The internet has changed nearly every aspect of our lives – including how we meet potential romantic partners. Over a third of Americans report using dating websites or dating apps to meet people. Social media has also radically changed the way that people meet, date, and marry. Facebook, Instagram, and other social networking sites are also increasingly involved in divorce cases.

One study recently showed that meeting online was associated with a greater chance of divorce. In fact, the research shows that couples that meet online are over six times more likely to divorce.

Online Dating Associated With Higher Divorce Rates

Online dating has led to countless successful marriages. However, meeting a potential spouse online may not be the best way to find lasting marital happiness, according to the research. Approximately 12 percent of couples who met online ended their marriage within three years. Experts suggest that many people who meet online do not know each other as well as they think they do. They do not have access to information about the potential suitor from mutual friends and family that people who met through traditional means have access to.

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As the saying goes, money cannot buy happiness. However, there is no denying that finances play a critical role in our lives – especially for divorced individuals. Getting divorced is likely to have a massive impact on your financial situation. Property division, child support, and spousal maintenance are just some of the issues you may deal with during an Illinois divorce. Proper preparation before divorce and careful money management after divorce can help reduce the negative impact divorce has on your finances.

Knowledge is Key During Divorce

Many people are uninvolved in their household finances. If you typically left the financial decision-making up to your spouse, now is the time to start getting acquainted with your finances. You cannot make informed decisions about the terms of your divorce without knowing what you own and what you owe. Start by collecting financial documents such as:

• Tax returns
• Bank statements
• Paystubs
• Credit card statements
• Loan documents
• Mortgage documents
• Retirement account statements
• Life insurance information

Consider Alternative Resolution Methods to Keep Divorce Costs Down

The cost of divorce increases when spouses are unable to agree on issues like child custody and the division of assets. Alternative resolution methods like family law mediation may help you resolve divorce issues and reach an agreement without going to court. A skilled divorce lawyer can also help you explore ways to keep divorce costs down. He or she may also be able to help you and your spouse reach a settlement agreement and avoid going to trial.

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Domestic violence and abuse can take many different forms. Abusers often use intimidation and psychological manipulation to control their victims. Sometimes, this takes the form of stalking. If you have been the victim of stalking, you know just how frightening it can be. Stalking is considered a criminal offense in Illinois. If you have been the victim of stalking during a divorce or other family law issue, you should know that there are certain legal protections available to you. A “Stalking No Contact Order” is a legally enforceable court order that prohibits a stalker from contacting or coming near the victim.

What Does Illinois Law Consider Stalking?

Stalking is defined by Illinois law as repeatedly contacting or following someone in such a way that the person fears for their safety or the safety of someone else and makes the person suffer emotional distress.

Stalking may involve repeatedly:

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Whether you are an unmarried parent or one that will soon be divorced, you may have several questions about child support. Illinois law requires both of a child’s parents to contribute to the child’s financial needs. Most commonly, this is accomplished by the parent with less parenting time paying child support to the parent with greater parenting time. Of course, child support is not always as straightforward as it seems.

How Much Child Support Does a Parent Pay?

The amount a parent pays in child support varies from case to case and is typically calculated using a set formula. The most influential factor in Illinois child support payments is the difference between the parents’ net incomes. The greater the difference between their respective incomes, the greater the paying parent’s contribution.

Does Child Support Decrease if Parents Have Equal Parenting Time?

You may wonder if a parent has to pay as much in child support if they are responsible for a significant portion of the parenting time (formerly called visitation). When both parents have 40 percent or more of the parenting time, meaning 146 overnights or more a year, this is called a “shared parenting” child custody arrangement. Child support may be decreased proportionally.

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Many are surprised to learn just how common domestic violence is in Illinois. Sadly, violence between spouses, romantic partners, family members, and housemates happens in millions of homes across the Prairie State. It is estimated that over 40 percent of women and 26 percent of men in Illinois have been victims of intimate partner violence or violence between current or former romantic partners.

If you have been abused by a family member or romantic partner, you are not alone. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your children. One of the most important of these steps is seeking an order of protection.

A Plenary Order of Protection Can Last Two Years

In previous blogs, we have discussed the way an Emergency Order of Protection (EOP) can protect domestic violence victims from further abuse. EOPs are a crucial first step for many abuse victims. However, EOPs only last a few weeks. Plenary Orders of Protection are long-term protection orders which may prevent an abuser from contacting the victim, coming to the victim’s home or work, and more.

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