On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
When Illinois couples go through divorce, a major concern on the minds of both parties is what their financial situations will be after the separation is finalized. Keeping tabs on assets, debts and the general state of one's finances will not only help limit surprises after a divorce, but also make the process of dividing marital property go much more smoothly. To reduce costs in the long run and the short run, divorcing couples in Rockford should carefully evaluate the health of their finances.
While a house is normally the largest of many couple's assets, other important assets may come into play during the settlement, even if those items were never jointly owned. These other assets might include retirement accounts, pensions and stock options. These matters can figure largely in determining awards for spousal maintenance.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Parents in the Rockford area who are engaged in a child custody dispute may be interested in a potentially groundbreaking case that has been pending for quite some time. Child custody battles can be drawn out and emotionally draining, but in this case, the father is finally about to be reunited with a daughter he has been fighting to see for four years.
The father and mother in this case were never married. After the mother became pregnant, however, the couple's relationship dissolved. The woman moved out of state and gave birth to a little girl, and the father became concerned that the mother would give the child up.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Divorce on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
With the ongoing slump in the national economy, a saddening trend is presenting itself in Illinois and throughout the country: couples deciding to divorce for economic reasons. A recent news article follows a couple in Freeport as they decide to navigate the murky waters of divorce not because they have fallen out of love with each other, but because they need money. The man and wife say they didn't want to divorce, but they felt like they had to after considering their financial hardship.
The wife recently began a new career, and as a result, the husband saw a large cut in his disability benefits. He has been disabled since 2000 after suffering a severe back break. He is not able to receive SSDI benefits because he has not been able to work enough over the last 10 years.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Child Support on Friday, April 27, 2012
Parents in Rockford who are currently paying child support may be interested in a news story concerning a man who was jailed over past due payments for a child who wasn't even his. The man is married with two children, but he briefly saw another woman during a separation from his wife in 2006. The other woman claimed to be carrying the man's child, and although he denied paternity, he was eventually jailed for not paying over $50,000 in child support.
Fortunately, he was able to prove he was not the father after a change in the state law. His attorney (not affiliated with this firm) provided him with a drugstore paternity test, and once the proper chain of custody was determined, the samples were sent in for verification. The results established the man had a zero probability of being the father, and he was released from jail shortly thereafter.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
If you're happy and you know it, could there still be a divorce in your future? Unfortunately, for some Illinois couples, the answer may be yes. A recent study examined the relationships of couples who described themselves as happy after four years of marriage. Some 136 couples who initially said they were very satisfied with their marriages were tracked over the ensuing 10 years. The idea behind the study was that if we can understand what factors ultimately spelled divorce for couples who were at first content with one another, perhaps danger signs could be noticed earlier, resulting in saved marriages.
Participants in the study were periodically asked a series of questions ranging from how satisfied they felt in their marriages to their level of commitment to them and whether the spouses were using certain problem-solving techniques. While the sample was admittedly small, the study found that those participants who ultimately divorced shared characteristics that differed from those who remained married. Communication and lack of emotional support were two areas of concern.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Adoption on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Although there are many benefits to adoption, this year adoptive parents in Illinois could see a sizable tax credit in the form of a check from the IRS. Adoptive families may receive a credit of more than $13,000 as a result of the Affordable Care Act. If a family has successfully adopted within the past six years, the adoptive parents could potentially claim up to $13,360 for each child.
While that amount is only $190 more than the amount adoptive families could claim last year, the big change since 2010 is that the credit is now fully refundable in the form of a check. Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, any eligible credits were used as way to offset tax liabilities and could be extended forward over the years. But the Affordable Care Act provides for the credit to be actually refunded when applicable.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Divorce on Monday, April 2, 2012
Rockford residents who are going through a divorce often cite communication failures as a major reason for the separation. Indeed, communication skills are an integral part of everyday life. But frustration can mount when communication between spouses is lacking, or when one person monopolizes the conversation. Readers throughout Illinois will be interested to hear that communication failure is reportedly the top reason for divorce in America.
With that in mind, spouses who are in the process of separating may want to consider the fact that divorce doesn't necessarily mean the complete end of a relationship between two people. That means clear communication often remains a key factor in establishing a non-volatile post-divorce situation.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Child Support on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
For Illinois couples, child support conflicts can arise long after the ink is dry on the final divorce papers. A high-profile example of this kind of dispute is happening currently between supermodel Christie Brinkley and her ex-husband Peter Cook. The former spouses have been divorced since 2008 and are continuing to make headlines while news sources cover their public spat. The most recent incident involves Brinkley accusing Cook of being a "deadbeat dad," claiming the architect is $32,000 behind in child support.
Brinkley recently filed a court motion accusing Cook of harassing her through e-mail. She also alleges the architect owes child support payments for school and summer camps for their two children, ages 16 and 13. Cook's lawyer fired back, accusing Brinkley of slander and stating that she left the children with their father for five months while attempting to initiate an acting career, all the while failing to provide any monetary support for the kids.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Adoption on Thursday, March 22, 2012
Illinois residents interested in adoption may have heard of a new trend on social media sites. Many people have gotten creative in trying to adopt a child, and couples have posted their adoption wishes on social networks such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter in an attempt to get their message out to the public.
People are posting the details of their adoption journeys in the hopes that their stories will generate leads that could result in the adoption of a child. With the potential for videos to go "viral" these days, it appears couples are willing to do almost anything to increase their chances.
On behalf of Zuba & Associates, P.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, March 16, 2012
Illinois couples who are going through a divorce may not have considered the possibility of tax problems as a result of their marital dissolution. Some issues that are overlooked before the decree is finalized may come back to haunt divorced couples years down the road. But taking the time to understand the relevant tax laws can help protect financial interests and achieve a favorable division of property for both parties.
Disagreements about claiming exemptions for children and head-of-household status can be addressed by making certain that tax Form 8332 is properly executed. This form may be used to prove which parent is entitled to claim the child during tax time. Head-of-household status can also be addressed in the divorce decree to prevent any future tax implications.
