Illinois Family Law Insider
All about navigating Family Law in Illinois — your trusted source for expert answers on divorce, child custody, support calculations, and all family legal matters. Each episode features Managing Partner Katie Vandeusen having meaningful conversations with our seasoned attorneys who break down complex issues into practical guidance.
We exclusively focus on Illinois family law, translating complicated statutes and procedures into clear, actionable information. Our discussions address the real concerns faced by Illinois families, providing insights whether you're in the midst of a legal situation or simply want to understand your rights.
At Sterling Lawyers, we believe knowledge empowers better decisions during life's most challenging transitions. Subscribe to "Illinois Family Law Insider" to gain valuable perspective from attorneys who dedicate their practice to supporting Illinois families every day.
Discover additional resources tailored to Illinois family law at www.sterlinglawyers.com/illinois/ here our commitment to accessible legal guidance continues beyond each episode.
Episodes
76 episodes
Illinois Property Division: What You Actually Get to Keep in a Divorce - #76
Most people going into a divorce believe the assets they brought in are protected and what they own is clear. Illinois property division operates on a different framework entirely — and the assumptions people make at the start of the process of...
Illinois Alimony: What to Do When Your Ex Stops Paying - #75
A court order for Illinois alimony is only as effective as the enforcement behind it. When payments stop, most recipients don't know what to do next — and waiting too long makes the problem significantly harder to resolve.In this episode...
Orders of Protection in Illinois: The Rules That Protect You and Your Kids - #74
Orders of protection are one of the most serious legal tools available in an Illinois family law case — and the decisions made around them carry consequences that reach well beyond the immediate situation, into parenting time, housing, employme...
Illinois Alimony: When You Can Change Your Support Order - #73
Many people assume changing an Illinois alimony order is a matter of waiting long enough. The reality is that timing is almost never the issue — proof is.In this episode, Jeff Hughes, lead attorney and co-founder of Sterling Lawyers, wal...
Illinois Child Custody: Your Rights as an Unmarried Parent - #72
Many unmarried parents in Illinois assume that being there from day one means they already have custody rights. What the law actually says about that assumption is where things get complicated fast.In this episode, Jeff Hughes, attorney ...
Illinois Alimony Explained: Why Agreeing on a Number Isn't Enough - #71
Most people negotiating divorce settlements assume alimony is a single arrangement with a set amount and end date. In Illinois, that assumption can lead to agreements with consequences that last far longer than expected.In this episode, ...
Illinois Divorce & Taxes: Should You File Jointly or Separately? - #70
Tax season during a separation or divorce in Illinois comes with a question most people aren't prepared for: do you file jointly with a spouse you no longer trust — or separately, knowing it might cost you more? Jeff Hughes, attorney and founde...
Where to File for Divorce in Illinois: Avoid Common Jurisdiction Mistakes - #69
Illinois residents assume they must file divorce papers where they were married, not realizing they can choose between the county where either spouse lives. Illinois divorce filing requires 90-day state residency for one spouse with venue choic...
Illinois Custody Myths: Do Mothers Actually Automatically Get the Kids? - #68
Illinois parents believe mothers automatically get custody in divorce, not realizing courts abandoned gender-based tender years doctrine for gender-neutral best interests standards evaluating parenting involvement and stability. Illinois custod...
Illinois Temporary Orders: Why They Can Make or Break Your Divorce - #67
You agreed to Illinois temporary parenting arrangements thinking they'd last a few months, not realizing they establish a status quo that becomes nearly impossible to change before final judgment. Illinois temporary orders address parenting tim...
Illinois Divorce Timeline: Here's What Happens After You File - #66
Filing for Illinois divorce feels like the biggest step but you don't know what happens next or how long each stage takes from service through final judgment. After filing Illinois divorce, the responding spouse gets 30 days to respond followin...
SECRET Tip on How to Legally Speed Up Your Divorce in Illinois - #65
Illinois couples who qualify and cooperate can finalize divorce in weeks instead of months by using Joint Simplified Dissolution or skipping the six-month separation requirement through mutual agreement. Speeding up divorce in Illinois requires...
Gray Divorce Mistakes Illinois: What Destroys Your Retirement After 50 - #64
Divorcing over 50 in Illinois means settlement mistakes destroy retirement security you can't rebuild—QDRO errors, missed survivor benefits, and Social Security timing failures compound into hundreds of thousands lost. Illinois gray divorce mis...
Gray Divorce Illinois: What Makes Divorcing After 50 Different - #63
You're over 50 facing Illinois divorce that will split decades of retirement savings, pensions, and real estate with no time to financially recover. Gray divorce carries higher stakes because you're dividing retirement futures instead of buildi...
Illinois Divorce: Can You Lose Parenting Rights by Moving Out? - #62
You're considering moving out of your Illinois marital home during divorce thinking you'll maintain equal parental rights, not realizing you're establishing a status quo that could cost you majority parenting time. Illinois parents retain equal...
Illinois Prenup Laws: What Can and Can't Be in Your Agreement - #61
You're being pressured to sign an Illinois prenup days before your wedding without legal counsel or full financial disclosure, not knowing if it will hold up in court. Illinois prenuptial agreements under the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act re...
Illinois Alimony Calculator: How to Calculate Spousal Maintenance Correctly - #60
You're using online Illinois alimony calculators getting wildly different estimates because they use outdated income caps and miss the critical combined income cap rule. Illinois spousal maintenance uses a strict net income formula with a house...
Guardian ad Litem in Illinois: What NOT to Do During Your Custody Case - #59
The Illinois court appointed a Guardian ad Litem to investigate your custody case and you're treating them like a therapist by venting about your ex, or you're coaching your child about what to say. Guardian ad Litem attorneys gather facts thro...
Illinois Child Custody: The Shocking Truth About Absent Parents' Rights - #58
The other parent disappeared for years with no contact or support and now suddenly wants visitation rights in your Illinois custody case. Do Illinois courts automatically terminate parental rights for abandonment? Sterling Lawyers Lead Attorney...
Illinois Divorce: How to Catch a Spouse Hiding Money - #57
Your spouse suddenly changed all the account passwords and you're seeing unexplained cash withdrawals but can't prove they're hiding assets in your Illinois divorce. Hidden assets involve business income manipulation, cash transactions, fake de...
Grounds for Divorce in Illinois: What You Need to Know Before Filing -#56
You're gathering evidence of your spouse's affair thinking you need proof to file for divorce in Illinois, but the court doesn't want your screenshots or witness statements. Illinois recognizes only one ground for divorce. Sterling Lawyers Lead...
Paternity in Illinois: Don’t Sign ANYTHING Until You Watch This! - #55
You signed the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity at the Illinois hospital, thinking you secured your parental rights. But now the mother won't let you see your child, and you have no legal standing for custody or visitation. Establishing pa...
Child Custody in Illinois: The Biggest Mistake During Separation - #54
You've been the working parent supporting your Illinois family—now you're losing custody because the other parent was the primary caretaker for 24 months. Illinois courts weigh primary caretaker history, work schedules, cooperation, and the chi...
Illinois Child Custody: This Holiday Mistake Hurts Your Kids - #53
You finalize your Illinois custody agreement using a template form with vague holiday language—then find yourself back in court every few months fighting over birthdays, spring break, and who gets Thanksgiving. Illinois parenting plans require ...
Divorce in Illinois: What Makes Divorce So Expensive? - #52
You budget for attorney fees and court costs in your Illinois divorce—then get blindsided by a $15,000 custody evaluation, repeated retainer replenishments, and thousands spent fighting over a $3,000 couch. Illinois divorce costs in 2025 aren't...