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Financing College After a Divorce
While parents are always proud when their children go off to college, there is no ignoring the immense financial burden higher education can bring, for students and parents alike. Paying for college is not easy for most families, and it is further complicated for parents currently involved in the divorce process or already divorced.
Illinois is one of the few states where a judge can order a parent to pay tuition and other college expenses if a mutual decision cannot be made. This part of family law in Illinois is called post-high school educational expenses.
Paying for College After Divorce
College expenses are treated like child support, but there are limitations. There is a cutoff of how long a parent is obligated to pay for college expenses for a non-minor child. When a child turns 23 years old, has received a bachelor’s degree, or gets married, a parent no longer can be ordered to support post-high school educational expenses. Your situation may be different, and these limitations can be extended.
The Pros and Cons of Adult Guardianship
When most people think of guardianship, they imagine something similar to adoption. They begin to take care of a child in a similar fashion to the way they would care for their biological child. While this is one form of guardianship, adult guardianship is also fairly common. Becoming someone’s legal guardian gives you the legal authority to assist that individual with their affairs. This is typically done to help an adult make decisions when they are incapable of doing so themselves. It can be difficult to take on this role, especially if the adults are your parents. However, when debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s affect the adult’s mental ability, it can be crucial to take on this position.
Benefits of Guardianship
One of the primary benefits of legal guardianship is the peace of mind for everyone involved. Not only will you feel more secure and comfortable with the adult you are guiding but you will also feel personal reassurance. Guardianships are typically a last resort for family members when they see that their loved one is not able to make legal decisions on their own. That being said, once the unpredictability is removed from the situation it can take away the stress for everyone involved. Becoming a legal guardian also gives clear legal authority for instances in which it is necessary. When third-parties become involved, it is much easier to have a designated leader rather than someone who is unsure and incapable of making large decisions.
Consider Using an Advance Directive to Plan for Your Future
Advance directives are among the lesser-known estate planning tools. Studies show that only about a third of adults in the United States have signed an advance directive. There are a few reasons that advance directives are less popular that other types of estate planning documents like trusts and wills. Many people are not aware of how an advance directive can benefit them and their family if an unexpected tragedy should occur. While it can be quite difficult to plan for a possible future incapacitation, doing so has many benefits to both you and your loved ones.
Advance Directives Allow You to Be in Control of Your Future Medical Care
Have you considered what types of healthcare and medical intervention you would want if you ever became incapacitated by a serious illness or injury? For example, if you fell into a persistent vegetative state, would you want to be kept alive via a feeding tube? Facing these types of questions is not fun, but doing so now means that your family will not be burdened with the responsibility of making these plans for you if you became extremely ill. Through an advance directive, you can make decisions ahead of time about what types of medical care you do and do not want should the worst happen. This estate planning tool puts the power in your hands instead of in the hands of family members or doctors.
How Can Mediation Help Solve Child Custody Disputes?
When getting a divorce, there are many decisions to be made. Because of the sensitivity of topics in family law such as child custody and the division of marital assets, a mediator can be a helpful resource when planning your future. Discussing the terms of your divorce with a mediator can decrease the time, energy, and money you spend in court.
What is Divorce Mediation?
Mediation is when a neutral third party helps two conflicting groups come to an agreement in a structured meeting or meetings. A mediator does not make decisions for either party but is there to ask questions and lead the discussion toward a resolution. The mediation process starts with both sides making an introductory statement, followed by listing concerns related to the disagreements. The mediator will listen and find common goals of the parties. If the initial session does not result in an agreement, the parties can meet with the mediator to try again.
How to Transition into Two Homes During Divorce
Divorce is a difficult time and transition for everyone involved, but children have a different experience altogether. Children often do not understand the reasoning behind the divorce and can blame themselves for the conflict between their parents. This is most common in young children but can also happen for older ones who have experienced their parents fighting throughout their lives. One of the most confusing parts of the divorce process is the transition from living under one roof with both parents to living part-time in two separate homes.
Moving During Divorce
Custody arrangements look different for every family. Some share equal time with both parents while others only stay with their non-custodial parent on some weekends and holidays. While there are a variety of different arrangements, a house should feel like a home regardless of the amount of time a child spends there. The following are tips to make your house more comfortable for your child:
Choosing the Right Person to Be Your Power of Attorney
When you look to the future, you probably understand that a time might come where you are no longer able to make sound decisions for yourself. Nobody likes to think in such terms, but the reality is your health could deteriorate to the point where you cannot express your desires about your money, belongings, or even your medical care. In order to account for this possibility, the law in Illinois allows you to choose a person to act as your power of attorney for important decisions like these. The selected person will have legal authority to make decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them for yourself.
