by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In family law cases, the best interest of the child is the court’s highest priority. The Iowa District Court and Illinois Circuit Court judges who handle custody and divorce cases are required by law to follow that standard. This article discusses the best interests of the child as applied by the courts.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear As part of a divorce or legal separation case in Iowa, the court can award spousal support (also called alimony). There are a few types of spousal support in Iowa that the court can award, for various reasons.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In divorce cases, the division of retirement accounts and pensions is often an issue. Properly handling 401(k), pension, thrift saving plans, annuities, IRAs, and other retirement plans is of great importance in Iowa and Illinois.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear False accusations of domestic abuse are common in divorce and custody cases in Illinois and Iowa. Properly handling such accusations of domestic violence is of the highest importance.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Domestic battery or other instances of domestic violence can have a significant effect upon how the Illinois courts handle child custody decisions in divorce or custody cases.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Parental Alienation is a situation that is often created in custody and divorce cases when one parent (or other individual) attempts to destroy the relationship between a child and the other parent. Illinois law quite correctly sees such improper action on the part of a parent, grandparent, or other person as seriously damaging to the child, and the Illinois
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Parental Alienation is a situation commonly produced in divorce and custody cases when one parent (or other person) tries to destroy the relationship between a child and the other parent. Iowa law recognizes such improper action on the part of a parent, grandparent, or other person is seriously harmful to the child, and the Iowa court system can address the situation.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear A history of domestic abuse can have a serious effect upon the custody determinations that the Iowa court makes in a divorce or custody cases.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Being served with divorce papers can be an upsetting and stressful event for many people. However, it is important to handles the situation properly so as to avoid harm to one’s custody and property rights.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Mediation is a process employed by many courts to try and resolve some or all of the contested matters in a divorce case, without having to proceed to a trial. Sometimes mediation is mandatory, and other times it is voluntary. The mediation process has the potential to be useful to parties in a divorce case, but mediation also can lead to problems if it is not handled properly.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Pets are an important part of many people’s lives. Indeed, I have seen Illinois divorce cases where there was more concerns over a dog or cat then some people people sadly show for their children. As such, handling pet matters in a divorce case can be of great importance.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear During divorce cases, it is not uncommon for a spouse to try and spend marital money in an inappropriate manner. Sometimes that involves emptying out bank accounts. Other times, a spouse will overuse credit cards during the divorce case. It is important to address that improper spending quickly in Illinois or Iowa.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In Illinois and Iowa custody cases, the court has the authority to issue in emergency injunction to prevent harm to a child. This article discusses injunctions in the Illinois Circuit Court and Iowa District Court.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Conciliation is part of the Iowa divorce process in some cases. The purpose of conciliation is to attempt to save the marriage by getting the spouses to work out their differences. Iowa code section 598.16 addresses conciliation.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Under Iowa law, those seeking a divorce are subject to a 90 day waiting period. However, the Iowa code allows for waiver of that waiting period under certain narrow circumstances.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Facebook is used by over a billion people every day, and as such it has an important role to play in many divorce, custody, and protective order cases that take place in the states of Iowa and Illinois.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In cases involving children, such as divorce and custody cases, the interactions that occur between the parties that concern the children are quite important. The same is true for protective order cases involving domestic violence allegations, whether or not children are involved.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In divorce, custody, and juvenile cases in the states of Illinois and Iowa, a Guardian ad litem can be appointed by the court to represent the legal interests of a minor child in the case. This article will discuss the role of a Guardian ad litem in
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear All too often in divorce and custody cases, the opposing party will purposely waste a client’s time and money on frivolous court appearances. Such a situation can often be addressed in Illinois or Iowa through a Motion with the court, when such behavior rises to the level of violating various Rules of Civil Procedure.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In Illinois, a person who is not satisfied with the Circuit Court’s ruling in a divorce or custody case can appeal the ruling to