There are several ways in which child custody may be organized, and understanding the differences can enable parents to make the best choices for their children.

During a divorce proceeding, a child support obligation is often a critical area of consideration. When divorcing parties have a minor child, a determination regarding child support must be made. The court will usually set the amount of child support according to guidelines that are codified under Illinois law. In certain circumstances, however, the court will consider other factors and deviate from the guidelines when making the determination of how much child support should be ordered. Additionally, the court can order either or both parents to provide for certain other expenses, such as …

Divorce is often considered to be an adversarial battle. However, this does not have to be the case. While it is not appropriate for everyone, the process of collaborative divorce can work very well for certain couples. If the parties in a divorce can set aside their differences and cooperate with one another, a collaborative divorce may be a more efficient and less contentious alternative to the traditional divorce process.

The Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange (IARMIE) program facilitates the transmission of information between members of adoptive and birth families. At some point throughout one's life, parents or children may want to initiate contact or obtain medical history. In fact, knowing a biological parent's medical history can help develop a clearer picture of future potential health issues. The Department of Public Health establishes the regulations in order to operate the Registry confidentially.