Every family will eventually experience a disagreement. Family disagreements occur between siblings, parents and children, and between relatives who work together in a family business. These disputes are often highly emotional, and, if left unchecked, may escalate and permanently destroy relationships. Although many of these disagreements do not involve a formal lawsuit, Chicago family mediators
Disputes that occur in the family courts, such as custody contests, visitation disagreements, and divorces, have the potential to permanently damage the relationships within your family. When a family becomes involved in a courtroom trial, the adversarial nature of the proceeding, along with a focus on a “winner” and a “loser,” often causes family members
Although no couple wants to think about getting divorced before they have even gotten married, having a prenuptial agreement can provide several benefits to the couple, even if they do not get divorced. Couples in Chicago have used prenuptial agreements to settle many issues involving their assets, their debts, and more. Deciding how these issues
When a divorce case goes to trial, the parties are essentially at the mercy of the family court judge assigned to their case. The outcome of a case can vary drastically depending on the judge—some are more conservative than others, some are stricter than others, and some have more experience in certain cases than others
Attending mediation is one of the best decisions the parties can make during their divorce. During mediation, a third party neutral, called a mediator, helps the parties create their own settlement agreement on issues involving their children, their property, and even some future issues that may arise, such as the relocation of a parent. Mediation
When parents divorce, a parenting plan will be created that designates how certain issues regarding the children will be handled. Sometimes, this parenting plan is drafted by the parents, and other times, if the parents cannot agree, the courts will order a parenting plan on their behalf. Parenting plans can be as detailed as the
After a divorce trial, the parties are often exhausted, emotional, and financially drained. They have likely spent hours preparing for trial with their attorneys, have endured intense cross-examination on the witness stand, and have nervously awaited the judge’s decision. Additionally, they may have spent several thousand dollars or more in legal fees. Many parties have
Unfortunately, domestic violence is a growing problem in the country. It is common in various cultures and impacts both wealthy and poor families. Often, outsiders have no idea that their friends and loved ones are suffering abuse. One disturbing statistic reports that three women are murdered in the United States every single day by a
One of the most painful parts of a divorce is losing time with one’s children. Until the divorce, the family has spent most of their time in one home, and the thought of not being with your children for all of the holidays has probably not even come up. However, after a divorce, the parents
When feasible, mediation is always a better option that going back to court in a custody case. Mediation is a confidential process that allows the parties to control their dispute. When issues involving your children are contested in a custody case, a family court judge will typically decide how this dispute will be resolved. In
