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The Process of Discovery in a Metro East Divorce

An essential aspect of a divorce is exchanging financial information through the process of discovery. Discovery is necessary to understand the full financial picture of the divorce, which then helps determine property division, spousal support, and other aspects of a divorce settlement. Discovery can be informal, or it can be court-ordered. An experienced Metro East divorce attorney is a necessary ally when navigating a court-ordered formal divorce. Formal and informal discovery allows spouses to exchange important information about assets, debts, and other resources. While informal discovery can be less stressful and more straightforward with an attorney, formal discovery needs the

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5 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

An estate plan is a set of documents that protects your estate during your lifetime and provides instructions for its distribution after your death. A comprehensive estate plan can also provide you with end-of-life care, limit family disputes, and keep your estate out of probate court. A Metro East estate planning attorney is an essential ally to tailor an estate plan to your unique needs and create a legally valid set of documents. There are several benefits to having an estate plan, whether you have a large estate or a small number of assets. It limits the tax consequences on

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What Makes a Gray Divorce Different From Other Divorces?

A gray divorce is a divorce between spouses over the age of 50 or 60, which has become more common in the United States in recent years. Younger couples are waiting longer to get married or not getting married, making the marriage rate decrease. However, divorce rates among older couples have increased. Divorce is rarely easy for any couple, but a gray divorce brings additional challenges, financial complications, and emotional difficulties that are not present in every divorce. Couples who decide to get a gray divorce may be making the right choice for themselves and their future, but it’s essential

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The Basics of Adoption in Metro East, IL

There are many ways adoption can change a family for the better. A step-parent may wish to adopt their step-child to bring their family closer together and ensure parental rights. A couple or individual may want to expand their family with a new child. Adoption can be wonderful, but it can also be stressful and complicated. There are some basic things you want to understand about adoption in Illinois before you begin the process. Legal Criteria to Adopt in Metro East, Illinois Under Illinois law, a child of any age can be legally adopted. If the child is over the

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Understanding a Collaborative Divorce in Metro East

A collaborative divorce is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that allows divorcing couples to settle their separation outside of court. It focuses on spouses collaborating with each other and their individual attorneys on a separation agreement rather than arguing against each other in litigation. Collaborative divorces can even be useful for some contentious divorces. The Process of Collaborative Divorces In a collaborative divorce, both spouses are represented by an attorney, and these parties work together to craft a separation agreement in a non-adversarial procedure. When beginning a collaborative divorce, spouses and their attorneys sign an agreement to participate

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Will Contests in Metro East and How to Prevent Them

Many people create a will to outline how their assets and estates are managed and distributed after their death. A will names an executor to manage your will and lists your heirs. Will contests can come from creditors, heirs, family members, or other interested parties. If a will contest is successful, your wishes won’t be adhered to. To protect your interests, it’s important to understand how contests happen and what you can do to mitigate a successful will contest. Will Contest Grounds Wills can only be contested on valid grounds. An heir can’t contest a will because they are upset

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How to Discuss Divorce With Your Children

Divorce is a hard decision for couples to make, even if it’s the right choice for you and your family. If you and your spouse have kids together, this can make the situation even harder. Divorce is never easy on kids, and it can be challenging for parents to know how to tell their kids about divorce. Depending on a child’s age, they may have a hard time processing what divorce is or may think they did something to cause the separation. Oftentimes, parents have had more time to emotionally prepare for divorce, while for children, it is likely a

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Divorce vs. Annulment: What’s the Difference?

In the legal world, as in many other areas of life, people commonly mistake or misuse words. Colloquialisms and casual use can lead to a broad misunderstanding of what a word actually means. This can cause confusion and other problems in a myriad of situations. Many people use divorce and annulment to mean nearly the same thing. In reality, the two processes are starkly different. If you are considering divorce or annulment, it is essential that you understand the difference. That way, you can make empowered decisions about your future. What Is a Divorce? Although many people understand divorce as

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Overcoming Emotional Roadblocks in Divorce Mediation

Divorce is an emotionally charged process. Mediation can often bring up difficult feelings for all parties involved. It is critical to recognize and address these emotional roadblocks to have a successful mediation process. Recognizing Emotional Roadblocks Anger and Resentment: It is common to feel anger and resentment towards your soon-to-be ex-spouse during a divorce. These emotions can be powerful if the divorce results from infidelity, financial disagreements, or other issues. Grief and Loss: Divorce represents the loss of a relationship. It is normal to grieve that loss. Even if you initiated the divorce, it is crucial to allow yourself time

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How to Identify the Signs of Domestic Abuse

Domestic violence is a severe problem that affects individuals and families of all backgrounds. Although many of its victims are women, men can be affected too. Domestic violence has vast and far-reaching implications for many aspects of life. It is essential to know how to identify the signs of abuse before they worsen. What Is Domestic Violence? There is no single definition of domestic violence, but it generally involves: Physical violence or threats Psychological abuse Sexual abuse Financial control Stalking behavior Any of these behaviors must be directed at another person in an intimate relationship to be considered domestic violence.

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Planning Your Estate as a Veteran

After serving their country, veterans deserve time and care when it comes to planning their estate and setting up how they will live the rest of their lives. To thank them for their incredible service to the country, veterans receive several benefits to help them through the later stages of their lives. Because of this, it’s important to consider your estate and how you’d like your assets distributed. Whether you are looking at benefits you can utilize as a veteran or veteran benefits that can help your family as they care for you later in life, an attorney can help

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How to Overcome Combative Co-parenting

Millions of children every year are affected by combative co-parenting. This is when parents constantly argue, which begins to spill over into their parenting. This can make it difficult for children to feel safe and secure and can even lead to behavioral problems. No child should feel stuck in the middle of their parents’ conflict. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to overcome the adverse effects of combative co-parenting and position your children for success. Understand That Co-parenting Is Hard, but It’s Worth It It’s important to understand that co-parenting will not always be easy. In fact, it

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Potential Benefits of a Postnuptial Agreement in Metro East, IL

Many people throughout the United States carry common misconceptions about prenuptial contracts and what they can accomplish. A prenuptial contract is a legal agreement between married spouses that dictates their respective financial rights and responsibilities in their marriage. This type of contract can help marrying spouses establish separate property rights, allocating their respective responsibility for specific debts as well. While this provides significant financial protection to both divorcing spouses, many believe the suggestion for a prenuptial agreement signifies a lack of faith in the marriage. A prenuptial contract can be customized in various ways in Metro East as long as

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