Domestic violence affects countless families in Illinois and across the country. Nobody deserves to live in constant fear for their safety, or the safety of their children and pets, in their own home. However, as you may know, leaving an abusive relationship can be difficult. Successfully escaping abuse requires careful planning, as well as assistance from trusted allies.
How can I escape an abusive marriage?
What should you change about your estate plan during a divorce?
Nothing is constant in life except for taxes and death, as the saying goes. Like many other Illinois residents, you may have already taken care of your tax and inheritance matters by creating an estate plan. However, what happens if you get a divorce?
What is the gray divorce phenomenon?
Whether you have just taken your marital vows, or you recited them decades ago, you probably did not anticipate filing for divorce later on down the road. Yet, divorce is rather common among married Americans, and affects more than 50% of marriages. The rise of divorce in people over the age of 50 is known as the gray divorce phenomenon and it is taking the nation by storm. According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2.8% of people over the age of 50 filed for divorce a half-century ago, compared to 15.4% in 2011. While people may believe that a marriage that has lasted for decades may have avoided divorce altogether, that is simply not the case. Circumstances in life may change that cause people to terminate their marriage, even later in life.
How are pensions divided in a divorce?
During divorce in Illinois, marital property is split equitably but not always equally. That means that assets like homes, vehicles, bank accounts and investments are split between the spouses in a fashion a court considers equitable.
