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  • Categories
    • Alimony
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  • 2023
    • March
      • How a Divorce Can Impact My Taxes in 2023
      • Co-Parenting & Spring Break
      • How a Second Marriage Can Impact Children
    • February
      • Divorce Statistics Across America
  • 2022
    • October
      • Changing the Status Quo in Family Law
    • May
      • What is a Gray Divorce?
    • April
      • How Can My Spouse and I Agree Outside of Court?
    • March
      • Co-Parenting an Infant
      • Divorce vs. Legal Separation
      • What is Contempt of Court?
      • How You Should Update Your Tax Information After Divorce
    • February
      • What to Wear to Family Court
      • Warning Signs of Domestic Abuse
      • Military Deployment & Child Custody in Illinois
      • How the Level of Agreement Plays a Role in Divorce
    • January
      • Child Custody & Same-Sex Divorce in Illinois
      • Grandparent Custody in Illinois
      • Contested Divorce vs. Uncontested Divorce in Illinois
      • Debunking 4 Common Divorce Myths
  • 2021
    • December
      • How Domestic Violence Affects an Illinois Divorce
      • Mediation vs. Collaborative Divorce
      • What to Do If an Ex-Spouse Withholds Visitation
      • How to Get Prepared for a New Year’s Divorce
    • November
      • What is a Substantial Change in Circumstances?
      • 5 Most Popular Co-Parenting Apps
      • Surviving the Holidays During the Holidays
      • What Cannot Be Included in Prenuptial Agreements
    • October
      • Common Types of Parenting Schedules in Illinois
      • 5 Benefits of Hiring a Forensic Accountant for Your Divorce
      • What Happens If I Start Dating During Divorce?
      • Handling Holiday Visitation
    • September
      • With Teen Parents, Who Is Responsible for Child Support?
      • How Can Minors Obtain an Order of Protection in Chicago?
      • Should you Negotiate and Draft Your Own Postnuptial Agreement?
      • The Value of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in High-Asset Divorce Cases
      • How High-Asset Divorce Differs from “Traditional” Divorce
    • August
      • Are Child Custody Laws Different for Unmarried Couples?
      • Divorced Parents Are Disagreeing Over the COVID Vaccine
      • How Does a Joint-Owned Business Get Divided in a Divorce?
    • July
      • Homestead Rights in Illinois
      • Does My Divorce Qualify for Joint Simplified Dissolution?
      • Non-Marital Property Can Become Marital Property in Illinois
      • Illinois and No-Fault Divorce
    • June
      • Can I Refuse a Court-Ordered Paternity Test?
      • Can Child Custody Be Included in a Prenuptial Agreement?
      • Understanding How to Divorce a Foreign-Born Spouse
      • Should You Be Asking for Sole Custody?
    • May
      • Jonathan Merel Appears on Brian, Ali & Justin Podcast
      • Johnathan Merel Appears on Brian, Ali & Justin Podcast
      • How to Rebound Financially from Divorce
      • Will Divorce Impact My Credit Score?
      • What if My Spouse Refuses to Sign Divorce Papers?
      • How Child Custody Can Affect Your Vacation Plans
    • April
      • Co-Parenting Tips: Who Pays for College?
      • Can I Spend Money While Going Through a Divorce?
      • 5 Divorce Mistakes that Could Cost You Custody
      • Do I Need to Update My Prenuptial Agreement?
    • March
      • Divorce Over 50: What You Need to Know
      • Can I Be Held Responsible for My Spouse's Student Loan Debt if We Divorce?
      • Controlling Your Emotions During Divorce Court
    • February
      • The Signs of Parental Alienation
      • 3 Ways to Reduce Divorce Stress
      • Why Some Couples Choose Civil Unions Over Marriage
      • What Is Dissipation of Marital Assets?
    • January
      • Are There Alternatives to Co-Parenting?
      • What are the Different Types of Divorce?
      • How to Survive a High-Conflict Divorce
      • Common Stereotypes About Children of Divorce
  • 2020
    • December
      • How Do You Get Child Support if You Don’t Know Where the Noncustodial Parent Is?
      • Collaborative Divorce: Is It the Best Choice?
      • What Are Cohabitation Agreements?
      • 5 Ways to Support Children Who Have Seen Domestic Violence
      • How to Obtain a Protective Order Against an Abusive Spouse
    • November
      • How Long Do I Have to Pay Spousal Support?
      • Is Mediation Mandatory in an Illinois Divorce?
      • What Can Be Used Against Me in a Divorce Case?
      • Types of Domestic Violence and What You Can Do
    • October
      • Helping a Child Cope with Divorce
      • Benefits of Collaborative Divorce
      • Termination of Spousal Maintenance Due to Cohabitation
    • September
      • October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
      • How Personal Injury Settlements Are Divided in an IL Divorce
      • Five Attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C., Selected to Super Lawers and Rising Stars Lists
      • How Remarriage Affects Alimony & Child Support in IL
      • When Does Child Support End in IL?