Characteristics of the Right Person
Under Illinois law, the person you choose as your power of attorney is actually called an "attorney-in-fact" or an "agent." Your agent must have the necessary skills and ability to handle the responsibilities associated with a good power of attorney. A solid candidate must:
How to Move On After Your Divorce
People get married intending to spend the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately, not all relationships work out, even after having been committed to the partnership for a long time. A divorce is a stressful life event to go through, especially after years of commitment and having children together. After the legal process, it may take time to get over divorcing your spouse.
Why Do People Get Divorced?
Each couple is different, and the specific reasons for divorce vary, but there are several common reasons a couple will decide to end their marriage. Infidelity is one of the most common reasons a marriage ends. An unfaithful spouse has traditionally been a standard legal grounds for divorce, as they are breaking their marital vows. Other reasons for divorce include different aspirations, financial difficulties, or the loss of love for each other.
A divorce can be the most painful break up a person will face. An attorney will assist with creating a parenting plan for your children or dividing assets with your spouse, but how to continue after the divorce is up to you. It is essential to take care of not just your physical and financial well-being, but there are steps you can take to be emotionally healthy as well:
What Do Low-Divorce States Have In Common?
According to the American Psychological Association, more than 90 percent of individuals from Western cultures marry by the age of 50. Sadly, in the United States, 40 to 50 percent of these marriages end in divorce. However, while the nationwide average is high, not every state has such a high divorce rate. Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau found that Illinois has some of the lowest divorce numbers in the country, with there being 9.41 divorced individuals for every 1,000 married couples in the state. Other states, such as Hawaii, New York, Vermont, and New Jersey, have similarly low divorce rates. What common factors do these states have that causes the divorce rate to be so low?
Why the Reduced Numbers?
It can be difficult to determine what the variables in a good marriage are. Studies of these states have found that there are commonalities they all share:
- Reduced Student Debt: A common cause of divorce is financial stress. A couple’s financial state can sometimes make or break their marriage, depending on their situation. This is especially common for couples in which one person works while the other stays at home. Large amounts of student debt can be an immediate burden added to a marriage, particularly if the working individual is using their paycheck to pay off their spouse’s debt. Many of the "top five" low divorce states had lower average amounts of student debt owed.
What to Do If You Think Your Loved One Was Forced into Signing Their Will
The instructions contained in a person’s Last Will and Testament are deeply personal. An individual usually thinks long and hard about how he wants his estate divided among heirs before putting these decisions in writing. According to Illinois law, wills produced through undue influence, coercion, force, or fraud are not legally-binding. If you believe that your loved ones will does not reflect his or her actual final wishes, you may be able to challenge the validity of the will in court. Challenging a will can be a complex legal endeavor. Help from an experienced estate planning lawyer may be necessary in these cases.
Did Your Loved One Have the Mental Capacity to Understand the Will?
When we age, both our bodies and our minds tend to weaken. In order for a person to be able to legally enter into a contract such as a will, he or she must have the mental ability to understand what he or she is agreeing to. This so-called “testamentary capacity" includes an understanding of the value of the property addressed in the will, an understanding of who should logically inherit this property, and the consequences of signing a legally binding document. Not everyone with dementia or another mental disability is unable to legally consent to a will, however. It is up to the person challenging the validity of the will to prove that his or her loved one could not consent to the document. In situations like this, the validity of the will may hinge on testimonies of the witnesses to the will signing, medical evidence, or an adjudication of incapacity.
What is the Divorce Process in Illinois?
Deciding to get a divorce is the first step to complete the legal process. Whether you and your spouse make the decision together, or it is a one-sided decision, the process of getting a divorce can seem overwhelming. Having experienced legal counsel will make the divorce process easier, particularly if any issues arise.
Illinois Divorce Laws
In Illinois, divorce is legally referred to as the dissolution of marriage. To file for divorce in Illinois, you must have resided in the state for at least 90 days. To begin the legal process, the first step is to hire a skilled divorce attorney who can complete all the required paperwork. Details about your marriage and your spouse will be included, including where you were married, places of employment, and addresses. These forms must be filed with the county court you are asking for a divorce. There will be a filing fee, and if necessary, a service fee.
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