Family law can be a complicated topic. Spouses who are planning to get a divorce, parents who need to determine how they will share child custody, or other family members who need to address and resolve legal issues in family court will need to understand a variety of different laws and related matters as they work to resolve disputes and put workable solutions in place. At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, we work to educate our clients about the laws that apply in their unique situations, and through our blog, we provide helpful information about topics that may be important to people involved in these types of cases. We wanted to highlight some of our most-read blogs over the past year and provide updates about the issues discussed and the concerns that may affect spouses, parents, children, or other family members.

Child Tax Credits for Divorced or Separated Parents

In one of our most popular blogs, we looked at the Advance Child Tax Credit, which was available to parents for the 2021 tax year. This was a complex topic that affected many divorced parents, and the tax credit allowed parents who could claim children as dependents to receive advance payments between July and December of 2021. However, the law that put this tax credit in place expired at the end of 2021, and it has not been extended. Because of this, the Advance Child Tax Credit is no longer available.

For the tax year of 2022, the Child Tax Credits that parents may claim will return to the amounts used in 2019. While parents were able to claim a credit of $3,600 per dependent child in 2021, this amount is reduced to $2,000 for the 2022 tax year. The Child and Dependent Care Credit, which was increased to $8,000 in 2021, has been lowered to a maximum of $2,100 for 2022.

The breakup of a long-term relationship can be difficult for everyone involved, but it can be especially hard for parents who share children. If you are planning to get a divorce or are preparing to end a relationship with an unmarried partner, making decisions about how you will parent your children going forward may be one of the biggest challenges you will face. Creating a parenting plan that both parents can agree on can be difficult and overwhelming. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize conflict as you make decisions about how you will share the custody of your children, while also putting a framework in place that will help you avoid arguments and disputes in the future. 

The attorneys of Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC understand the complex and challenging issues that often play a role in matters related to child custody. We work with our clients to help them create parenting plans that are tailored to their unique needs, while also offering practical and effective advice on how to minimize conflict with their child's other parent. Our goal is to help parents resolve disputes as amicably as possible while ensuring that they will have the tools and resources they need to provide for the best interests of their children in the years to come.

Understanding Parenting Plans in Illinois

In divorce and child custody cases, parents will need to make decisions about a variety of key issues related to their children. When it comes to child custody, there are two main issues to address: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody (sometimes known as visitation) details where the children will live and which parent they will primarily reside with, as well as when they will spend time in the care of each parent. Legal custody deals with decision-making rights on matters such as education, religion, medical care, and other important issues related to the child’s life.

Justin Hartly and Chrishell Stause’s divorce came as a shock to many, as the couple had been married for just two years. The This Is Us star filed for divorce from his wife in July 2020, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple had met while working on the set of daytime television shows.
Hartley was the lead on The Young and the Restless, while Stause was a mainstay on Days of Our Lives. They tied the knot in October 2017 after being together for four years.

The news of the divorce spread quickly, and fans of Selling Sunset were
especially perplexed because only hours before the news broke, Stause had been selling “coffee with Justin Hartley” at a charity auction.

So why did Justin Hartly file for divorce? Unfortunately, there is no clear
answer to this question. Hartley cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce, but it is unclear what those differences were. Some have speculated that Hartley’s sudden rise to fame may have been a factor in the split, as Stause had previously remarked jokingly that she would have taken her own life if she had ended up with the person she was with when she was 25.

It is also possible that the couple simply grew apart over time, as can happen in any relationship. Whatever the reason for the divorce, it is clear that it was a difficult decision for both parties. Stause has since opened up about her experience, saying that it was “hard, and it destroys your sense of self-worth to the point where all you can think is, ‘How could you do it this way?’”

At WKO Family Law, we understand how difficult it can be to go through a divorce. We are here to help you navigate the process and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process. Our experienced attorneys can provide you with the legal advice and representation you need to get through this difficult time. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

Traditionally, families have consisted of two married parents of the opposite sex who share one or more children. However, even though this type of "nuclear family" may be thought of as the default situation, it is becoming less and less common in the United States. Many couples build lives together and have children without getting married. Married couples may get divorced and remarried, and people may have children with multiple different married or unmarried partners. When adding issues such as same-sex relationships and single parenthood into the mix, it can seem like there are endless different types of family configurations. 

Regardless of how a family is structured, it can be important to establish and safeguard the legal relationships between parents and children. While this may not be an issue for parents who are married when their child is born, parents in other situations may need to take steps to establish paternity. This can provide benefits for the child as well as the parents. However, the procedures followed in these cases are not always clear, especially if disputes arise between parents about the identity of a child's father or the role that each parent should play in the child's life.

To ensure that the legal issues related to paternity will be addressed correctly, it is important for a parent to work with a skilled family law attorney. The team at Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC understands the legal issues involved in paternity cases, and we can provide the guidance and representation needed to ensure a positive outcome for all concerned. We will explain the paternity laws in Illinois and ensure that our clients take the correct steps to establish the proper legal relationships. We will also help address related legal issues to ensure that both parents can have an ongoing relationship with the child while also making sure the child will have the necessary financial support. Our goal is to protect the best interests of children involved in paternity cases and provide parents with the tools they need to raise children successfully.

Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's marriage was one of the most high-profile
celebrity unions of the 1990s. The couple, who married in 1995 after a
whirlwind four-day courtship, were together for three years before their
divorce in 1998. But why did Pamela and Tommy get divorced?

The couple's split was primarily attributed to a domestic violence incident in
February 1998. Lee was arrested for spousal abuse after leaving Anderson with
bruises, a torn fingernail, and fear for the safety of her two sons. Lee
pleaded no contest to the spousal abuse charges against him and was sentenced
to six months in the Los Angeles County jail. Anderson filed for divorce
shortly after the incident and requested custody of their sons.

Despite the domestic violence incident, the couple attempted reconciliation
after Lee was released from jail. Anderson spoke about their reunion on a May
1999 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, saying: "Tommy and I are
back together, working our family out. We're doing really well, and our
children are happy." However, the accord did not last forever, and the couple
split for the second time in 2001.

In 2008, Anderson and Lee tried for the third time at romantic bliss, but it
wasn't their last attempt at getting back together. The former spouses split
for good in 2010.

Though the sex-tape scandal undoubtedly stressed the stars' marriage, it
was not actually the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. It was a
case of domestic violence that rang the death knell for Pam and Tommy.
Unfortunately, it was a case of domestic violence that ultimately led to the
end of their marriage.

Today, both Anderson and Lee have moved on with their lives. Anderson is now
single after splitting from husband Dan Hayhurst in 2021, while Lee is married
to former Vine star Brittany Furlan. Though their marriage ended in divorce,
the couple still share two sons, Brandon Thomas Lee and Dylan Jagger Lee.