If you and your spouse are moving toward divorce, it is not only an emotionally difficult time but also an important time in which many significant decisions will be made that directly affect you and your children’s future. Obtaining divorce terms that support your financial rights and that support your and your children’s best interests is paramount, and our Downers Grove divorce lawyers are here to help.
In any divorce that involves children, child custody arrangements – called parental responsibility in Illinois – are key. While coming to terms with altered living arrangements can be difficult, you and your divorcing spouse can get creative in the arrangement-making process, and you may find a new normal that works well for all involved. Keeping your mind open to all the possibilities can help you move forward with less trepidation. At Goodman Law Firm, our experienced Downers Grove divorce lawyers have helped many families craft customized parenting plans that suit their unique needs, and we welcome the opportunity to help you, too.
If you cannot find mutually acceptable terms between yourselves (with the negotiation skills of your respective attorneys), the court will do so for you. The court is always motivated by what it determines are the children’s best interests, but ceding this important decision-making power can be very stressful – with unknowable results. Alternate dispute resolution options may be available to you, such as mediation, before you need to ask the court to intervene.
In most cases, the property you and your spouse acquired together during your marriage will be divided equitably upon divorce. In essence, this means that your marital assets will be divided in a way that is fair in relation to the circumstances of your marriage. As you can probably imagine, this process can quickly become complicated and often heated. The following can all make the matter even more difficult and more likely to require serious negotiation efforts:
Child support amounts are based on state guidelines that spell out exactly what percentage the paying party (usually the parent with fewer overnights with the child, but not always) will pay from their income in support of the couple’s shared children. The court does, however, have considerable discretion in the matter, and if there are any extenuating circumstances – such as a child with special needs – it is likely to deviate from the standard guidelines. Working with experienced Downers Grove divorce lawyers can help you negotiate child support amounts that are reasonable for everyone involved.
Alimony (or spousal maintenance) is usually reserved for those instances when one spouse has a significant post-divorce financial need, and the other spouse has the financial means to help alleviate that need. You should discuss possible alimony determinations with your divorce attorney.
No two divorces follow identical paths, but obtaining favorable divorce terms can be essential to starting the next chapter of your life in a positive way. At Goodman Law Firm, our resourceful and compassionate Downers Grove divorce lawyers have the experience and commitment to skillfully guide your case toward divorce terms that uphold your rights and benefit you. We are here to help, so please do not delay contacting us for more information today.
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