Recent Blog Posts
College Expenses in Divorce: What Parents Need to Know
College Expenses in Divorce: What Illinois Parents Need to Know
One of the most complex and emotionally charged financial issues divorced or divorcing families face is determining how to handle the cost of a child’s college education. While child support obligations typically conclude when a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, college expenses occupy a legal gray area—unless you live in a state like Illinois, where the law specifically addresses this issue.
If you are in the process of divorce or reviewing your parenting plan in Illinois, understanding your legal rights and obligations is essential.
Are Divorced Parents in Illinois Required to Pay for College?
Yes—under Illinois law, courts can order divorced or unmarried parents to contribute to their child’s college expenses. This authority comes from Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/513), which allows courts to allocate costs related to post-secondary education, even after child support has ended.
What if My Spouse Drains Our Bank Account During Our Divorce?
Until it happens to you, it can be nearly impossible to imagine the panic that sets in from finding out that your spouse has drained your joint bank account during a divorce. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens more often than you might realize. It is illegal and Illinois law provides options for how to handle it, but it is important to act fast. If you are a victim of this type of financial misconduct, speak with a qualified Will County, IL family law attorney who can help you navigate it.
What Is Dissipation of Marital Assets in Illinois?
Dissipation of marital assets is when one spouse uses marital funds for a purpose unrelated to the marriage while the marriage is breaking down. It occurs when your spouse takes or spends marital money after the divorce process has begun. Common examples include draining accounts, excessive spending, gambling, or giving away money to friends or family.
Dividing a Lifetime of Savings and Investments in a Grey Divorce
Divorce later in life — often called a "grey divorce" — presents unique legal and financial challenges, especially when it comes to dividing retirement accounts, investment portfolios, and long-held savings. As of June 2025, Illinois divorce courts continue to apply equitable distribution principles to all marital property, regardless of the couple’s age or how long they have been married. That means every dollar saved or invested during the marriage is subject to division.
For couples divorcing later in life, the financial stakes are high. After decades of shared financial planning, the wrong decisions during divorce can disrupt retirement, trigger unexpected taxes, or unfairly shift long-term risk onto one spouse. If you are navigating a grey divorce, speak with an experienced Joliet, IL family law attorney to understand your options and how to protect your interests.
Tips for a Smooth Uncontested Divorce
Not all marriages end with a dramatic falling out. Sometimes, people simply fall out of love or realize that they are not the right fit for each other. In these cases, it is natural for a couple to want to resolve a divorce with minimal conflict. If you need help getting through an uncontested divorce, an Illinois family law attorney can provide you with legal advice and representation for your needs.
Although uncontested divorces are much less intense, having an attorney at your side can still make the process much easier. At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we will take the time to understand your priorities so we can help you smoothly transition out of married life.
Avoid Casting Blame
Maintaining a civil dialogue with your spouse is important for getting through an uncontested divorce. If you level harsh accusations at your spouse, whether they are credible or not, a previously uncontested divorce can quickly spiral into conflict. Since Illinois is a strictly no-fault divorce state, there is little point in instigating a fight by alleging that your spouse ruined your marriage — at least, not during the legal proceedings.
Terms You Need to Know in Your Child Custody Case
When you divorce as a parent, you will inevitably have to go through the legal proceedings of splitting up custody. This is not an easy task for any parent to grapple with, especially if you are not familiar with the courtroom jargon. An Illinois family law attorney can help clarify the most confusing parts of this process, advocating for your parental rights all the way through.
Having a knowledgeable lawyer at your side during a child custody dispute can be invaluable. At Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we have over 100 years of combined experience shared between our team of attorneys, which has given us deep insights into the inner workings of child custody cases.
What Are The Child’s Best Interests?
