Illinois Family Law Insider

Are caring parents losing custody in Illinois due to poor documentation rather than neglect? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers lead attorney Jeff Hughes reveals how to document your parenting effectively for Illinois judges and family court professionals who need clear evidence of your commitment.  He tackles: Documentation framework with organized folders and digital tracking systems Comprehensiv...

Are you confused about how business income affects child support and maintenance in Illinois? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen and Senior Associate Cynthia Toscano explain how Illinois courts analyze business income for support calculations and why business owners face unique challenges.  They cover: Business income sources include salaries distributions and retai...

Are you selling your home during a divorce in Illinois and worried about losing equity to conflicts and delays? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers Lead Attorney Jeff Hughes reveals how couples lose thousands not from legal decisions but from fighting over basic sale logistics and provides strategies to protect your investment.  Jeff covers: Business partnership mindset required despite personal con...

Are you going through an Illinois divorce and need to value a business for fair asset division? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen and Senior Associate Cynthia Toscano explain the complex business valuation process and strategic considerations for protecting your interests.  They cover:  Three valuation approaches — income, asset, and market methods Expert costs req...

Do you think living together for years creates a common law marriage in Illinois? In this episode, Sterling Hughes lead attorney Jeff Hughes reveals the shocking truth about Illinois common law marriage law and how misconceptions could leave you legally unprotected.  Jeff covers: Illinois abolished common law marriage How decades of cohabitation create no legal marriage rights Separation means no...

Are you confused about parenting coordinators and therapy in Illinois family law cases? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers managing partner Katie VanDeusen and Senior Associate Cynthia Toscano explain how these supportive professionals work in Illinois divorce and parentage cases. They discuss: Parenting coordinators new Illinois statute for minor issue resolution Cook County versus collar county a...

Are you confused about the four types of custody in Illinois and what they mean for your parental rights? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers Lead Attorney Jeff Hughes explains the crucial differences between legal vs physical custody and joint vs sole arrangements under Illinois law. Legal custody decision-making authority for healthcare, education, religion Physical custody where children live and...

Are you confused about the differences between 604.10 custody evaluations and 215 mental health evaluations in Illinois family law cases? In this episode, Sterling Hughes managing partner Katie VanDeusen and senior associate Cynthia Toscano explain when courts order each type and their strategic implications.  They discuss: 604.10 evaluations: comprehensive custody recommendations versus mental he...

Are you worried about being labeled an unfit parent in your Illinois custody case? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers lead attorney Jeff Hughes explains what "unfit parent" actually means under Illinois law and how to protect your parental rights from false or exaggerated allegations. Legal definition: 750 ILCS 50/1(D) requires clear evidence What actually concerns judges: patterns versus...

Are you worried about Illinois divorce costs and confused about billing models? In this episode, Sterling Hughes Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen and senior associate Jacqueline McClellan break down everything you need to know about divorce costs and the critical differences between fixed fee and hourly billing that could save you thousands.  We discuss: Illinois divorce costs: thousands to hundre...

Are you sharing your marital home with your ex-spouse during an Illinois divorce and feeling trapped by intimidation, passive-aggressive behavior, or emotional abuse? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers lead attorney Jeff Hughes explains exactly when Illinois courts will grant exclusive possession of the marital home and which legal strategies work best. Illinois divorce motion (750 ILCS 5/501(c)(2)...

Are you worried about getting your fair share in your Illinois divorce? In this episode, Sterling Hughes attorneys Katie VanDeusen and Jacqueline McClellan explain how Illinois divorce courts determine asset values and what strategies protect you from unfair division through proper valuation methods.  They discuss:  How Illinois divorce courts determine values for homes, businesses, and retirement...

Is your marriage feeling over, but divorce seems too final? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers lead attorney Jeff Hughes explains the five key differences between legal separation and divorce in Illinois, helping you understand which option better protects your health, finances, and family while preserving future flexibility.  We explore: How legal separation keeps reconciliation doors open vs. req...

