July, 2014 - Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog Archive

Pet Custody – A Growing Problem in Divorce Cases

By Leslie Fineberg on July 23, 2014

Anybody who owns pets knows that they are more than mere pieces of property; they are members of the family. That is why pet custody is becoming a growing — and frustrating — issue in divorce cases in Illinois and across the nation.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune pointed out how contentious the battle for a pet can become.

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How Friends Can Help During a Divorce

By Leslie Fineberg on July 15, 2014

As anybody who has gone through a divorce can attest, it can be a difficult and challenging time, even in so-called amicable break-ups. As a friend of a person going through a divorce, you don’t quite know what to say. You want to be there for your friend and help, but you don’t want to say anything that might make the situation worse.

So, what do you do? An article in the Huffington Post suggests that saying or doing something is better than ignoring the situation and not saying anything. Here are some suggestions of things you might say and do for a friend going through a divorce.

1. “You know I have your back.” Sometimes a friend going through a divorce just needs to know that you are on their side and you will be with them no matter what.
2. “You’re not a bad person.” A lot of blame during a divorce can be self-directed and sometimes just hearing this is enough to get a friend through the day.
3. “This sucks.” Yes, this may seem obvious and should go without saying, but sometimes a friend who is going through a divorce needs to hear that somebody else understands that.

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