Estate Planning

There are many different ways for people to manage the divorce process. Some spouses negotiate agreements in advance. Their marital contracts set the terms for their upcoming divorce, allowing them to file without much need for negotiation first. Other couples try to...

Separation after age 50 is increasingly common, especially for affluent couples. If you’re facing a “gray divorce,” the stakes are higher and the process is more complex than separating at an earlier stage. Gray divorce refers to divorces among couples over 50. If you...

There are a variety of planning tactics that can help people make regular vacations more affordable for their families. Some people actually purchase cabins or stand-alone homes in other states. They can then travel at their own leisure to those locations for...

For many people in struggling marriages, dedication to their children may be the only thing keeping them together. Parents are often aware that divorce can be traumatic for children. They may make every conceivable effort to work things out and keep the family...

People preparing for divorce have a lot of challenging issues to address. For example, they need to discuss how to separate their finances. Some couples have children and have to work out custody arrangements. Many families have companion animals or pets who enrich...

Dividing artwork in an Illinois divorce requires a careful blend of legal analysis, financial valuation and emotional sensitivity. Art collections are often deeply personal and financially significant. Whether a couple’s pieces were acquired during the marriage or...

When couples need to divide high-value and complex assets in divorce, it can consume a good deal of time. Fair market valuations and appraisals may be needed to ensure that whichever spouse gets an expensive item gives their soon-to-be ex something of equivalent value...

People preparing for divorce often need to take steps to protect their most valuable assets. If a married individual considering divorce currently runs a business or professional practice, protecting their company may be one of their top priorities. There are a...

Dividing property in a divorce can become a contentious exercise. Sometimes, couples spend more time fighting over who gets a particular painting, piece of furniture or fitness equipment or even a vacation souvenir than their retirement or investment accounts. That’s...

Dividing property during a divorce is rarely easy, especially when sentimental or valuable items like family heirlooms are involved. In Illinois, family law courts follow the principle of equitable distribution, which means marital property is divided fairly—but not...