Are you confused about Illinois alimony or spousal maintenance and wondering what you might owe or receive in your divorce? In this episode, Sterling Hughes attorneys Katie VanDeusen and Jacqueline McClellan explain Illinois spousal support or maintenance law, including the three types of support, how judges make determinations, and strategic considerations.  We talk about: Three types of Illinois...

Are you facing a guardian ad litem appointment in your Illinois custody case and unsure of what to expect? In this episode, Sterling Hughes lead attorney Jeff Hughes explains what a guardian ad litem is, their role in Illinois custody cases, and essential strategies for successful guardian ad litem interactions.  We discussed: What a guardian ad litem is and why their recommendations carry signifi...

Are you dealing with unpaid child support in Illinois or worried about falling behind on your child support obligations? In this episode, Sterling Hughes attorneys Katie VanDeusen and Jacqueline McClellan explain Illinois child support enforcement procedures, termination rules, and consequences for non-payment.  They discuss: When to seek legal help for child support enforcement (2-3 month guideli...

Are you planning to relocate with your children in Illinois and concerned about child custody implications? In this episode, Sterling Hughes attorneys Katie VanDeusen and Ryan Shope explain Illinois child custody relocation laws and the essential requirements for moving with children more than 25 miles from their current residence.  We explore: How the 25-mile rule triggers formal child custody re...

Are you worried about losing credibility with Illinois divorce judges? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers CEO Jeff Hughes reveals the four fastest ways to destroy your credibility in Illinois divorce court and shares strategies to avoid these costly mistakes that can impact parenting time and financial outcomes. Why financial games and asset hiding always backfire with Illinois judges How to respon...

How do Illinois orders of protection impact divorce and paternity cases? In this Illinois Family Law Insider episode, Sterling Hughes Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen sits down with Senior Associate Ryan Shope to break down the complex intersection of domestic violence protection and family law proceedings.  We explore: Three types of Illinois orders: emergency, interim, and plenary Why absolute n...

Why should you consider a prenuptial agreement in Illinois? In this Illinois Family Law Insider episode, Sterling Hughes Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen sits down with Senior Associate Ryan Shope to break down everything you need to know about prenups. They explain how these agreements function as financial insurance policies that provide control over your future rather than leaving critical deci...

Are you worried about being labeled an unfit parent in your Illinois custody case? In this episode, Sterling Lawyers lead attorney Jeff Hughes explains the serious legal standards for unfitness determinations and helps distinguish between minor parenting mistakes and actual grounds for unfitness under Illinois law. What actually constitutes "unfit" versus common parenting challenges How...

How does Illinois child support really work when it comes to income calculations? In this Illinois Family Law Insider episode, Sterling Hughes Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen sits down with Senior Associate Ryan Shope to break down the income shares model and dispel common misconceptions about who pays child support.  They explore: How the income shares model considers both parents' proporti...

How do Illinois child support and maintenance really work? In this Illinois Family Law Insider episode, Sterling Hughes Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen sits down with Senior Partner Ali Isroff to break down the complexity of Illinois support obligations.  We explore: The common misconceptions about what parents and spouses can actually expect from support calculations How the income shares model...

Fighting for custody in Illinois, but worried your evidence won't hold up in court? In this Illinois Family Law Insider episode, Sterling Hughes’ lead attorney Jeff Hughes reveals why loving parents lose custody battles—not because they're wrong, but because they can't prove they're right.  Jeff breaks down the four evidence types that win custody cases: How to transform weak t...

What's the difference between a guardian ad litem and a child representative in Illinois family law? In this Illinois Family Law Insider episode, Sterling Hughes Managing Partner Katie VanDeusen sits down with Senior Partner Ali Isroff to clarify these crucial court-appointed roles that can significantly impact your family law case outcome.  We explore: How guardian ad litems investigate and...