When a marriage nears its end, the situation can become contentious rather quickly. Both spouses may deal with feelings of resentment, guilt, anger, and fear. Another common element in many divorces is the financial strain that comes with it. If one spouse cannot afford to move out, then the spouses may be stuck living together until a solution can be reached.

Many spouses question whether they can even get a divorce if they are still living together. They wonder if there is a mandatory separation period in Illinois before divorce is permitted and how long it must last. 

If you find yourself in this situation, read on to learn about the divorce requirements in Illinois and what to do if you want to file for divorce but cannot move out immediately.

Even though the Illinois legal system has developed a sophisticated process for handling complaints of sexual harassment, many people still endure this unacceptable behavior at work and are unsure how to handle it. Worries about embarrassment in front of colleagues, a desire to avoid confrontation, and/or a fear of retaliation often keep people from speaking up about sexual harassment when it happens. Sometimes, it can be difficult to recognize that inappropriate behavior is sexual harassment until after the fact. 

However, it is essential to speak up and take action when you feel that are being sexually harassed. There are many reasons for this, not least of which is that what offends one person may not necessarily offend another, and the person bothering you may not realize they are doing so. At the same time, it is important not to let someone continue bothering you simply because they state they do not intend to sexually harass you. 

What is Sexual Harassment? 

While sexual harassment can manifest in many different ways, it is important to know that all sexual harassment is gender-based employment discrimination, and it is against the law. The law puts sexual harassment into two basic categories: Quid pro quo (the exchange of sexual favors for employment benefits) and hostile work environment (when sexual harassment is so extreme that it is abusive or interferes with someone being able to do their job). 

Research suggests that few life events are as disruptive as divorce, especially when it happens unexpectedly. However, being prepared for divorce - anticipating its beginning and understanding what you can do to help yourself through the process - can make a major difference in terms of how much stress you feel. If you are considering divorce or suspect your spouse may be getting ready to file for divorce, here are five steps you can take to minimize the negative impacts of a divorce on your life. 

Understand Your Financial Situation

Many couples have an implicit or explicit arrangement in which one spouse manages the family’s financial affairs. If you are not the spouse who takes care of the money, do everything you can to learn about the specifics of your family’s financial situation. Find out where your bank accounts are located and what the balances are, how much money you owe on your mortgage, car payments, and other loans, and how much you have saved for retirement. Gathering documentation that proves these things is important as well. 

Consider Where You Will Live

Do you already have a sense of whether you or your spouse will stay in the marital home? If you are going to be the one moving out, where will you go - and how will you afford to stay there? If you may need to spend some time with a family member or friend, try to have a plan for how long your stay will be, how you can help out while you are there, and what you will need to do to get into your own place. 

In 2016, Illinois updated the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) to better meet the needs of unmarried and divorced couples. The current law altered the language to represent modern parenting styles more accurately. Instead of one parent being the primary custodian and the other parent merely having visitation rights, the law now describes parenting duties as being shared between the parents. Parents who are getting divorced should be sure to understand the new law, as it differs somewhat from laws in surrounding states, both in terminology and function. 

The allocation of parental responsibilities is an important part of the IMDMA. Generally speaking, the term parental responsibilities is used to describe important decision-making capabilities, which are divided into four general categories. Visitation is now called parenting time. Parenting time refers to the time that either parent spends caring for and supervising the child. 

Parental Responsibilities in Illinois

Parental responsibilities refer to a parent’s authority to make child-related decisions. The four primary areas of significant decision-making described in Illinois law are: 

Victims of sexual harassment are often torn about who to tell and where to go for help. Depending on the details of the harassment, you may not know who in your company you should go to or you may even feel uncomfortable speaking to the person you need to speak to. Furthermore, you may not want the person harassing you to get in serious criminal trouble, even if you are intent on getting the harassment to stop. If any of this sounds familiar to you, speak with an Illinois sexual harassment attorney right away. 

Do I Go to the Police About Workplace Sexual Harassment? 

As with most legal questions, the answer is, “It depends.” Certain types of sexual harassment rise to the level of criminal assault and require the intervention of the authorities. Rape and other forms of physical and sexual assault, blackmail, trafficking, and other serious forms of sexual crimes certainly warrant police attention and may result in criminal charges being brought against the accused. 

However, sexual harassment at work is generally far more subtle than outright physical or verbal threats; for example, some of the most common types of sexual harassment include: