blog home archives February, 2012 - Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog

February, 2012 - Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog Archive

Relationship Status of Kate Gosselin and Ex Points to Common Cause of Marital Discord

By Nottage and Ward on February 29, 2012

Kate Gosselin filed for divorce from then-husband and reality show co-star Jon Gosselin in June 2009 amid infidelity rumors. The reality show, which continued as “Kate Plus 8” after the divorce, ended in September 2011, according to The Huffington Post. It is not the circumstances of the divorce or the fate of the reality show that are the most telling, however.

Earlier this week, Kate Gosselin discussed her relationship with her ex-husband on “Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers.” The couple shares custody of their eight children. According to Gosselin, the couple has had a much more peaceful relationship. They each live their own lives and everything seems to be much better. She says that she believes their improved relationship is, at least in part, due to her ex’s recent employment, which has made him happier with himself. He is happier, the kids are happier after they see him, and that makes her happy.

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Your Facebook Profile May Be Used Against You in Family Court

By Nottage and Ward on February 27, 2012

Social networking has become part of our day-to-day lives, and although some people infrequently engage in online social networking, others religiously share their thoughts, emotions, frustrations, joys, and, not to mention, pictures for every occasion. The most popular social media site to do all this is Facebook. The problem? What happens on Facebook does not necessarily stay on Facebook. If you are currently in the divorce process or in a child custody battle, what you have on your Facebook profile may be used against you, according to an article in The Legal Intelligencer.

Though the law journal article discusses how Facebook is used in Pennsylvania family law cases, the fact is that Facebook has become a relevant factor in family law cases in courts nationwide. The decisions a court makes concerning divorce, maintenance, child support, and child custody may all be impacted by what is on a party’s Facebook profile, although, if the separating couple files for a no-fault divorce in Illinois, proving that one spouse cheated on the other using Facebook pictures and posts will have little to no impact. Child custody cases may be a different story, however.

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Springfield Civil Union Benefits Reversal Vote Thrown Out by Judge

By Nottage and Ward on February 22, 2012

In January, the decision to deny spousal benefits to Springfield city employees in civil unions was reversed by a unanimous vote of the Joint Labor/Management Health Care Committee. After the vote was initially denied in December, Springfield Mayor Mike Houston publicly declared his support of awarding spousal benefits to city employees in civil unions. Soon after that public announcement, the committee reversed its decision and granted benefits. Unfortunately, that reversal vote has since been thrown out by a Circuit Court Judge for violating the Open Meetings Act, according to The Windy City Times.

An Illinois Times reporter had filed suit after the Committee held a closed-door vote on extending spousal insurance benefits to civil union spouses in January. The Committee did unanimously vote to extend the benefits, but, because the Committee was a public committee, they were required to hold open meetings. Because the vote was conducted behind closed doors, a Judge ruled in favor of the reporter’s suit, which made the vote void.

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Post-Divorce Recovery May Just Take 7 Steps: Part 2

By Nottage and Ward on February 20, 2012

In last week’s blog post, we discussed the first four steps of coping post-divorce by using the Vendetta Technique, which was developed by celebrity weight-loss coach Valerie Orsoni. Today we present the last three steps to move on with your life, happily and confidently, after divorce:

  • Step 5: The Vendetta Diet – There is strong correlation between looking good and feeling good, and vice versa. It gives you confidence that you may have lost after the divorce. Toss out all junk food, fill the fridge with fresh and natural foods, especially veggies, and establish a new exercise routine, even if it is just taking a walk with your friends every day.
  • Step 6: Reward Yourself – You’ve set up goals, now create your own Vendetta Treasure Chest, a box with promise notes for rewards, like “Buy new shoes” or “Get motorcycle riding lessons,” when you reach those goals. Once the Treasure Chest is empty, you’ve reached all your goals and have achieved your Vendetta.
  • Step 7: Time to Celebrate! – Throw a party for yourself with your closest friends, take a trip, or even symbolically destroy all memorabilia of your ex that you don’t want any more to celebrate achieving your goals.

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Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Legalize Gay Marriage in Illinois

By Nottage and Ward on February 16, 2012

It has been almost one year since the civil union law went into effect in Illinois and now some lawmakers feel it is time to take the next step and authorize same-sex marriages, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Last week, three legislators filed a bill, HB5170, entitled the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” which would remove the explicit prohibition of same-sex marriages from state law and make marriage legally available to gay couples. In addition, the new measure would allow religious groups to make their own decisions concerning the types of marriages they perform. One of the bill’s sponsors is not sure whether the Legislature will give it serious consideration, but, if trends across the country are any indication, Illinois may consider same-sex marriages sooner rather than later.

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Post-Divorce Recovery May Just Take 7 Steps: Part 1

By Nottage and Ward on February 14, 2012

Getting over a divorce is a long emotional process, whether it was a mutual decision or not. Every person has their own methods of coping with divorce, and no one way is the right way, but wallowing in depression should never be one of those methods. If you have recently been divorced and are trying to find a way to be happy with yourself and your life again, the Vendetta Technique, developed by celebrity weight-loss coach Valerie Orsoni, may be the way, according to Shape magazine. In this two-part blog series, we will be outlining the essential seven steps of this technique and how they can help you move on with your life in a healthy way.

The goal of the Vendetta Technique is to drive yourself to becoming a better and healthier person, not to actually hurt your ex, but to gain control of your life and your emotions. These are the first four of the technique’s seven steps:

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Housing Market Crash Causes Problems for Divorcing Couples

By Nottage and Ward on February 6, 2012

The real estate market crash made and still makes life difficult for homeowners across the country. House values have plummeted and people are left with loans that are worth more than their homes, making it nearly if not completely impossible to keep up with expensive loan payments or even to sell. According to a Yahoo! Finance article, approximately 3.5 million homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments while another 1.5 million have already begun the foreclosure process. In the next two years, it is estimated that there will be 3.6 million foreclosures.

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What Consistent Behaviors in Your Marriage May Lead to Divorce?

By Nottage and Ward on February 1, 2012

There are many potential factors that contribute to a divorce. The most common of these are usually infidelity, financial issues, and conflicting goals. Lying and cheating are obvious behaviors that can lead to divorce, but there are also a handful of less obvious behaviors which, if consistent, can end a marriage.

According to The Huffington Post, although there are countless reasons why a relationship ends, researchers identify five behaviors that, if repeated over time, have the power to end a marriage:

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