A postnuptial agreement (“postnup”) is an agreement entered into by a couple after marriage. The agreement can cover a range of topics from lifestyle issues to the couple’s wishes if they choose to divorce. A postnup, like a prenup, is designed to protect the marriage and provide the couple with…
Family Law Matters Blog
Buyer Beware: Discount Legal Service Providers
I have written in the past about the importance of choosing the right attorney for your legal needs. From time to time, potential clients come to me with a set of papers prepared through an online service. These papers often lack important details and/or do not address core issues –…
Social Media & Divorce
Social media serves as an open journal or scrapbook for many people. It allows distant friends to reconnect, family members to keep in touch, and people to share accomplishments. However, social media has also become an easy way for people to get a window into someone’s hobbies, spending habits, and…
Co-Parenting During the Divorce Process
When a family goes through the divorce process, there is often an emphasis placed on co-parenting – both parents sharing the responsibilities of caring for the children. It is important that spouses and co-parents find an approach to child custody and timesharing that suits their own family’s background, circumstances, needs…
The Benefits of Mediation: Closing the Gap in Finances
The divorce process involves many aspects of the relationship from an emotional and financial standpoint. The most contentious issues often center on the parties’ finances. Because addressing cash flow and the distribution of assets can create added stress during the divorce process, mediation is often considered as the best alternative…
Facing a Separation or Divorce in the New Year
January is a month that people often decide to make life changes. If you and your spouse have made the decision to separate or divorce, you may be thinking about how to proceed. Choosing the right process is an important decision because it will affect how negotiations take place. There…
Mediation 101: Overlooked Benefits of Mediation
Mediation is a process where a neutral professional facilitates the communication between two parties in order to help them reach a mutually acceptable resolution of a dispute. Mediation is used in many types of legal disputes, but can be especially valuable in the context of family law, more specifically divorce.…
Challenging Maintenance Provisions in a Prenup: The Real “Big Bang”
Prenuptial agreements can include many different areas, including maintenance arrangements in the event of a divorce. Specific requirements and limitations on maintenance provisions vary from state-to-state. A celebrity prenup has recently come into the news because one spouse is challenging the maintenance provision of the agreement and requesting a modification.…
Prenup Durability and the Importance of Independent Counsel: The Ken Griffin Divorce Case
Ken Griffin, considered Illinois’ richest man and worth billions, has recently settled his divorce case right as the trial over his prenuptial agreement was set to begin. Griffin and his estranged wife have been in a divorce battle for over a year. The main issue was the validity of a…
Collaborative Law 101: 5 Key Features
Collaborative law is a process used to resolve family and other disputes respectfully and equitably without going to court. Each party retains his or her own attorney who has been specially trained in the collaborative law process to advise and assist in negotiating an agreement. The negotiations take place out…