by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In divorce cases, it is not uncommon for a spouse to try and hide assets from the other spouse and the legal system. It is important to properly handle such attempts to hide assets.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In divorce case, there is always the question about how to break the news about a divorce to one’s spouse. The right way to handle the sharing of that information is something that will be different for each person, depending upon the unique facts in each case.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Before and during a divorce is started, many people consider moving out of the marital home. The decision as to whether to move out or remain in the marital residence is a complex one that has significant ramifications upon property, custody, alimony, and other issues for those with cases in Illinois and Iowa.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear It is sadly common for an opposing party in a family law case to engage in conduct that is fraudulent or involves perjury (lying under oath). Handling those situations properly, so that the lies do not result in an unfair custody, child support, or other outcome is of great
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear A parent who is facing visitation interference should carefully document and report that interference, so that their attorney can properly use that evidence in court to resolve the problem.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In some counties, there is a “one judge one child” rule which means that a single judge is assigned to handle each hearing in a divorce or custody case that involves one or more minor children. The purpose of that rule is to ensure that the judge who makes the final custody determination is as familiar with the case as possible, since that judge’s ruling will have a long-lasting effect upon the child’s life. The one judge one child rule has its pros, and its cons.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear A Joint Parenting Agreement is a common legal document in divorce or child custody cases in Illinois and Iowa. It contains the terms under which the parents of a child or children will interact as to each other and the children.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In a divorce case that is resolved by agreement, a Marital Settlement Agreement will set forth the specifics of that agreement.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear A divorce decree (often formally called a Decree of Divorce or Decree of Dissolution of Marriage) is the formal legal document entered by the court that dissolves the marital relationship between the spouses. Essentially, a divorce decree is the document that
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear The term “father rights” is often informally used in connection with a divorce or child custody cases in Illinois. This article addresses father’s rights and the state of the law in Iowa and Illinois insofar as the gender of a parent is concerned.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Child support in Illinois and Iowa are based in large part upon the income of the parent who is paying child support. That makes determining the proper amount of income for child support an important aspect of the case. The Iowa District Court and the Illinois Circuit Court have the authority to impute income to either party when child support is being calculated.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear At some point during their divorce case, many people will encounter attempts at manipulation from their spouse. This manipulation can center around just about any of the matters that exist in a divorce case, and is important to handle correctly as the outcome of a divorce case will affect a person’s life for years and years.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear When a person and their spouse believe they are in agreement about every aspect of their divorce case, they will often express a desire to get divorced without having to “go to court.” This article addresses what is commonly meant by such a statement and how uncontested divorces in Iowa and Illinois work.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear A person who is served with papers for a child custody case is often shocked and upset by the situation. Handing things the right way during that upsetting time is important, as missteps can result in lasting harm to a person’s child custody situation.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In family law cases, the best interest of the child is the court’s highest priority. The Iowa District Court and Illinois Circuit Court judges who handle custody and divorce cases are required by law to follow that standard. This article discusses the best interests of the child as applied by the courts.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear The holidays can be a wonderful time to spend with loved ones, yet it can also be one of the more difficult times for those with family law issues. Properly addressing such problems can help keep the holidays enjoyable.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In divorce cases, the division of retirement accounts and pensions is often an issue. Properly handling 401(k), pension, thrift saving plans, annuities, IRAs, and other retirement plans is of great importance in Iowa and Illinois.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Being served with divorce papers can be an upsetting and stressful event for many people. However, it is important to handles the situation properly so as to avoid harm to one’s custody and property rights.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Mediation is a process employed by many courts to try and resolve some or all of the contested matters in a divorce case, without having to proceed to a trial. Sometimes mediation is mandatory, and other times it is voluntary. The mediation process has the potential to be useful to parties in a divorce case, but mediation also can lead to problems if it is not handled properly.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear During divorce cases, it is not uncommon for a spouse to try and spend marital money in an inappropriate manner. Sometimes that involves emptying out bank accounts. Other times, a spouse will overuse credit cards during the divorce case. It is important to address that improper spending quickly in Illinois or Iowa.