Don't be afraid of losing people. Be afraid of losing yourself trying to please everyone around you.
¶ 1One attorney, start to finish. You will always know who is on your case.
Choose a path. The drawing answers.
More often, it is the cost of potential major repairs and maintenance that decides whether one spouse can financially sustain the burden of the residence.
From Tiffany’s article on the marital residence ↗“The residence is not just a pile of bricks or a bundle of cash.”
The method used to resolve your case shapes the process, and how long it takes.
A judge decides. Trial-bound cases with complicated parenting or financial issues can take 9 months to 2 years.
In Tiffany’s words, a judge’s decision takes “at least 365 DAYS of waiting,” at a minimum.
One mediator works with the parties to reach a reasonable conclusion acceptable to all.
Tiffany serves as a mediator by agreement of the parties or by judicial appointment in Lake County.
A team of professionals works together toward an outcome acceptable to both parties, keeping the family out of a courtroom.
The participants control the outcome of their case.
The length of a case depends on the method used. Simple uncontested cases can finish in less than a few months. Read Tiffany’s explanation ↗
Open an entry for more from Tiffany’s family-law page.
A divorce brings on complicated financial problems and emotional exhaustion for all parties involved.
It is this subject and parenting time that are frequently a parent’s primary concern when going through a divorce or parentage dispute. As a parent, I understand the complex emotional strain that a parent experiences in domestic relations disputes.
The data used within the statutory formula requires knowledge of varying types of income streams, including business owners, corporate compensation, and additional benefits.
Parties in a collaborative case recognize that it is better for the family to stay out of a courtroom and resolve their case by negotiation and not litigation. This method is for individuals of varying circumstances including those with or without children, and with basic or complex financial circumstances.
As a distinction from collaboration, one mediator works with the parties to reach a reasonable conclusion that is acceptable to all. Mediation can occur with the parties alone, or with their respective attorneys assisting in the process. In addition to assisting clients negotiating in mediation, I also serve as a mediator for complicated and simple cases, either by agreement of the parties, or by judicial appointment in Lake County.
Orders of Protection are specifically for those experiencing domestic violence which applies to certain individuals with whom a person has a domestic connection, which could be a spouse, former spouse, child, parent, domestic cohabitant, or former domestic cohabitant.
In fact, such agreements are a contract between two individuals intending to marry that sets forth the agreed-upon contractual terms in the event a marriage ends in a divorce. These terms can include identification of non-marital assets, distribution of marital assets and payment of marital expenses, and pre-determination of maintenance.
Postnuptial Agreements are contracts like Prenuptial Agreements except that the participants are spouses after the marriage has already occurred.
Cohabitation Agreements are another type of contract entered into between two individuals who are not married and do not intend to marry, who may own assets together and/or have children together.
Adoptions most often by a step-parent that are uncontested are often the easiest and most cost-effective.
I have focused my practice in the field of family law my entire career. It is my goal to understand how your emotions play into your needs and expectations.
I am a skilled financial litigator with experience regarding complex financial matters, small businesses, and the support and property issues that arise related to those financial nuances. I have experience dealing with complex child-related matters whether as a litigator, mediator, collaborator or guardian ad litem.
It is essential that you feel carried and empowered through this process and not just billed and set aside.
Chicago-Kent College of LawJ.D. 2005
University of Michigan, Ann ArborB.A. 2002
Seven steps from Tiffany’s checklist for preparing for divorce.
Nowadays, almost all attorneys communicate with their clients via email at least some of the time. If your partner has access to that account then they could have access to your private attorney communications. The passwords should be changed on any such accounts, or alternatively a new email account should be established that is unknown to the spouse/partner that is your dedicated account to have private communications.
Gather copies of any documents/information you may lose access to once the process officially starts. This could be tax returns, retirement or bank account statements, a safety deposit box key, the contents of a safe, or important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, or green cards. Keep in mind, that taking your own original documents is fine but taking originals of your spouses/partners personal information is not recommended (copies are okay).
If you don’t have information about the family financial situation, take note on the envelopes in the mail to gather a better idea of where accounts are held. Any accounts that are jointly titled, you have a right to see. If these documents are not made available to you by your spouse/partner, then go to or call the bank/entity and ask for more information as an account holder.
Beware of anything you save on the “Cloud”. If you have a shared family iCloud (or similar internet-based) account then any notes or photos you have on your devices could be accessible to your partner/spouse. Alternatively, some spouses/partners react to the idea of a divorce by closing out the other’s access to such Cloud accounts thus losing access to family photos/videos/information. Consider storing copies of any such digital media or notes on an account of your own (Dropbox or Google docs are both popular) so you don’t lose your access to the material (while still keeping the media safe on the family shared account).
If you are concerned about furniture/furnishings going missing, you should take an inventory of valuable items in the house with dated photos and notes on the location of the item.
If you feel it could be helpful, we strongly recommend speaking with your therapist to emotionally prepare you for informing your spouse/partner and starting the process. A therapist will ideally remind you of the strength in your decision, and the confidence and reminder that you are supporting your own mental health with making this choice.
Speak with or meet at least two domestic relations attorneys that practice in the County in which you reside. Not all attorneys are the same, and not all attorneys will have the strategy or ideas that make you feel the most supported and the most heard. It is important to meet with attorneys that are familiar with the courthouse within your county as every county has nuances in the process and specific approaches based upon the Judges in the division.
If taking any of these steps raises fear of consequences from your spouse or partner, speak with an attorney first about your options, which may include an Order of Protection.
“No one should be in fear of their safety when asking for a divorce/separation.”
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