Family Law

Starting July 1, 2017, Illinois will join the majority of states by adopting a new child support law. The new Illinois child support law uses an income sharing method of calculating child support. The income sharing method of calculating child support factors in the...

Like a car engine, child support determination in Illinois is often a mechanical process, but not everyone understands how a car engine runs.  Although I am the son of a mechanic, I know very little about cars.  In the same way, not everyone understands how child...

Roughly half of all marriages end in divorce. If divorce seems like a real possibility for your marriage, for whatever reason, do some research and ready yourself by learning what to expect. Find an attorney who is experienced and is a “good fit” for you. In the...

Kevin G. Drendel Most people realize that “Family Law” is a misnomer. Most people associate “Family Law” with divorce, and rightly so. Attorneys who practice family law usually have a high volume of divorce cases and follow up “post judgment” litigation involving...

Understandably, many (most) people hate dealing with the court system. In dealing with the issues of child support and maintenance, going to court can be a good thing. Especially regarding child support, the courts take on a very important role of protecting the...

Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult things you will ever face in your life. You well-being and your children’s well-being will depend, in large measure, on your ability to gain some larger perspective, to take a long term view of things and to see the...

Marriage is the joining of two people together into one family unit, and that includes their property.  Many married people consider their property in the following terms: what is yours is ours, what is mine is ours and what is ours is ours.  No distinction between...

Q&A forums on legal issues, and especially divorce and family law questions, are popular on the Internet.   One question seems to be asked more than most: what are grounds for a divorce.  The issue of grounds is fundamental, but many people have the wrong idea of...

Every new year brings new laws and amendments to old laws.  One law that has gone through many changes over the years is the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA).  Beginning January 1, 2014, the State Legislature has forged a new tool that is...

The amount and/or percentage of a parent’s obligation for contribution to their children’s college expenses is a matter often left undetermined in a divorce settlement or judgment for dissolution of marriage.  Unless the parties have agreed in advance to the...