In Illinois, a guardianship is created when when the court grants legal decision-making authority to an individual on behalf of another person who is incapable of or cannot reasonably make such decisions themselves. Persons subject to guardianships include minors, since they lack the legal authority to make such decisions, adults with severe mental or physical disabilities or impairment, elderly persons suffering from dementia or mental decline, and adults suffering from severe mental health conditions, among many others.

How Does Guardianship Differ from Parenting Rights and Responsibilities?

A guardianship can include the right to act as a parent and take on parental responsibilities for minor children, but it does not apply to the child's natural parents, who may seek parenting time without establishing guardianship.

When selecting a mediator for your divorce case in Illinois, one of the most important factors is whether the mediator may have a conflict of interest with your case. Your experienced DuPage County divorce attorney can look into whether any potential mediators may be barred from serving as a neutral party mediating the contested issues in your divorce.

Our firm's family law attorneys are skilled at identifying potential conflicts of interests and will work diligently to make sure your mediator is qualified and unbiased.

Who Determines Conflicts of Interest for Mediators?

With so many factors to worry about during a divorce, maintaining your existing health insurance - and that of your dependent children - may not make the top of the list. However, it is very important to make sure that, if necessary, your health coverage remains protected throughout the divorce process - and after - especially since health care costs can be so high and losing your coverage during such a difficult time can be incredibly stressful.

While you will not want to stay on your former spouse's plan forever, your divorce attorney in DuPage County can help you bridge the gap until you can obtain your own coverage, whether through an individual plan, your own employer, or through Medicare.

Illinois Spousal Continuation Coverage Law

As social media use becoming nearly ubiquitous in this day and age, it is wise for parties going through a divorce or who are subject to a final divorce decree to evaluate their social media use with an eye towards understanding how social media conduct may be viewed by the court. Your experienced family law attorney in DuPage County can discuss with you guidelines for handling social media appropriately.

Avoid Posts That Could Affect Your Divorce or Parenting Case

Refrain from posting anything on social media that could be used against you in your divorce case or parenting dispute. Some of the types of posts that can potentially get parties into trouble throughout the process include:

Like many aspects of a divorce, your parenting plan arrangement is typically finalized at the time of the divorce, but it can still be subject to modification, should the need arise. Your DuPage County family law attorney can advise you regarding whether a parenting plan modification may be appropriate.

What Types of Parenting Plan Modifications are Available?

Parenting agreements focus on two main types of parenting rights: parenting time and parenting responsibilities, and modifications can be sought for either or both kinds parenting arrangements, including changes to: