Sexual harassment in the workplace has never been a more hotly-debated topic. There have been laws against inappropriate sexual behavior at work for decades. Discrimination on the basis of sex has been against the law in the U.S since the 1964 Civil Rights Act. However, many instances of sexual harassment have gone unchecked throughout the years, and many people’s lives have been negatively affected as a result.

It is a trope that is played out in movies and on television regularly: a married couple is unhappy—possibly even separated—but neither wants to take action and file a petition for divorce. This situation could just as easily happen in real life. For some people, there may be a psychological barrier that prevents them from being the one to formally ask for a divorce. While such feelings are understandable, you may be able to reap a few unexpected benefits by filing your divorce petition before your spouse does.

In the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct against a number of high-profile individuals, it seems that public awareness of issues like workplace sexual harassment is at an all-time high. While one could certainly argue that many of the accusations were not related to employment scenarios, a large portion of them have been—at least indirectly. According to several surveys and various news outlets, the increase in awareness is having an effect on the approach that many companies are taking to address the issue.

Family courts in Illinois—like those in the rest of the country—often have the unenviable task of making very difficult decisions regarding how a child will be cared for following the divorce or breakup of his or her parents. In more tragic situations, including those in which the child’s parents are deceased or incarcerated, the courts may need to decide on a guardian or other caretaker for the affected child. Throughout all of these types of cases, Illinois law provides that the child’s best interest should always be the top priority. To make sure the best interests of the child are…