Divorce Lawyers in Elmhurst, Illinois

Business Valuations

When one or both spouses own a business—or a part of a business—that ownership may be considered "property" which must be included in the division of assets. In order to include the business in a high net worth divorce division, a value must be placed on it. Arriving at an accurate value for a business will require such professionals as appraisers and those experienced in business operations to be utilized. A business valuator usually will also conduct a management interview and an onsite walk through of the business. To achieve an accurate business valuation, it is necessary to know what the business owes and owns as well as the regular income of the business. The profitability of the business is determined by subtracting the business expenses from its income.

Children and Family Therapists

High conflict couples can be helped through the divorce with the help of children and family therapists. It is important that divorcing couples separate their marital hostilities from their ongoing parental responsibilities, and many times it takes counseling to achieve this goal. During this time of conflict, many therapists will attempt to connect the parents positively through the needs of the children. Because cooperative co-parenting is so important, post-divorce family therapy may be recommended for some families.

Family therapy can be beneficial in reducing post-divorce hostility between parents. Children who live in the midst of such hostility are at a much greater risk of emotional damage than children whose parents make every effort to put their children's needs ahead of their own.

In some cases, if a child was appointed a representative of the court (also known as a Guardian ad Litem) or a 604.10 evaluator has been introduced in your divorce proceedings, he or she may ask you to sign a release to speak to your therapist.

Forensic Accountants and Appraisers

Forensic accountants may be necessary for high-net-worth divorces as well as in divorces in which one spouse is suspected of hiding assets (dissipation). The attorneys at Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC recognize that in cases where one spouse is the single owner of a business, the opportunity to manipulate income or hide assets is virtually unlimited. A forensic accountant can investigate a wide array of financial documentation and has the skills of a CPA coupled with the necessary financial investigation tools. Forensic accounts are called upon in divorce cases because a divorce cannot be resolved without proper asset values, even if the assets have been negotiated or mediated to a resolution. Forensic accountants often testify in court during a divorce and picking the right one can be critical in making your case.

Appraisers for residential and commercial property can also be consulted in divorce matters. The best way to find out the value of your property is through a real estate appraiser who will give you and your ex-spouse an unbiased valuation that will hold up in court. Our attorneys have developed trusted relationships with professional real estate appraisers to help you through the tedious process of dividing your property.