If an Illinois child is determined to be in a bad situation with their parents, the child often will go to live with relatives or be placed in foster care. In certain extreme situations, however, this may not be thought to be enough. Authorities may choose to...
Domestic And International Family Law Blog
3 Things you always wanted to know about gay marriage*
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. According to a 2017 Gallup poll, over 10 percent of LGBT adults are married to their same-sex partner. The result has been a marked increase in same sex marriages. Today, over 60...
How can a lawyer help with international child custody issues?
Child custody is probably the most contentious area of family law simply because of the strong emotions that come into play. People feel very strongly about having custody of their children and raising them in a familiar environment. Now imagine that another country...
New Illinois law looks out for pets’ interests in divorce cases
Illinois pet owners often do not consider their pets to be mere items of personal property. Many consider their furry friends to be like family - almost like children. Yet traditionally, pets such as dogs and cats have been regarded as items of personal property. This...
We help couples with their prenuptial agreements
Prenuptial agreements don't really have the reputation of being the most romantic arrangement for marrying couples. Yet many couples find that prenuptial agreements are ideal for their needs. Many couples consist of people who are already financially established and...
2019 starts with changes in taxes and alimony
January is unofficially labeled as “divorce month” by attorneys and researchers due to spikes in divorce filings during the winter month. It is only living up to the name after Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently announced his divorce from his wife, Mackenzie Bezos, of 25...
David Schaffer selected for Super Lawyers list for the 13th year
We are pleased to announce that lead attorney, David N. Schaffer, is named to the Super Lawyers list for 2019. This list recognizes outstanding attorneys in their practice areas through anonymous peer nominations and a stringent research process. Additionally, each...
What can be in prenuptial agreements and can it be amended?
For some married couples in Illinois, there was a decision before the marriage to have prenuptial agreements as a protective device if the marriage failed. Even couples who did not have a prenuptial agreement prior to getting married will decide that post-nuptial...
In a divorce, what if parents cannot agree on a parenting plan?
As an Illinois couple gets divorced and they have children, child custody and visitation orders will always be an issue. In a best-case scenario, they will come to a reasonable agreement by themselves and court intervention will not be needed other than to sign off on...
Couples getting a divorce should consider tax implications
Any Illinois divorce will have emotional considerations. Many people will be concerned that they are doing the wrong thing and are hesitant to rush the process. Some divorces, however, are clear-cut. The couple knows the marriage and the relationship has run its...