Domestic violence occurs when a person physically, emotionally, or sexually abuses their romantic partner or another member of his or her family or household. Such violence, which is also called domestic abuse, can happen to anyone. Men and women alike can be victims of it. People of all races, cultures, income levels, sexual orientation, and age can be affected by domestic abuse.

At the heart of domestic violence is the abuser’s need to control their victim. Often, they use destructive and cruel behaviors to maintain power and control over their significant other or spouse. A perpetrator of domestic abuse may:

• Physically harm their partner by punching, slapping, kicking, or otherwise hurting them;
• Use weapons to hurt or intimidate their partner;
• Threaten their partner or their partner’s family;
• Deprive their partner of access to finances or use money to control him or her;
• Purposely humiliate their partner with the intention of breaking him or her down emotionally; or
• Force their partner to have sex against his or her will.

These are only a few of the tactics that abusers use to hurt their partners. If your romantic partner or spouse is doing anything to you that makes you feel afraid, threatened, or unsafe, please do not hesitate to reach out for help.

Prenuptial agreements (also called premarital agreements or "prenups") are legal contracts that are signed by individuals before they get married. The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to establish the property and financial rights of each spouse in the event of a divorce. Prenuptial agreements can help protect a person’s assets and property and may also help determine how spousal support or alimony is awarded. Prenups can define what property is considered marital and what is separate.

It can be uncomfortable to bring up the subject of prenups with a person’s soon-to-be-spouse. No one wants to believe that their marriage will end, but sadly, many do. It is important to plan for the worst case scenario even if the couple currently has a strong relationship. As the saying goes, it is better to be safe rather than sorry.

Who Needs a Prenuptial Agreement?

Recently, the issues of harassment and abuse have been in the spotlight more than ever before. Allegations of sexual harassment or rape have been made against many influential individuals such as President Donald Trump, Senator Al Franken, actor Kevin Spacey, and film producer Harvey Weinstein.  These allegations have sparked a fury of media attention on the issues of harassment and abuse. Time Magazine even dedicated their prestigious “Person of the Year” designation to “the silence breakers”: those women and men who came out with their own stories of violence, intimidation, or harassment. But, what is a person to do if they are suffering at the hands of their own spouse or romantic partner?

Domestic Violence Can Take Many Forms

Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner. When it occurs between spouses or significant others, domestic violence may be referred to as intimate partner violence or relationship abuse. People of all ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions and income levels can become victims of domestic violence. Both men and women can be victims of domestic violence or perpetrators of it. It is unfortunately not uncommon for an abuser to:

Divorce is never going to be easy, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself and all involved. While most couples go to court and wrangle their divorce into shape through the standard, traditional means, some are bold enough to try other options. One of these which has been gaining popularity in recent years is the idea of collaborative divorce. Instead of the adversarial nature of a court proceeding, the spouses put together a team and try to negotiate a divorce agreement between them. While it is not for everyone, collaborative divorce can be surprisingly effective.

The Basics

Essentially, a collaborative divorce is a process in which you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse sit down, with a team of professionals to assist you, and negotiate a divorce agreement between yourselves, rather than entrusting that task to a court. Each spouse must retain an independent attorney, but the main feature of a collaborative divorce is that other professionals may be brought into the process. Such professionals may include, for example, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or a specialist on child care. The rationale is that no one is an expert in all things, but there is no reason why the experts should not be available to you. It is with the help of all these people that you and your spouse will negotiate, and the reason for adjunct help, so to speak, is to ensure that relations remain calm and relaxed.

Child support in Illinois used to be calculated as a percentage of the income of the non-custodial parent or the parent with fewer parental responsibilities. The law, however, was roundly criticized by many for being inequitable and for placing an unfair burden on the non-custodial parent. On July 1, 2017, a new law went into effect that has improved the efficiency and fairness of how child support is calculated.

The Old Law

Under the old law, there were two main factors in determining the amount of support to be paid: the income of the paying parent and the number of children to be supported. Critics found this unfair not only because paying parents did not get credit for the money they spent on their children but also because the law effectively punished a supporting parent financially for spending time with his or her child.