Getting married for the second time can bring about a host of different emotions. On one hand, a new romantic relationship is a reason for joyous celebration. On the other hand, individuals who have already been through a divorce may be nervous that their second marriage will also end in divorce.

If you are getting married for the second time, it is important to protect your rights and financial interests through a prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement.

How a Prenup Can Benefit You and Your New Partner

Many people hesitate to even consider a prenuptial agreement. They assume that only those people with little faith in their relationship would plan for the possibility of divorce. While, admittedly, prenuptial agreements are not the most romantic topic, signing a prenup comes with a multitude of benefits – even if the couple never divorces.

 Divorce is never easy, but some spouses are intent on making the divorce process as difficult and miserable as possible. A spouse may avoid signing paperwork, fail to show up at court hearings or mediation appointments, spread rumors about the other spouse, or simply refuse to cooperate. Some spouses even resort to childish games and mind tricks during a divorce. If your spouse is making your life miserable during your divorce, know that you are not alone. This is an issue that many people deal with. There are litigation tools to help prevent your spouse from acting this way, which may be enable you to mitigate the effects of his or her actions.  

Work With an Attorney Who Understands What You Are Going Through

When choosing a divorce lawyer, make sure you find an attorney who is experienced in contentious divorce cases. Each lawyer has their own unique skill set and experience. You need someone who will not fall for your spouse’s tactics and will strongly advocate on your behalf during the case. If needed, your lawyer can handle communications with your spouse and his or her attorney for you. Your lawyer can also handle settlement negotiations, filing of court documents, and other aspects of the divorce case.

Stay Off of Social Media

Divorcing spouses sometimes do anything they can think of to get a rise out of the other spouse. Social media like Facebook and Instagram is a popular vehicle for pot-stirring during a divorce. Your spouse may say unflattering things about you, share personal information, or spread lies about you through social media. Though it is tempting, do not resort to retaliatory actions online or in person. Doing so only encourages their immature behavior. It may be best to simply block your spouse on social media and avoid logging into the sites until after the divorce is finalized.

 Child support is an important source of financial support for divorced and single parents. Unlike spousal maintenance or other divorce issues, divorcing parents cannot determine the terms of child support on their own. Because financial support from both parents is considered a child’s natural right, parents cannot generally choose to forgo child support.

Illinois now uses the Income Shares formula to calculate how much a parent pays in child support. Support obligations are based on both of the parents’ incomes so the payment amount is reasonable and affordable given the parents’ financial circumstances.

Some parents choose not to work or intentionally work at a lower-paying job to reduce their child support obligation. In situations like this, Illinois courts may use the parent’s “imputed income” to calculate child support.

Many people who get divorced have never participated in a legal proceeding before. The divorce process can be daunting legally, financially, and personally. Television shows and movies depicting divorce as a dramatic courtroom battle only increase divorcing parties' fear and apprehension.

Fortunately, divorce is rarely as litigious as TV shows would lead one to believe. Only a small percentage of divorce cases end up at trial. The rest are resolved through a mutually agreed-upon settlement.

If you are getting divorced, you do not have to undertake this process on your own. An experienced divorce lawyer can provide trustworthy legal advice and guidance from beginning to end.

Most people assume that once their divorce is finalized, they are done with the divorce process and can relax. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some former spouses refuse to comply with the terms of their divorce judgment. They stop paying child support, fail to provide the spousal maintenance required, or ignore asset division terms. If your ex-spouse is not complying with the terms of your divorce, do not wait to take action. Contact an experienced divorce lawyer for help right away.

Property Division in Divorce

The division of assets and debts is often a crucial aspect of a divorce case. Property division may be resolved through a negotiated settlement between the parties or the result of a Judgment entered after a trial. Regardless of how the divorce was resolved, the spouses are expected to follow through with the final divorce decree.

If your spouse has not complied with property decisions, you can file a Petition for Rule to Show Cause. The court may charge the non-compliant spouse with contempt if he or she refuses to comply