The last thing most engaged couples are interested in talking about is how they will treat each other if their relationship ends. In the excitement of wedding planning and the blush of early love, the idea that a relationship could end in divorce seems impossible and deeply unromantic to discuss. Yet considering the statistics about divorce, couples would be wise to plan ahead and discuss the most important issues they will face. Doing so presents great opportunities for intimate conversations and may even prevent an ill-fated marriage from happening in the first place. Before you tie the knot, talk about these four things - and then approach a skilled prenuptial agreement attorney to create a great premarital contract that protects your priorities.

Children

Not everybody wants children, yet couples with mismatched priorities get married all the time. An individual’s preference for children is highly unlikely to change over time, and when a partner who wants children is coupled with a partner who does not, divorce is often the inevitable outcome. In addition to discussing simply wanting children, engaged couples should discuss how many children they want and their parenting philosophy when it comes to discipline, which parent may need to make career sacrifices, and how major expenses like college will be paid for.

Money

Couples frequently get divorced because of incompatible philosophies around spending and saving money. Set a budget, identify long-term financial goals, and discuss career ambitions well before you set a wedding date. Having a prenuptial agreement is a great way to address financial issues like property division and spousal support that could be very contentious in a divorce.

Being a landlord is an extremely challenging job - especially during these challenging times. Many people are unable or unwilling to make their rent payments on time. When landlords take the legal steps needed to evict tenants who do not pay, they can find themselves involved in a contentious, complicated legal dispute. Every landlord must fully understand his or her rights and responsibilities. However, even the most knowledgeable landlord can find himself or herself involved in a dispute. If you are experiencing a landlord-tenant problem, contact a real estate lawyer for help.

Illinois Landlord and Tenant Laws

Both tenants and landlords are protected by Illinois state and federal laws. As a landlord, it is crucial that you understand what to expect from tenants as well as what your tenants expect of you. The best way to avoid tenant problems is to provide a detailed written lease that describes both parties’ expectations. However, this is not always enough to ensure that tenants comply with the terms of the lease.

Landlords have important rights, including the right to make reasonable rules regarding the use of the property, the right to charge late fees, and the right to terminate the lease with the appropriate notice. Sometimes, landlords are forced to evict tenants. Evicting someone requires a lawsuit. Landlords cannot simply change the locks or turn off the tenant’s electricity to make him or her leave.

Business owners pour their hearts and souls into their businesses. If you own a business or hope to become a business owner soon, it is crucial that you understand how to protect the results of your hard work.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are business contracts that prohibit parties from divulging confidential business information. NDAs can be powerful legal tools for protecting trade secrets, client information, and proprietary business practices or methods. However, these contracts must be executed properly to be legally enforceable.

Confidentiality Agreements Have a Range of Uses

Non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality agreements are used for many different purposes. When businesses seek new investors, they share substantial information about their business ideas, inventions, and strategies. What is stopping a potential investor from using this information to start a competing business or selling it to another party? This is why many businesses ask potential investors, partners, or buyers to sign NDAs.

Estate planning is one of those responsibilities that many people put off for as long as possible. However, proper estate planning is crucial to ensuring your wishes are followed if you become incapacitated or pass away. An important part of your estate planning process is choosing a power of attorney (POA). Your POA will have the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make or express your wishes. It is important to choose someone you trust who can handle this vital responsibility.

The Main Types of Power of Attorney in Illinois

There are two main types of power of attorney. A power of attorney for health care gives someone else the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf. A health care POA will be expected to make decisions about the types of medical treatment you do and do not receive if you are incapacitated by illness or injury.

A financial power of attorney gives someone the authority to handle your finances if you cannot do so yourself. For example, your financial POA may pay your bills or file taxes if you are too sick to manage these issues. You can choose to have the same person act as healthcare and financial power of attorney or you can assign these roles separately.

In July of 2017, new laws went into effect changing the way Illinois courts handle child custody matters. Although the term child custody is still sometimes used informally, the law now describes child custody in terms of parenting time and parental responsibilities. Parenting time is the time that the child is in a parent’s physical custody.

If you are getting divorced or you are unmarried and your relationship is ending, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities regarding parenting time.

How Is Parenting Time Divided Between the Parents?

Illinois parents are encouraged to work out an arrangement for sharing parenting time and formalize their decisions in their Parenting Plan. The court usually upholds Parenting Plans unless there is some aspect of the plan that is not in the child’s best interests. If the parents cannot reach an agreement, the court will determine an appropriate parenting time schedule for the parents based on factors including but not limited to: