312-702-1293
Recent Blog Posts
How Can Online Activity Impact Divorce in Illinois?
In today’s digital world, what you post online could easily show up during divorce proceedings. Social media, text messages, and even dating apps leave behind evidence that may be used in court. In Illinois, judges may allow online activity to be introduced as evidence that affects property, custody, and support. Our Joliet, IL divorce lawyers will guide you through the steps needed to protect both your case and your privacy.
Can Online Posts Be Used as Evidence in Illinois Courts?
In Illinois, social media posts, emails, and text messages can be treated like any other type of evidence. Under the Illinois Rules of Evidence, Rule 401, evidence must be relevant, meaning it has to make a fact in the case more or less likely to be true. For example, if you say you cannot afford child support but post photos of luxury vacations, those posts can be used to question your finances.
When Can You Ask the Court To Change a Custody Agreement in Illinois?
Parents who share custody of their children sometimes find that life changes impact their parenting. When this happens, the parenting plan that once fit the family’s needs may no longer serve the best interests of the child. If you need to modify your existing plan, an experienced Orland Park, IL child custody lawyer can guide you through the process and help you understand what the court requires to make a change.
Understanding Custody Agreements Under Illinois Law
In Illinois, the law uses the term "allocation of parental responsibilities" rather than "custody." This includes both decision-making authority and parenting time. Once a parenting plan has been entered by the court, it is legally binding.
Under 750 ILCS 5/610.5(a) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, courts generally require parents to wait two years before filing a request to change decision-making authority. Parenting time, however, can sometimes be adjusted sooner if there is a good reason.
Can I Fight a Prenup if I Signed Away Alimony?
Many people sign prenuptial agreements with confidence, believing they are simply planning ahead. But divorce rarely unfolds exactly as anyone expects. If you signed a prenup that waived your right to alimony, you may now find yourself in a very different situation.
For example, people often have to give up productive careers to spend years as the primary caregiver to a sick or disabled child, or to support a spouse’s business. Suddenly, the financial independence you once assumed you would have is gone, and the prenup feels unfair.
As of August 2025, Illinois law still allows spouses to challenge prenuptial agreements under certain circumstances. Courts recognize that agreements made before marriage cannot always predict the realities of family life. Meet with our Orland Park, IL divorce attorney to learn more about what challenging a prenup might look like for you.
5 Things to Think About if You're Getting Divorced with a Special Needs Child
Divorce changes every part of family life, but for parents of a child with special needs, the transition carries an added layer of considerations. Standard parenting plans and support orders are rarely enough; you need a plan that considers the day-to-day realities of caregiving and the long-term care your child will need well into adulthood.
At The Foray Firm, our Joliet, IL divorce attorneys work closely with parents navigating divorce and disability. Our mission has always been to help all families preserve dignity, stability, and peace through even the most difficult transitions. Below are five essential considerations to keep in mind if you are divorcing with a special needs child in Illinois.
Standard Parenting Time May Not Fit Your Child’s Needs
In Illinois, parenting time and decision-making responsibilities are determined based on the best interests of the child. For children with special needs, this often means rethinking what "best interest" really looks like in practice.
Can I Stop Paying Alimony If My Ex Gets Engaged?
Alimony, or spousal maintenance as Illinois law calls it, is one of those obligations that can feel especially heavy after a divorce. If your ex gets engaged, it is natural to wonder if that means you can stop paying. The short answer? Not yet. Illinois courts have clear rules about when support ends, and engagement alone is not enough.
Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/), spousal maintenance helps a lower-earning spouse adjust financially after a marriage ends. But maintenance usually only ends if your ex remarries, starts living with someone in a marriage-like relationship, or if either of you passes away. Our Joliet, IL family lawyers can help you ask a court to end alimony if your condition qualifies.
How Will Issues Related to Child Care Affect Child Custody Decisions?
When divorcing or unmarried parents need to address issues related to child custody, they may encounter disagreements about how they will divide parental responsibilities and when children will live with each parent. There are a variety of factors that may play a role in decisions related to the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, and one important issue will involve the parents' history of providing care for their children. By understanding how child care that has been and is currently being provided by parents will be addressed during a family law case, parents can take steps to protect their parental rights and make decisions that will provide for their children's best interests.
