Bloomington Divorce Blog

Reviewing Illinois' paternity laws

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in fathers' rights on Friday, October 12, 2018.

The moment that you learn you are going to be a father can be quite shocking, particularly if you are not married to the child's mother. Many men from Bloomington come to us here at the Stange Law Firm in this scenario with the same sentiments. Some may be excited at the prospect, others may question the validity of such claims, and others might feel conflicted. Whichever of those groups you happen to fall into, it is important that you understand the local laws regarding men in your position.

Interestingly, a DNA test alone is often not considered to be sufficient evidence to establish paternity. Instead, the state has established guidelines that presume paternity. Per Section 46/204 of the Illinois Parentage Act, you are presumed to be the father of a child in any of the following scenarios:

The child was born while you and their mother were married, or were in a civil union (or similar legal relationship)
The child was born within 300 days of the end of your marriage, civil union (or similar relationship) with their mother
You entered into a legal relationship with the child's mother (that was later declared invalid) within 300 days prior to their birth
Your marry or enter into a civil union (or similar legal relationship) after the child is born and you consent to have your name listed as a parent on their birth certificate

3 dead after violent encounter stemming from couple's divorce

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Friday, September 21, 2018.

While the pressure and emotions associated with getting divorced will undoubtedly affect all separating couples at some point, it can reach an extreme in some cases that results in tension that could turn dangerous. Unfortunately, there are some people in Illinois who are so angry at how their marriage is ending and perhaps with their former spouse's behavior, that they become violent and dangerous.

This is what happened in a recent case in Pennsylvania that left three people dead, including a man who was later identified as the perpetrator. It appears as though he was angry with how his divorce played out. People who knew the couple and investigators determined that after the couple's divorce was finalized, the man was "set off." He tried unsuccessfully to kill his ex-wife, but she was able to get away uninjured. Next, he entered a senior citizen facility where he murdered both of his parents.

Considering co-parenting after divorce? Three tips for success.

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

Co-parenting is an arrangement that allows both parents to play an integral part in their child's daily life after a divorce is finalized. This form of parenting has grown in popularity in recent years as research has shown that, barring any instances of abuse, children generally do best when both parents are actively involved in their upbringing.

In theory, co-parenting sounds great. The reality is not always as wonderful. You and your ex have chosen to move forward with a divorce for a reason. It can be difficult to put the frustrations that led to the divorce aside and move forward with a successful co-parenting agreement.

How does property division work?

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Many couples who think of divorce imagine fighting over who gets what. While it's true people often disagree on how to divide their belongings after a marriage, there are laws that courts use to assist with this process.

How your assets will be divided depends on where you were married, but luckily property laws in Missouri and Illinois are similar.

Divorce Mediation: A Better Way For Many

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC on Friday, June 29, 2018.

If you were to use your local newsstand or your Facebook feed to learn about divorce, you would think there are exactly two ways a couple can approach the process:

A knock-down, drag-out fight, where the goal is victory at all cost regardless of how much emotional and financial damage is inflicted
A kumbaya celebration, where all issues are uncontested and the couples moves forward into a world where they still regularly hug despite their decision to end their marriage

In the real world you call home, things are not so black and white. While some issues may be worth litigating in court, most issues can be resolved in a more collaborative fashion. This allows couples to negotiate outcomes to the issues they disagree on while quickly moving forward on the issues where there is agreement. Mediation and collaborative law can save couples time and money while creating a much more hospitable environment for children.