For many couples, pets become a part of their family. In fact, couples who do not have kids often treat their pets more like children, caring for them and their best interests as if they were the couple’s own offspring. As a result of this growing trend, the legal system has recently needed to adapt, and when it comes to divorce, pet custody has become a much more complicated issue.

Trends in Pet Ownership

It is true: pets are becoming more and more a part of our families. Your cat might rub its head against you out of warm affection, or your dog might try to comfort you with a lick on the face when you are upset. It is easy to see why pets are viewed as sentient beings like children as opposed to property. Statistics show that this trend is likely to continue:

• On average, more than half of the households in the U.S. have pets.

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If you or your spouse have been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness, this can affect many aspects of your life and your marriage. Some of these major changes in your marriage might eventually lead to a divorce. Understanding how an illness can affect a relationship can help you determine the best way to proceed if you feel that divorce is your best option.

The Facts About Divorce and Major Illnesses

Multiple studies have analyzed the statistics surrounding the effects of chronic or terminal illness on marriages and divorce rates. In particular, the findings suggest that:

• As expected, higher ages result in an increased likelihood of illness.

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Sometimes, by the time people get divorced, they do not even recognize each other anymore. Over the years, a sense of mistrust might have festered. Misgivings about your spouse and his or her motivations often contribute to the decision to file for divorce. As the divorce drives you two even further apart, it becomes easier and easier to keep things from each other. This is when hidden assets become an even greater possibility. If you suspect your spouse might be hiding assets from you and your attorneys, what should you do? There are a few things that require further investigation from you and your lawyers to make sure no asset is left buried.

What to Do During the Hunt for Hidden Assets

Financial fraud during divorce is much easier to commit than it is to expose. There is quite a bit of detective work that goes into finding those hidden assets, bringing them to light, and enabling them to be divided along with other marital property during a divorce. Here are some ways you and your lawyer might be able to hunt for hidden assets:

• Take an Inventory—Collect all of the financial documentation for both you and your spouse. Be very thorough and organized in your collection of this paperwork. You need to have a strong baseline to judge your financial picture against that of your spouse. If you notice specific inconsistencies, then you know where to look first for possible hidden assets.

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Central to any divorce are concerns regarding finances. The property and assets owned by married spouses are considered throughout the divorce process. Both parties in a divorce want to protect their property and assets, and in some cases, a financial restraining order may be necessary. In some states, an automatic temporary restraining order (ATRO) will be included in every divorce. However, in Illinois, you need to request a temporary restraining order (TRO), and you may need to ask that it be extended during your divorce.

What Does a Financial Restraining Order Do?

A financial restraining order, also referred to as a temporary restraining order, is a way both parties in the divorce can protect their property. While it is particularly common in high-asset divorces, any spouse might want to consider pursuing one, especially if a person suspects their former partner will be irresponsible with their shared finances leading up to—and during—the divorce.

What Can a Financial Restraining Order Prevent?

There are many things that a financial restraining order can prevent. In particular, a TRO issued during divorce may prohibit:

If you will be getting a divorce and expect to either receive spousal maintenance or provide spousal support to your former partner, you might want to know what a judge will consider when making a decision about who will owe what in terms of long-term maintenance and alimony. In cases where your and your spouse’s lawyers are working together to come to an agreement through collaborative law or mediation, knowing these factors might be even more helpful to you.

Deciding Factors In Spousal Support Determinations

While the following list is not exhaustive, these are the majority of the major factors taken into consideration when determining whether spousal support should be awarded in an Illinois divorce:

• Income, which can include:

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