During a child custody case, you will likely hear the term "best interests" used frequently in court. Naturally, most parents want what is best for their children, but you should know that the child’s best interests play a specific role in family law. When making decisions for the child’s welfare, the court may consider different factors regarding best interests, such as:
What Keeping the Marital Home Means for Your Divorce
In the midst of a divorce, you may have strong feelings about keeping the marital home you once shared with your spouse. Securing the marital home is possible with skilled negotiation, and can provide a source of long-term security and comfort. However, you should keep in mind that retaining ownership of your house comes with numerous considerations and possible drawbacks. An Illinois family law attorney can advise you of your options and help you pursue an ideal outcome. At Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., our experience in and outside the courtroom helps us support our clients by engaging in aggressive negotiation.
Keeping the Marital Home Affects Property Division
Often, keeping the marital home comes with strings attached. This is true whether you settle out of court or take the issue to a judge. If you want to keep your marital home, you may have to make some concessions to compensate your spouse. This could mean surrendering other assets, like a greater portion of your shared bank account.
Karina’s Law: Strengthening Gun Enforcement in Illinois Domestic Violence Cases
Karina’s Law: Strengthening Gun Enforcement in Illinois Domestic Violence Cases
By the Criminal Law Team
Illinois has taken a significant step toward protecting victims of domestic violence with the passage of Karina’s Law, which was signed into effect by Governor J.B. Pritzker in February 2025. This new law mandates that law enforcement immediately remove firearms from individuals whose Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) cards have been revoked due to an order of protection.
Why Karina’s Law Matters
The law is named in honor of Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter Daniela, who were tragically killed in 2023 by Karina’s estranged husband—despite Karina having an active order of protection against him. The tragedy highlighted a dangerous gap in Illinois law: even when a protective order is issued and a FOID card is revoked, guns often remain in the hands of potentially dangerous individuals.
What Can I Do if My Ex Refuses to Pay Child Support?
Raising a child as a single parent is not easy, even more so if your co-parent does not honor his or her legal obligation to pay child support. Trying to get your ex to pay when they purposely refuse can feel like an uphill battle, but thankfully, you have options. An Illinois family law attorney can provide you with aggressive representation and counsel focused on enforcing your child support agreement and protecting your rights.
At Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we sympathize with single parents. When you work with our lawyers, we will strive to make things right for you, advocating for a fair remedy. There are many ways the court can compel a delinquent parent to pay up, and we will do everything we can to help secure missing payments.
Wage Garnishment
One of the most direct ways of getting late child support payments is through wage garnishment. By petitioning the court, you can potentially collect the child support payments directly through your ex’s earnings. Up to half of your ex’s earnings can be confiscated to cover child support, plus interest.
What to Include in Your Prenup
A prenuptial agreement can be a powerful tool to protect your assets in the event of a divorce. However, it can be difficult to figure out what to prioritize in your prenup if you have never written one before. An Illinois divorce attorney can guide you through the process of drafting a prenuptial agreement, helping you identify any sources of liability.
At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we have the legal knowledge and experience to help you draft a proper prenuptial or postnuptial agreement to protect your interests. Our lawyers will take the time to understand what is at stake for you so that we can draft a proper agreement.
Terms for Alimony
Alimony is not always awarded in Illinois divorces, but it may be helpful to decide how you want to allocate alimony ahead of time. If you and your spouse take home roughly the same income, you may decide that spousal maintenance is not necessary. However, if your incomes are uneven or one of you is planning to work less to raise children, you might agree to pay a fixed amount of alimony if you get divorced.
Things to Think About Ahead of Your Divorce
It can be hard to accept that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. But at the same time, the decision to get a divorce can be a productive step forward for your life. Before you file for divorce, you should think hard about what this separation will mean for your future. If you are wracked with doubt over the decision to divorce, an Illinois family law attorney can provide you with legal advice to protect your best interests.
At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we provide personalized legal services to help our clients get through divorce. When you work with our firm, we will take the time to understand your goals so that we can more effectively negotiate on your behalf.
Where Will You Live?
If you and your spouse have lived together for years, you might struggle to imagine any other place to call home. Many couples get into heated debates about ownership over the marital home, but in other cases, your spouse might be comfortable moving out. Depending on where you want to live after your divorce, Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C. can help you prioritize your needs.
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