There are many different reasons people file for divorce. Whatever the reasoning is for yours, it is important to avoid certain mistakes that could jeopardize your emotional well-being or even your legal rights. Although the divorce process is often harrowing for those involved, below are the five biggest mistakes you want to avoid when going through yours.

In Illinois, all parents are financially responsible for their minor children. When two parents are married, it is assumed that both parents will contribute to the financial needs of their child. When those parents are not married, or they get a divorce, typically one parent must make child support payments. In most situations, the parent that pays child support only must do so until the child reaches the age of 18. It is then assumed that the child can make their own living and financially support themselves.

Going through a divorce is extremely difficult and emotionally taxing. Some people may need time to mourn the relationship, and these individuals may also take some time to get back on their feet. Others, though, may want to jump right back into life and resume certain activities, such as dating. When that is the case, how do you know if you are ready, or how to do it without hurting your children, the people you date, or yourself? If you are considering dating after divorce, the guidelines below can help you determine if you are ready.

When imagining going through a divorce, many people imagine a long and drawn-out courtroom battle. Although many couples resolve their issues during mediation, it is true that some divorce cases end up in trial, where a judge will make a decision on all the terms of the divorce. By the time a divorce case makes it to trial, there is often already a lot of animosity between the couple. Below are a few tips that can help prevent that from happening, and ensure your divorce trial goes as smoothly, and as quickly, as possible.

When getting a divorce, many couples think it is going to involve a lengthy and bitter courtroom battle. However, this is often not the case. Many couples choose to settle their divorce through mediation. Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution in which the two spouses meet with a neutral third-party, the mediator. During these meetings, the mediator attempts to bring the couple to a mutual agreement on all terms of the divorce. The process requires compromise on the part of each spouse, but there are many advantages to the process, which are listed below.

It is natural to think that when getting a divorce, you should be able to point out any fault your spouse may have had in the breakdown of the marriage. This is particularly true if your spouse engaged in hurtful behavior, such as having an affair or domestic abuse. Many spouses are surprised to learn that Illinois is a no-fault divorce state, which means there are no grounds for divorce. However, that does not mean that if you or your spouse is at fault for the divorce, it will not have an effect on the proceedings.

There are many complicated legal issues in any divorce that involves children. While parents may typically first think of child custody, there is also the issue of child support. Divorce is often expensive enough, but when one spouse learns that they will keep paying for the divorce through child support for years after, sometimes they take drastic steps to avoid the expense. Some may even quit their job. So, what can you do when a spouse stops working in an effort to avoid paying child support?

When people think of domestic violence, they often imagine a person living with a spouse or partner that is physically abusive. Unfortunately, that is only one form of domestic violence. While many people also recognize emotional abuse as another form of domestic violence, individuals often are often not aware of financial abuse, even when they are victims of it. For this reason, it is important that everyone understands what financial abuse is, how to recognize the signs and to have hope that even when it is occurring, there is a way to put an end to it.