the child support order. There’s a chance that

Know what factors impact property division agreements

April 17, 2020

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Friday, April 17, 2020. The property division process that occurs during a divorce can be relatively simple for people who don’t have considerable assets. For those who do have a lot of assets, the split can be rather complicated. Anyone who’s going through a divorce should ensure that they’re prepared for this process. One of the most important things for you to do is to know exactly what needs to be divided. As part of the divorce filing, you’ll have to fill out a document that asks about the

Help your children build a relationship with their other parent

April 3, 2020

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, April 3, 2020. Some children who have divorced parents spend a lot more time with one parent than the other. It is often difficult for these kids to build a meaningful relationship with their noncustodial parent. Because of this, the custodial parent must accept a primary role in fostering the relationship between their ex and their child. No matter what type of relationship you have with your ex, you need to be willing to look past the issues between you and them. Your focus right now must

Prenups can help people of all wealth levels

March 17, 2020

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. When people in Missouri decide to marry, they may worry they will spoil the excitement by asking about a prenuptial agreement. For years, these agreements were seen as solely the domain of the ultra-wealthy or Hollywood celebrities. However, as people marry later in life with business plans, children and existing careers, there are many reasons why prenups can be a good choice for almost anyone. A prenuptial agreement lays out financial understandings about how a couple would divide their assets in case of a divorce and, in some cases,