Posted on September 19, 2025 in Child Support

A divorce can be taxing in more ways than one. If you are going through financial hardship during your divorce, you can request temporary support to help ease the burden. If you are concerned about making ends meet during the legal proceedings, consider reaching out to a Skokie, IL divorce lawyer.

As a Certified Public Accountant and a family law attorney with over 30 years of experience, Attorney Curtis Ross is qualified to assist with financial matters in your divorce. We can provide you with strong advocacy and legal advice to help you request temporary support while your divorce is still ongoing.

What Kind of Support Is Available During a Divorce?

In Illinois, you can ask for temporary assistance in the form of alimony or child support. Alimony is paid for by the higher-earning spouse to provide for the needs of the lower-earning spouse when there is a clear financial need. Child support is intended to help pay for a child’s necessities, typically awarded to the parent with a greater share of parenting time.

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 Posted on September 05, 2025 in Divorce

When a couple cannot agree on how a divorce should be handled, the divorce is referred to as contested. While this may bring to mind drawn-out courtroom battles, a contested divorce does not have to escalate to full-on hostility and years-long factual disputes. A skilled Cook County, IL divorce attorney can help to make the process as painless as possible through careful preparation and well-reasoned arguments.

At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., we are here to assist you through the hurdles that come with a contested divorce. Attorney Curtis Ross is a solo practitioner with over 30 years of practical legal experience in family law, giving him deep insights into the divorce process.

Three Tips for Getting Through a Contested Divorce in Illinois

Do Not Antagonize Your Ex

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 Posted on August 28, 2025 in Child Support

In Illinois, parents have an obligation to financially support their children, whether they are married or not. To make sure this obligation is met, a divorce with children will usually come with a court order of child support. 

As the custodial parent, you may wonder what you are allowed to spend child support on. As the non-custodial parent, you may be concerned about where exactly your funds are going. A Rolling Meadows, IL family law attorney at The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C. can address your questions about child support. If necessary, we can take legal action on your behalf to enforce or modify the court order.

Child Support Pays for Necessary Expenses

In general, child support payments are meant to cover the necessary expenses that come with raising a child. These expenses may include:

• Housing, such as rent or mortgage payments

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 Posted on August 15, 2025 in Child Custody / Parental Responsibilities

In divorces and other child custody cases, the courts will closely examine the child’s living situation to determine what is best for him or her. However, the judge may only be seeing things from an outsider’s perspective. To rectify this, a guardian ad litem (GAL) may be assigned to the case to investigate the child’s situation. The role of the GAL is to make a recommendation to the judge based on the child’s best interests.

If you are concerned about your child’s welfare in a custody dispute, our Cook County, IL family law attorney is certified to act as a guardian ad litem. At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., we know just how important the allocation of custody can be, and we can make a responsible recommendation to the judge to protect your child’s well-being. With over 30 years of experience, our attorney is qualified to help you do what is best for your family.

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 Posted on July 31, 2025 in Spousal Support

 When a married couple separates, one spouse may need help adjusting to his or her new financial circumstances. In Illinois, judges can include spousal support in a divorce decree to aid struggling spouses. At a judge’s discretion, spousal support may last for only a short while or for a long stretch of time. Regardless of what you stand to gain or lose from spousal support, a Rolling Meadows, IL divorce attorney can stand up for your best interests.

Attorney Curtis Ross has over 30 years of experience handling divorce cases on behalf of his clients, and he is qualified to handle cases involving complex financial matters. Our firm will advocate for your long-term needs in disputes related to spousal support.

Types of Alimony in Illinois

Spousal support is not always awarded in Illinois divorces. In fact, if you do not actively petition for financial support, you might not receive it at all. This is because judges only award alimony when it is necessary to prevent undue financial stress.

