In family law cases involving children, the court's primary concern is always the best interests of the child. When making decisions about the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, judges may consider a variety of factors to ensure that the child's well-being and safety are prioritized. By understanding exactly what issues will be addressed in child custody cases and how they can protect their children’s best interests, parents can make sure they will be prepared to resolve disputes and create agreements that will allow them to meet their children’s needs.

At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, we work with parents in divorce and family law cases to address and resolve child custody concerns. We provide guidance on how our clients can protect their parental rights, and we work to negotiate agreements that will allow them to meet their children’s needs going forward. If necessary, we can provide representation during litigation, but we strive to find peaceful resolutions to disputes whenever possible so that parents can focus on protecting their children’s well-being. Our attorneys are here to help with any child custody concerns that our clients may encounter.

Issues Addressed in Child Custody Cases

During family law cases, parents will need to address multiple legal concerns related to their children. These are generally grouped into two categories, which are commonly referred to as legal custody and physical custody.

Getting a divorce is often considered one of the most stressful life events that a person can go through. Not only does the end of a marriage bring about significant emotional upheaval, but it can have physical effects on a person as well. If you are going through the divorce process, it is important to remember that during this challenging time, taking care of yourself both physically and mentally should be a priority. 

One of the best things you can do to ensure that you will be able to address your physical and emotional needs during your divorce is to hire a skilled family law attorney. With a legal advocate on your side to help you address the various aspects of the divorce process, you will be able to focus on meeting your needs. At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, we work to ensure that our clients will be fully prepared to handle all of their legal concerns, and we fight to protect their rights at all times. When you work with us, you can rest assured that your case is in professional hands, and you can begin taking steps to make the necessary changes in your life while ensuring that you will be able to thrive in the future.

Here are some tips to help you navigate the divorce process:

There are a variety of issues that can complicate the divorce process, and many of these will be related to financial matters. There are multiple types of expenses that spouses will need to pay during a divorce, including legal fees and various costs related to changes in living situations. As spouses separate from each other, they may need to address moving expenses and other costs related to finding new housing. Each spouse will also need to determine how to pay ongoing expenses such as mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, groceries, transportation costs, and more.

While these issues can often be addressed by making adjustments to budgets, there are some situations where one spouse may be unable to fully support themselves on their own. In cases where a spouse will be at a financial disadvantage following their divorce, they may ask for support from their former partner. 

Spousal maintenance, which is also known as alimony or spousal support, may play a role in divorce cases where a spouse may struggle to meet their financial needs. Payments made by one spouse to the other after a divorce may be appropriate in certain situations. However, this issue can further complicate a divorce that may already involve disputed issues or complex financial factors. While one spouse may believe they should receive support, the other spouse may be unwilling to make ongoing payments. To ensure that these issues will be addressed correctly, it is important to work with an attorney who can represent your interests and protect your rights.

The divorce process can often be complicated, regardless of a couple’s circumstances. Myriad financial issues will need to be addressed when dividing marital property and determining whether financial support will be paid by one party to the other. At the same time, strong emotions can affect both parties, leading to contentious disputes that may make it difficult to resolve the various legal and financial concerns that may arise. For entrepreneurs and business owners, these issues can cause problems as they determine how to protect their financial interests and make sure they will be able to move forward successfully after the completion of a divorce.

At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, we understand the concerns faced by entrepreneurs who are planning to get divorced. We know that business owners will be looking to protect their interests, ensure that they can maintain ownership and control of the companies they have built, and sustain ongoing financial success for many years to come. With our knowledge of the laws that affect entrepreneurs who get divorced and our experience helping our clients resolve complex legal and financial issues, we can help ensure that a divorce can be completed as smoothly as possible.

The Importance of Business Valuation

Some of the most crucial issues that entrepreneurs will need to address during a divorce will be related to determining the value of their business interests. A comprehensive understanding of a business’s current and future value will be necessary to ensure that financial concerns can be addressed correctly when dividing marital assets. If a business is considered marital property because it was founded or acquired during the marriage, both spouses will need to understand its value so that it can be divided along with other assets a couple owns. However, even if a business is separate property that one spouse owned before getting married, understanding its value will be necessary, since this will ensure that the business owner’s financial status will be properly considered when addressing divorce-related issues.

Going through a divorce is not easy, especially when children are involved. Parents will need to address a variety of child-related issues as they work to dissolve their marriage, and they will need to reach agreements on how they will share custody of their children going forward. This will entail the creation of a parenting plan, which is a document that will be part of a couple’s divorce decree. A parenting plan outlines how parents will share the responsibilities of raising their children. 

If you are a parent who is getting divorced, you will need to create an effective parenting plan that prioritizes the best interests of your children while promoting a healthy co-parenting relationship. However, doing so will involve a variety of complex considerations, and you will need to understand the requirements that your parenting plan must meet under Illinois law. At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, our attorneys can provide guidance and legal representation as you negotiate the terms of your parenting plan, and we will work closely with you to make sure you will have the tools to address your children’s ongoing needs in the future.

Putting Children's Best Interests First

As you develop your parenting plan, it is essential to prioritize the best interests of your children. When reviewing and approving the decisions made by you and the other parent, the court will consider whether your parenting plan will provide for your children’s ongoing needs and their overall well-being. Factors such as the ages of your children, their relationships with both parents, their educational needs, and their physical and emotional health may be taken into account. As you work to reach agreements about the terms of your parenting plan, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse can make an effort to cooperate and make decisions that will ensure that you can co-parent your children together and meet their needs in the years to come.