4 Things All Divorcing Fathers Should Know in Illinois

 Posted on June 17, 2021 in Child Custody

When a couple gets divorced, it can affect everyone surrounding them -- not just themselves. The effect of a divorce on the rest of the family can sometimes be the biggest thing holding an unhappy couple back from simply just pulling the trigger and filing for divorce. Fathers, in particular, face additional obstacles during a divorce that the mother does not, especially when dealing with child-related issues. If you are a father who has been contemplating or has filed for divorce, you should speak with an Illinois divorce lawyer to discuss your options.

Helping Fathers Through Divorce

Even though your role as a mother or a father should not affect your standing in the divorce, it often does. In many cases, fathers are the ones who pull the short straw during a divorce. If you are a divorcing father, here are a few things that you should keep in mind during your divorce:

• Your physical location could affect your relationship with your children. One of the things that are typically inevitable during a divorce is one spouse eventually moves out of the family home. In many cases, the father moves out while the mother continues to live in the home, but that is not always the case. If you do end up leaving the family home, try to maintain physical proximity to your children. The further away you are from them, the more difficult it will be to maintain relationships and have meaningful parenting time.

• Keeping in touch with your children is important. In that same vein, you should also be sure that you keep in contact with your children, even when you are not with them. Your children deserve to have a relationship with both of their parents, even if their parents are no longer with them full time.

• Child support and/or spousal maintenance is a real possibility. In many divorce cases, the mother is the parent who receives a majority of parenting time, while the father has a portion of parenting time. Even though this is not always the case, you should be prepared for potential child support payments and possibly even spousal maintenance. If your spouse did not work during the marriage, he or she may have a good argument for spousal support.

• Keeping records of everything can save you. During a divorce, it is a good idea to have extra copies of all of your documents. You never know when something will be contested or what could come of use during the divorce process. If your divorce is particularly hostile, you may even want to consider limiting communication with your spouse to written methods only, such as text or email. This would allow you to maintain a written record of all of your conversations and could potentially aid you during disagreements.

Contact a Geneva, IL Divorce Attorney Today

Going through a divorce is difficult for everyone, but it can be especially difficult for fathers. If you have been considering divorce or you want to know more about your options, you should speak with a skilled Kane County divorce lawyer. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we have been helping clients through the divorce process for more than 15 years. To begin discussing your case, call our office today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/10-things-divorced-dads-need-to-know/

https://www.verywellfamily.com/keys-for-success-as-divorced-dad-1270180

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-dumb-mistakes-dads-divorce_b_4776269