“Who gets what?” is a major question and core focus for many divorcing spouses in Illinois, but it is far from the only topic of concern. Financial debt is another hot-button issue for some divorcing couples that can lead to complex questions and difficult answers....
property division
Who gets the pet?
One of these things is not like the other: Car, couch, painting, Golden Retriever. Which is it? The dog, of course. Unlike the others, the dog is a living, breathing, and feeling animal. And dogs—and other pets—can lead to some uniquely tricky and emotional arguments...
Was financial infidelity a problem in your marriage?
In a surprising percentage of marriages, one partner has income, savings, or debt that the other partner knows nothing about. They may be hiding excessive spending, gambling, or a costly habit. They often think it’s short-term or unimportant, but their partners may...
What To Do When You Are Unhappy with Your Divorce Attorney
It's not uncommon for people to become frustrated or dissatisfied with their divorce or family law attorney as their cases progress. Some very common complaints are: my divorce is taking too long, my attorney never calls me back, or my divorce is too expensive. Often,...
Divorce-Linked Income: Some Core Considerations
The thoughts of most divorcing Illinois spouses naturally turn to income as they contemplate the dissolution process and related negotiations. All asset sources need to be identified and accurately valued, with so-called “marital property’ being fairly distributed...
Important Issues to Consider When Divorcing After a Long Term Marriage
“You have faced way more challenging issues.” So says a financial expert penning a recent divorce-related article for Kiplinger magazine. In this family law article, Neale Godfrey specifically discusses the increasingly common American reality of couples divorcing...
The divorce mindset: Being Rational and Dispassionate Pays Off
Most divorces in Illinois and elsewhere typically feature some angst and emotional upheaval. That spells a divorce norm far more than it does an anomaly. It is therefore entirely reasonable for divorcing readers of our blog posts at Mitchell Highlander, LLC in...
Key considerations in a high-asset Illinois divorce
A recent Forbes article evokes strong breakup-linked imagery when it refers to “looking down the barrel of a high-asset divorce.” And it centrally conveys what is often in the sights for an impending ex-spouse. Complexity for one thing. And the potential for discord...
Does the fate of a family business loom large in your Illinois divorce?
Asset division is often a major issue for divorcing Illinois spouses, and understandably so. After all, it is commonly the case that impending exes worked long and hard to accumulate marital assets. Over time, that property has become valuable and diverse. Marital...
Family pets: sometimes at center stage in family law matters
Tabloids across the world recently spotlighted the life and likely future of one very high-profile cat. That is Choupette, the long-time companion of famed designer and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, who died at an advanced age last month. Lagerfeld once referred to his...