Lake County Divorce Law Blog | Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd.

Estranged couple disagree on pictures, alimony

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Alimony on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

When a couple in Illinois decides to divorce, there are multiple decisions that must be made. While some people may be able to make these decisions amicably, there are many others who will ultimately ask the court to intercede and issue a ruling regarding child support and custody, asset division, and alimony. Unfortunately, a couple in another state reportedly are undergoing a contentious divorce, struggling to agree on a number of issues.

The couple reportedly married in 2009 and shared their struggles to conceive, which included a miscarriage. Fortunately, triplets were ultimately born. Six years later, the couple claimed that their marriage was broken beyond repair.

Coping with child custody issues when school starts

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Friday, August 16, 2019.

When many people in Illinois think of divorced couples who must coparent together, they automatically think of a situation that is filled with contention and anger. However, many parents are able to put aside their personal animosities and work together to support their children. Often, there are certain measures that parents can take to help ease child custody related issues, especially those that arise when children go back to school.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of a workable coparenting situation is adequate communication between both parents. As both will likely be interested in grade updates and extracurricular activities, one option is to create a joint email account to which both parents have access. Doing so can help both parents stay informed about sports schedules and other issues relating to their children and can facilitate the creation of a shareable calendar.

Illinois divorce: Mediation for property division, other issues

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Property Division on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

There are many rights of passage to which people in Illinois and across the country likely look forward -- getting married and having children, for example. While it is likely that going through a divorce is something for which no one intends to experience, the fact is that many couples will ultimately come to the determination that it is no longer in their best interests to remain married. Though going through the property division process and other aspects of a divorce has the potential to be contentious and lengthy, many couples are choosing mediation instead, an option that allows them to reduce conflict and potentially begin the next stage of their lives sooner.

Couples who successfully complete the mediation process can move on to the next stage of their lives without having to go before a judge. As part of the process, both spouses meet with a mediator, and the three will negotiate all the terms of the divorce -- property division, child support and financial obligations, among others. How many sessions it takes to complete the process depend on the couple's willingness and ability to create an equitable and fair agreement.

How are your children doing since you filed for divorce?

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

It's true that life is a series of events, many of which often prompt significant changes in a particular person's or family's lifestyle. For instance, perhaps you recently told your children that you are getting divorced. Regardless of whether you or your spouse is the one to file the petition in an Illinois civil court, the situation will no doubt have a significant impact on your kids.

Children often experience stress and fears as they navigate life-changes associated with divorce. If you have several children, you may notice that each of them reacts differently to the situation. By reminding them that you love them and by building a strong support network right from the start, you can help them keep stress to a minimum and move on in life in as healthy a manner as possible.

Bradley Wilk and wife fight over property division, custody

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Property Division on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

The end of a marriage, though typically in the best interests of all parties involved, can come with some difficulties. This could be especially true when Illinois couples and others across the country are unable to agree on many elements of a settlement. For example. Rage Against the Machine musician Bradley Wilk and his estranged wife reportedly are experiencing conflict on many aspects of their divorce, including child custody, spousal support, property division and even the date of their separation.

The couple married in 2005. Wilk's estranged wife, Selene Vigil-Wilk, claims in recent court papers that she initially filed for divorce in 2013 when she discovered that Wilk had an affair. However, she argues that the couple reconciled and came to an agreement that she would stay home and raise the children while he toured. Unfortunately, she claims things changed when he began having an affair with another musician on tour. His contradicts her claims, however, arguing that the two never reconciled after the 2013 divorce filing, meaning they have been separated for six years.

Judge awards father equal parenting time in child custody case

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Parents in Illinois and across the country only want what is best for their children. Unfortunately, couples who are no longer in a romantic relationship are often unable to come to an agreement, prompting them to ask the court to intervene. Recent news reports indicate that a father in another state was recently awarded equal parenting time in a child custody case that reportedly lasted three years and garnered media attention.

The case involved a man and a woman who have two children together. Though they were engaged, their romantic relationship ended before they married. At the time of their split, the couple was unable to come to an agreement on a child custody arrangement. Having only two nights each month with his daughter and four nights each month with his son, the man decided to ask a court to intervene.

State representative seeks alimony modification

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Alimony on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

As many people in Illinois have likely experienced, a person's circumstances can quickly change. For example, a person recently divorced may require alimony if he or she gave up his or her career to support a spouse or children. On the other hand, a person ordered to pay it could experience a change in circumstances that could make it difficult to meet such an obligation.

In fact, a representative for another state has recently requested modification in the amount of alimony that he is required to pay. Reports indicate that, at the time of the man's divorce in Sept. 2017, he worked as an animal pharmaceutical salesman for Merck, a job that he held since Sept. 2012. As part of the divorce, he was ordered to pay his ex-wife $4,000 each month.

Church attendance questioned in parenting plan dispute

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

For many people in Illinois and across the country, religion is a deeply personal and important issue. For some, their life centers around their devotion to their spirituality. Unfortunately, parents who have different ideas regarding religion may struggle to agree on how their children should interact with their faith. In fact, church attendance was recently at the center of a parenting plan dispute that occurred in another state; the state's Supreme Court was ultimately required to weigh in on the issue.

The case involved the divorce decree of a man and woman who have two children together. Their divorce decree reportedly requires that the children "participate" in the Catholic faith. Though the decree specifically mentioned certain events and classes, a dispute developed when the father learned that the mother was taking the children to a church of another denomination.

Once a child support order is put in place, can it be changed?

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. on Saturday, July 6, 2019.

While going through the divorce process, you knew that an order of support would be part of your final terms. The child support order took effect the minute you, your ex and a judge signed off on the dissolution petition. For a while now, you have made the granted amount work, but recently, you have found yourself struggling with it. This leaves you wondering if it is possible to have the amount adjusted.

The good news is, yes, child support orders are adjustable. The bad news is, making it happen can prove difficult.

Man arrested for failing to pay child support

On behalf of Lois Kulinsky & Associates, Ltd. posted in Child Support on Thursday, July 4, 2019.

There are many different types of parents in Illinois and many different parenting styles. While there is a great deal of variety in how a person chooses to parent, there is little choice when it comes to meeting a parent's financial responsibility to his or her children. In fact, failing to pay court-ordered child support payments can have serious consequences.

For example, a man in another state was recently arrested on felony charges because state prosecutors claim that he owes over $175,000 in child support. The man and the mother of the children reportedly divorced in 2006. At that time, he was ordered to provide financial support for three children.