Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog
When to Worry About Changes in Child Behavior After Divorce: Part 2
In the first post of our two-part blog series on child behavior changes after divorce, our family law attorneys at Nottage and Ward discussed the behavioral changes that may occur in children up to five-years-old, or pre-school age. In the final post of this series, we will be continuing our timeline and discussing the behavioral changes that may occur in elementary through high-school aged children and when those behaviors may signify the need to seek further help for your children.
When to Worry about Changes in Child Behavior after Divorce: Part 1
Children do not respond to divorce in exactly the same way, especially when they are at different ages. But what general behavior is a natural reaction to divorce and what behavior signifies the need for additional intervention, such as therapy and/or counseling? Divorcing parents who don’t know what types of behavior changes to expect can become worried over any change, but not everything is a red flag. In this two-part blog series, the Chicago family law attorneys at Nottage and Ward will discuss when behavior changes are and are not warning signs.
According to an article in The Huffington Post, the following are, generally, the natural behavioral changes that may occur after divorce, from birth through pre-school age.
Perspective from a Child of Divorce, Discussed by Family Law Attorney Leslie Fineberg
As an experienced divorce attorney in Chicago, Leslie Fineberg recognizes that there is no established set of rules that state how a child will react to or cope with the divorce of their parents. Of course, there are factors that can contribute to how a child handles divorce, including the way in which a child’s parents choose to tell them about it, but every child’s personality is different and therefore each will respond differently. There are some insights that can help adults and divorcing parents understand what children of divorce go through and how best to interact with them during divorce, however, and these insights come from children of divorce.
Illinois Delegates Happily Approve of Democrats’ Support of Gay Marriage
The Democratic Party made big news when it adopted a presidential platform that embraces marriage equality for same-sex couples. Gay marriage has been the topic of much debate on a state and federal level and, for same-sex couples in Illinois, the issue has gone to court where a lawsuit against the State’s discriminatory marriage law is pending. While the law in Illinois gets sorted out, Illinois delegates are proud to support a political party that supports equal rights.
According to an article on WBNEZ.org, two Illinois delegates, a same-sex couple from Chicago, are very hopeful of the Democratic platform embracing gay marriage; not just because such a stance is a huge leap forward towards equality for all Americans, but because it hits very close to home.
What to Make Sure You Tell Your Divorce Attorney
Meeting with a divorce attorney can be overwhelming. When you actually take action, it means that your divorce is real and it is easy to get caught up in all of the unknowns. It is important, however, that you hold it together when meeting with an attorney so that you can be sure to provide the important information they need to properly assess your situation. An experienced divorce attorney, such as those at Nottage and Ward in Illinois, don’t just want your financial information and the basic facts of your marriage, however. To effectively represent you, a family law attorney needs to know the skeletons in your closet.
Before meeting with an attorney, come up with the answers to these 10 questions:
What You Should Not Say to a Divorcee, Even if You Mean Well
When you have a friend or family member who is going through a divorce, your immediate impulse is to try to make them feel better, but what you think is helpful may actually just cause a divorcee stress and frustration. According to The Huffington Post, here are some common phrases that, while well-meaning, can actually be the last things a person going through a divorce wants to hear:
- At least you don’t have kids. Even if a divorcee doesn’t have children, it doesn’t mean the pain of divorce is less, so it is almost like telling them that they should not be feeling as bad as they are.
- That’s just like what happened to me. That’s just a great way to make a divorcee feel worse, not better. Turning their pain into focusing on what happened to you may feel like you’re empathizing, but you are in fact taking away a chance for the divorcee to really tell their story.
- You’re still young, you won’t have trouble meeting someone new. The last thing a divorcee wants to think about after a divorce is jumping back into the dating pool.
- Everything happens for a reason. This is probably the vaguest platitude you can give and really just says that since everything happens for a reason, there’s no reason to be distraught over the divorce.
How Do You Tell Your Children Youre Getting Divorced?
Breaking the news about your divorce to your kids can be very difficult. Should you be blunt and just tell them straight out? How much should you tell them? Will they understand what you’re saying? Should you sugar-coat it?
Attorney Jeffrey Knipmeyer Discusses GOP Platform Rejection of Civil Unions
As an experienced civil union attorney in Illinois, Jeffrey Knipmeyer recognizes that as the country moves closer to casting their votes for our next President of the United States, political party stances on key issues are going to have more weight when voters make their decision. One of the most controversial issues concerns gay marriage.
According to Politico.com, the Republican platform committee rejected an amendment that would have endorsed same-sex civil unions. The GOP holds its stance for a constitutional amendment that protects “traditional marriage” by maintaining the definition (as established in the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA) as between a man and a woman. Though a handful of Republican representatives spoke in favor of same-sex civil unions, they were overwhelmingly shot down by others in the party.
Back-to-School after Divorce: What Parents Can Learn from Teachers, Part 2
The way you and your ex handle co-parenting after your divorce can have a significant impact on your child’s life, and one place where how you are handling your divorced situation can make or break your child’s success is school. In the last post of our “Back-to-School after Divorce” blog series, we offer some more advice for divorced parents from the teachers who see first-hand how what you are doing impacts your child:
Back-to-School after Divorce: What Parents Can Learn from Teachers, Part 1
As experienced divorce attorneys at Nottage and Ward, we recognize that divorce impacts you, your ex, and your children, and how you handle your divorce and co-parenting can make that impact minor or severe, positive or negative. While divorce most directly affects you and your children, another group of people can also see how a divorce, and your handling of the divorce, impacts your children: teachers. From observing great collaboration and cooperation between parents to observing one parent use their child to get back at the other, teachers see well-adjusted children and children who are acting out and being emotionally torn apart.
This two-part blog series offers parents advice from the perspective of teachers, who have to handle more issues and situations than people realize. A group of teachers gave The Huffington Post the following tips for divorced parents, based on their own experiences with children (and parents) in their classrooms:
We are proud sponsors of Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center.
To learn more, click here.
Proud Member of Friends of the Chicago River.
To learn more, click here.
Client Reviews
5 Leslie has been the strongest representation I could ask for
Leslie has been the strongest representation I could ask for in a very complicated, emotional matter. She has continuously looked out for my best interest and the best interest of my son. She is always prompt in getting back to me and in keeping me well informed about my case.
Read More Client Reviews
