Blog
Strictly Business: The Importance of Keeping Your Emotions out of the Courtroom
Just as there are two sides to every story, there are two sides to every divorce. What most people don’t think about though is that there are two sides to divorce for each person – the legal side and the emotional side. The legal side is the aspect of divorce that involves many important… Read More »
What Happens After The Divorce Is Final?
After a divorce is finalized, I find that most of my clients feel an extreme sense of relief, and even happiness, as a long and complicated burden has been lifted, and the terms of their new life are printed on paper. But while a finalized divorce provides a sense of security and takes away… Read More »
Home Sweet Home Not Always Sweet When Selling A Home During Divorce
Many divorcing couples are faced with a common problem – who gets the house? When there are no minor children involved, the decision is often a function of economics. Because two households are more expensive to maintain than one, most divorcing couples will experience a decrease in their lifestyle after the case is over,… Read More »
Divorce Attorneys Who Look At Every Angle
One of the many things that distinguish Katz & Stefani from our competitors is our ability to listen to our clients, determine their specific needs and goals, analyze the facts and law of the case, and craft a resolution that meets the client’s specific needs and goals. Our ability to “look at every angle”… Read More »
How Big Losses Can Get You Big Gains In Your Divorce Settlement
One of the less scandalous election news topics in the past week was the New York Times article exposing portions of Donald Trump’s 1995 income tax returns and concluding that his $918 million loss declared in that year could have allowed him to avoid paying federal income taxes for the next 18 years. What… Read More »
An Overview Of Prenuptial Agreements: Practical Do’s and Don’ts
Talking about a prenuptial agreement with your future spouse is never a pleasant topic. The conversation can be awkward and uncomfortable, and can result in hurt feelings. However, given the unexpected nature of the future, many couples choose to move forward with a prenuptial agreement because it can offer some certainty and peace of… Read More »
An Interview With Katz & Stefani Co-Founder André Katz
André Katz saw from an early age the positive impact that his father, the late Dr. Josef Katz, a psychiatrist had on patients. Describing what his dad did as “helping people in bad spots,” Katz said it was this exposure that led him to follow in his dad’s footsteps, aiming to help men and… Read More »
Can Cohabitation Lead To Termination of Spousal Maintenance? Yes So Be Careful!
Based on the Illinois statute and unless modified by the agreement of the parties, spousal maintenance (formerly known as alimony) terminates upon the occurrence of one of the following events: death of the spouse receiving maintenance, death of the spouse paying maintenance (though there are often life insurance provisions to protect the party receiving… Read More »
OK…What Does That Mean: Understanding Legal Terminology in Divorce
Going through a divorce is an extremely difficult process. Aside from the intense emotional aspect, being newly separated is also stressful from a legal standpoint given that the process may be new and unknown to you. At the beginning of the legal process, you may come across various legal terms you haven’t seen or… Read More »
New Illinois Divorce Law Says Goodbye Custody, Hello Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
As of January 1, 2016, Illinois law no longer references “custody” in its statutes. Instead “allocation of parental responsibilities” replaced the term “custody”. Just like custody, allocation of parental responsibilities refers to decision making, and parenting time is decided separately of parental responsibilities. In addition, the term “visitation” has been replaced with “parenting time”… Read More »