      • Financial Recovery After a Divorce
    • August
      • Does Illinois Recognize Common Law Marriage?
      • Who Is Protected under the Illinois Domestic Violence Law?
      • Podcast: Why The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. Prioritizes Trust with Clients
      • Money Mistakes to Avoid During a Divorce
    • July
      • What is a QDRO in Illinois Divorce Marital Property Division?
      • What Are the Emotional Recovery Stages of Divorce?
      • Common Divorce Questions & Answers
      • How to Prepare for a Contested Divorce
    • June
      • The Penalties That Can Be Assessed for Failure to Pay Child Support
      • Can I Get Temporary Child Support in a Family Law Case?
      • Is It Possible to Avoid Paying Alimony in Illinois?
      • How to Get a Jewish Divorce
    • May
      • What You Should Include in a Prenuptial Agreement
      • Repairing Trust Between You and Your Former Spouse
      • Uncovering Hidden Assets in a Divorce
    • April
      • Co-Parenting with Your Former Spouse
      • Family Law in the Face of COVID-19
      • Costly Mistakes to Avoid in a High Asset Divorce
      • Modifying Orders for Decision-Making & Parenting Time
      • Ending Marriage Through Annulment or Divorce
      • My Spouse Asked For a Divorce, Now What?
      • What Parents Who Owe (or Receive) a Support Obligation Need to Know About the Coronavirus Stimulus Package
      • Changing Your Name for Marital Reasons
      • Documents to Prepare for Your Divorce
    • March
      • What to Include in Your Parenting Plan in 2020
      • Understanding the Importance of Paternity
      • Is Mediation Right for You in 2020?
    • February
      • How Divorce Affects Social Security Benefits
    • January
      • Who Gets the Home During a Divorce?
      • Allocating Parental Responsibility in Illinois
  • 2019
    • December
      • Congratulations to the New Managing Partner of the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C., Melissa Caballero Dunn!
      • Attorney Aurelija Fitzpatrick Makes Partner
    • November
      • Special Issues Affecting Assisted Reproduction Arrangements in Illinois
      • Alimony Under Illinois Law
      • U.S. News & Best Lawyers® Lists The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. on “Best Law Firms” List for 2020
    • October
      • Heading Into 2020, Our Firm Has 3 Super Lawyers® Honorees
      • Deductibility of Spousal Maintenance
      • The Rights of Grandparents for Child Visitation
      • How Important Are Custody Evaluations?
      • How Divorce is Portrayed in the Media
      • Dividing Tax Refunds in Illinois Divorce Cases
      • Dividing Damages Awards in Divorce Cases
    • September
      • Issues Regarding Social Media and Divorce
    • August
      • Can You Extend Child Support to Cover College?
      • Do Non-Parents Have Child Visitation Rights?
      • Interim Attorney’s Fees: The Best Legal Advice Your Ex Can Buy
    • July
      • Parental Health Considerations in Child Custody Cases
      • Legal Implications of Relocating Children
      • What Qualifies as a Valid Marriage in Illinois?
    • June
      • Parental Rights of Children of Assisted Reproduction
    • April
      • How to Find Hidden Assets in a Divorce
  • 2018
    • August
      • Divorce Settlement – Financial Mistakes to Avoid
    • July
      • Strengthen Your Future Marriage with a Prenup
  • 2016
    • January
      • Out With the Old & In With the New: Big Changes to the Illinois Marriage & Dissolution of Marriage Act
  • 2015
    • February
      • The New Illinois Maintenance (Alimony) Law
  • 2014
    • December
      • Post-Decree Litigation
    • November
      • Animals in Custody Cases: What Happens to Pets in Divorce?
      • Critique of Illinois’ New Spousal Support Guidelines
    • October
      • How To Change Your Name After Divorce
      • Dissipation: How to trace assets in a divorce.
      • Crafting a Child Visitation Schedule in Illinois
      • The Marital Home & Divorce: What happens to the house?
      • Divorce: Who gets the Child Tax Exemption and Deduction?
      • IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: We ALL got ’em right?
      • The Difference Between Mediator and Attorney
      • Who gets the Wedding Ring in a Divorce?
      • Calculating Illinois Child Support Payments
      • 5 reasons a prenuptial agreement might be ruled invalid
    • September
      • What happens during Court Ordered Mediation?
      • How is Paternity established in Illinois?
      • What is a Guardian Ad Litem or Child Representative?
      • What can a Mediator do for ME?
      • New Spousal Support Financial Breakdown
      • Orders of Protection Under Illinois Law
      • Finding the Best Divorce Lawyers in Chicago…Online
    • June
      • The Discovery Process in Divorce and Parentage Cases
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