Understanding the Role of Caretaking Functions in a Child Custody Case
In many cases, family courts will seek to preserve the status quo as much as possible and avoid disrupting children's lives. Parents should be able to maintain positive relationships with their children and continue serving in the roles that they held in the past as they provided care for their children and ensured that children's needs were met.
5 Things Parents Can Do to Make Divorce Easier on Children
The end of a marriage can be an incredibly stressful time for both parents and children. Despite parents' best efforts, children may feel caught in the middle of a divorce. They may worry that the divorce is their fault, or they may feel like they will have to choose sides between their parents. They may also be concerned about how their lives will change, whether they will be required to move to a new home or change schools, and when they will be able to see and spend time with each parent. Addressing these issues can be difficult for parents, especially when they are focused on resolving legal concerns and making adjustments to their own lives.
If you are a parent who is going through a divorce, you will want to make sure you can help your children get through this process as best as possible while maintaining good relationships with them. Here are a few tips to follow as your family adjusts to the changes in your lives:
Do I Need a Financial Restraining Order During My Divorce?
The divorce process can be stressful and difficult, and it can affect you both emotionally and financially. As you take steps to separate from your spouse, you may become concerned about how your money or property will be handled. While you may be able to resolve minor financial disagreements with your spouse during the divorce process, there are some situations where you may need to address significant financial concerns such as the concealment or destruction of marital assets. In these cases, it may be necessary to seek a financial restraining order. By understanding the role that these types of restraining orders may play during your divorce, you can make sure your financial interests will be protected.
What Is a Financial Restraining Order?
During the divorce process, a court order may be issued that will prevent either party from making significant changes to their assets, which may include bank accounts, retirement benefits, investments, or valuable physical property. After the divorce process begins, a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction may be put in place that will prohibit both spouses from selling, transferring, or concealing money or property or taking any other steps that could affect the marital estate. A spouse who is a business owner will be allowed to engage in transactions that are part of the ordinary course of business, and spouses can also use marital assets to address daily necessities, such as paying bills and buying groceries. If any extraordinary transactions or expenditures need to be made during the divorce process, a spouse will be required to receive approval from the court.
Do LGBTQ+ Couples Need a Prenuptial Agreement?
Over the past decade, the number of LGBTQ+ couples who have chosen to get married has increased significantly. However, just like any other couple, an LGBTQ+ couple may face problems in their marriage that could lead to a separation or divorce. While the same laws apply to same-sex couples or other LGBTQ+ partners as in "traditional," opposite-sex marriages, there are a few unique issues that can arise in these situations. Because of this, it may be beneficial for LGBTQ+ couples to consider a prenuptial agreement. By discussing these issues with an attorney who is experienced in LGBTQ+ family law matters, couples can understand their options and the steps they can take to protect themselves.
Understanding Prenuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement is a contract made by a couple before their marriage. This agreement will address how certain matters will be handled if the couple chooses to get a divorce in the future. In general, a prenup can make decisions about the distribution of the couple's assets, and it may also address other financial matters, such as the allocation of debts or the payment of spousal support.
Can a Parent Who Shares Custody Object to the Use of a Babysitter?
For parents who are divorced or separated, sharing custody of children is not always easy. A parent who has been used to making decisions for their children, providing care at all times, and handling child-related issues that arise may struggle to let go during the times that their children are not with them. While a well-crafted parenting plan can alleviate some of these issues by establishing rules and boundaries and detailing how certain parenting issues will be handled by both parents, some concerns may still arise about whether children are being properly cared for.
One issue that parents may encounter may be related to the use of babysitters or other childcare options. If a parent learns that their children are regularly being left in the care of a babysitter or being sent to the home of grandparents or other extended family members, they may feel that the other parent is not living up to their responsibilities to provide the necessary care and supervision for the couple's children. To address this issue and ensure that children can be in the care of a parent whenever possible, parents may seek to implement the right of first refusal in their parenting plan.
15255 S. 94th Ave. 5th Floor, Orland Park, IL 60462
| 312-702-1293
Contact Our Firm
The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.
I have read and understand the Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.
