Posted on January 16, 2025 in Divorce

In Illinois, many judges will advise or even order a divorcing couple to go through mediation instead of court. Mediation provides couples with a private space to discuss their issues in a session overseen by an unbiased third party. Compared to litigation, mediation can be a less time-consuming, costly process, provided that both parties go in with good faith.

Whether you have been ordered to attend mediation or you and your spouse attend a session of your own volition, you should know what to expect beforehand. A Naperville, IL family law attorney at Calabrese Associates, P.C. can help you prepare for mediation and how to effectively speak up for yourself.

DO: Choose a Comfortable Space

Mediation is best conducted in a place where you feel comfortable speaking your mind. If the marital home feels too tense, you can always request a neutral space like a cafe to conduct the negotiations. A courthouse or office space can also serve as a professional environment away from distracting elements or prying eyes. 

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 Posted on January 05, 2025 in Divorce

If your spouse ends up arrested and sentenced to prison for a criminal offense, you might be dealing with a lot of strong emotions at the same time. It is entirely understandable to feel heartbroken, betrayed, or even incensed, and sometimes, there is no other way to move forward but to get a divorce.

That being said, a divorce with a spouse behind bars can present unique challenges that you may not be comfortable handling alone. A DuPage County, IL family law attorney can help you finalize the dissolution of your marriage and give you closure during an especially traumatic time in your life. Attorney Michael J. Calabrese has previously served as a chair of the DuPage County Bar Association, and his experience allows him to navigate the most sensitive issues of family law.

Serving Papers

Like any other divorce, the process begins by serving your spouse with papers, providing him or her with formal notice of your intent to file for a dissolution of marriage. To make sure these papers reach your spouse behind bars, you will have to find your spouse’s inmate number via the state’s online posting from the Department of Corrections.

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 Posted on December 30, 2024 in Divorce

Although the oldest profession in the world probably does not bear discussion in polite company, the second-oldest profession is almost certainly the attorneys who kept the workers and the clients of the first oldest profession out of trouble. Because attorneys have such a long and storied reputation, many people are understandably suspicious of them and prefer to avoid using them when possible, even if it means foregoing the benefits of a lawyer and representing themselves. 

One of the most common areas of law that people try to represent themselves in is divorce and other areas of family law. While there is certainly no requirement to have an attorney representing you during your divorce, depending on your circumstances, not having an attorney at least review your case could be a very bad idea. 

We are not just saying that because we are a law firm – most attorneys even know better than to represent themselves because the data shows people who retain experienced attorneys tend to get better outcomes from their divorce. To learn more about how our experienced Illinois divorce lawyer can help you, call us today.

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 Posted on December 19, 2024 in Guardianship

As parents age, they often face physical or mental health challenges that might impact their ability to care for themselves or make important decisions. When this happens, guardianship can be an important legal tool to ensure a parent’s needs are met and his or her rights are protected. 

Once guardianship is approved for someone, that person is considered a "ward." The extent to which a guardian is allowed to make decisions for a ward is determined by the court based on a thorough clinical evaluation and report. Understanding when guardianship may be necessary and how to obtain it in Illinois can help you navigate this challenging situation, and our Illinois family law attorneys are here to help. 

When Is Guardianship Necessary?

Guardianship of an aging parent may become necessary when they are no longer capable of managing their personal or financial affairs due to age-related conditions such as:

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 Posted on December 12, 2024 in Divorce

Divorce mediation is often promoted as a cheaper and more peaceful option compared to traditional litigation. While mediation can help couples reach agreements on issues like child custody, property division, and spousal support, it is not the right solution for every situation. 

In some cases, mediation can even make existing conflicts worse or put one party at a disadvantage. Below are some reasons why divorce mediation may not be appropriate and how an Illinois divorce attorney can help you navigate the process.

Situations Where Mediation May Not Work

History of Domestic Violence or Abuse

Mediation relies on both parties feeling safe and empowered to express their needs and negotiate fairly. However, in cases involving a history of domestic violence or abuse, the power dynamics are often imbalanced. For example, imagine a woman who suffered years of verbal and physical abuse during her marriage. In mediation, she may feel too intimidated to stand up for her rights, especially if her abuser attempts to manipulate or pressure her into unfavorable agreements.

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 Posted on December 05, 2024 in Child Custody / Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

When parents share custody of their children, sticking to the agreed schedule for visitation exchanges is very important. If one parent is always late, it can disrupt plans, cause stress, and even affect the children’s well-being. Thankfully, Illinois law provides ways to handle this issue. A Naperville, IL family law attorney can help you find the best solution.

Why Timely Visitation Exchanges Matter

Late exchanges can create many problems for both parents and children. For example:

• Children might miss activities, meals, or bedtime routines.

• Parents may struggle to stick to their work or personal schedules.

• Children could feel upset or confused if lateness happens often.

While occasional lateness is understandable, repeated tardiness can damage trust between co-parents and make the situation harder for everyone.

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 Posted on November 26, 2024 in Division of Assets

In 2023, a New York housewife enlisted the help of a forensic accountant to track down half a million dollars her husband hid in Bitcoin prior to their divorce. A few months into the divorce, the wife became suspicious when it appeared her husband – who earned as much as $3 million per year – had very few assets.  The woman, who had been married for over a decade, rightfully felt blindsided when she found out the truth.

Since the couple had never really discussed cryptocurrency or making investments, the wife had no idea her husband was stashing money to keep her from getting her half of the marital assets during the divorce. A 2022 NBC news poll discovered that about 21 percent of American adults have invested in, used, or traded cryptocurrency. Men between the ages of 18 and 49 took the top spot for cryptocurrency investors.

Many divorce attorneys would agree that the law is simply not keeping up with digital assets when it comes to dividing marital assets during divorce. In fact, some attorneys are just beginning to add cryptocurrency to requests for the production of documents during divorce discovery. If there is any silver lining to spouses hiding assets in cryptocurrency, it would be the increase in forensic investigator jobs created to track down these assets during a divorce.

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 Posted on November 19, 2024 in Child Custody / Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

In the state of Illinois, the best interests of the child are always the overriding concern when determining the allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, and which parent will be the primary residential parent (the parent the children live with the majority of the time). The allocation of parental responsibilities determines how the parents will make important decisions for their children.

There is a presumption that both parents will work together to negotiate an agreement that clearly outlines each parent’s rights and decision-making capacity. The major decisions in a child’s life include choices regarding religion, education, health and medical care, and extracurricular activities.

The parents may decide to discuss these decisions and make them together or may split the decision-making between the parents. In either case, there must also be a way of resolving any differences that arise in the future. After determining the allocation of parental responsibilities, one parent is usually designated as the primary residential parent, while the other has parenting time.

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 Posted on November 13, 2024 in Divorce

Conflict is, unfortunately, a part of divorce for most couples. Even spouses who begin a divorce in agreement on most issues can soon begin having problems. Of course, there is conflict, and there is the kind of conflict many of us cannot even imagine. When one spouse has a high-conflict personality, divorce will be much more complex, costly, and time-consuming – a true roller-coaster ride of intense emotions.

A high-conflict divorce is generally considered one in which one or both spouses engage in negative behaviors. This is meant to inflict emotional pain on the other spouse and sometimes is meant to derail the entire divorce process. If you are expecting a high-conflict divorce thanks to your spouse, speak to a highly skilled Naperville, IL divorce lawyer from Calabrese Associates, P.C..  

What Are Some Red-Flag Behaviors of a High-Conflict Spouse?

High-conflict spouses are likely to engage in one or more of the following behaviors during a divorce:

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 Posted on November 05, 2024 in Divorce

In an ideal world, divorcing spouses would be able to resolve all their disagreements and follow any orders handed down by an Illinois family court judge. Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world. One spouse may sometimes refuse to cooperate with an order or could even directly disobey an order, requiring enforcement of the judgment.

For example, one spouse may have been ordered to pay spousal support but refuses to do so because he or she feels the ruling was unfair. A judge’s orders could be permissive or prohibitive. A permissive order grants either party permission to engage in a specific conduct. During the distribution of assets portion of the divorce, the court could give one spouse permission to sell a specific vehicle and split the proceeds with the other spouse.

In the same situation, a prohibitive order could prohibit one spouse from concealing or transferring the vehicle to keep the other from taking possession of the vehicle. When a judge’s orders are ignored or deliberately violated, the judge could hold the person who violates the order in contempt of court. When you have an experienced Naperville, IL family law attorney from Calabrese Associates, P.C. as your advocate, a contempt of court ruling can often be avoided.

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