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 Posted on July 14, 2025 in Child Custody / Parental Responsibilities

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) takes allegations of abuse seriously. All it takes is a rumor reaching the ears of a mandated reporter to prompt an investigation. Regardless of whether the allegations are grounded in fact, you should exercise extreme caution when dealing with a DCFS investigation. Depending on what the department finds, an investigation could result in you losing custody of your child. A Chicago family law attorney can advise you on how to respond to a DCFS investigation and work to protect your rights.

At our firm, we are highly experienced with matters of child custody and DCFS procedures. As a solo practitioner, Attorney Curtis Ross can provide you with personalized counsel and representation to safeguard your parental rights.

Answering Questions in a DCFS Investigation

As part of its investigation, you may be approached by DCFS with various questions. While a DCFS investigator cannot compel you to answer any questions, your refusal to answer could be noted in the investigation. When you are approached by DCFS, remain courteous and avoid antagonizing the investigator. Still, be mindful of what you say – any admission you make could be used as evidence for an indication, which can result in you being placed in a registry of abusive or neglectful parents.

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 Posted on June 29, 2025 in Divorce

Most people are aware that divorcing couples need to divide their assets, but if you have never been divorced before, it can be hard to imagine everything that entails. Splitting money in a shared account and dividing stocks and bonds might seem straightforward, but when it comes to deciding what to do with your home, it can quickly become much more complicated. 

You may feel strongly about keeping your home, especially if your children have grown up there and you are their primary caretaker. Unfortunately, a judge can force you to sell your home during divorce, even if you object. Illinois courts have broad authority to divide marital property in whatever they consider to be a fair way. That includes ordering the sale of the home, if that is the fairest way to divide assets between spouses. To understand more about what might happen to your home in a divorce, speak with a qualified Chicago, IL divorce lawyer who can answer your questions and offer valuable insights.

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 Posted on June 16, 2025 in Divorce

When two spouses in Illinois agree on the value of a business during divorce, they may assume that’s the end of it. After all, if neither party is disputing the number, why would the court get involved?

But under Illinois law, the judge has the authority, and in many cases the obligation, to question that valuation and even order a formal business appraisal, particularly when financial complexity, ownership interest, or the potential for future disputes are at play. Even a couple’s agreement can be overridden in the interest of equitable division.

This issue is especially relevant in divorces involving family businesses, professional practices, or self-owned enterprises. It is also an area where a Cook County, IL divorce attorney like Attorney Ross with financial credentials — such as a CPA, Court-appointed guardian ad litem (GAL), and mediator — can make all the difference.

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 Posted on May 26, 2025 in Divorce

Filing for divorce is a monumental decision, and some people think they have made up their minds only to later discover that they are having second thoughts. What happens if you regret the decision to get divorced, not just emotionally, but legally? Can you stop the process once it starts? Can you undo a divorce after it is finalized?

In Illinois, the answer depends on where you are in the legal process. Timing, paperwork, and cooperation between spouses all play a role. A trained Illinois divorce attorney and mediator — especially one at The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C. with financial insight and decades of family law experience — can help you navigate the possibilities.

Can You Stop a Divorce Before It Is Finalized? 

If the divorce is still in progress and has not been finalized by the judge, it is entirely possible to stop the process. The spouse who filed the petition can choose to dismiss the case voluntarily. If both spouses now want to remain married, this is typically a straightforward procedure.

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 Posted on May 12, 2025 in Child Custody / Parental Responsibilities

Arguably, the most emotionally charged part of an Illinois divorce is often the allocation of parental responsibilities, commonly known as child custody. Understanding the nuanced laws that govern the court’s decisions and outline your rights as a parent is critical. It ensures that you approach the process confidently, and a knowledgeable Skokie, IL parental responsibilities attorney can help.

What Are Decision-Making Responsibilities in an Illinois Custody Case?

In Illinois, "parental responsibilities" is an umbrella phrase encompassing the allocation of decision-making rights and parenting time, formerly known as legal custody and visitation, respectively. The decision-making component is divided into four categories:

• Decisions about education, including learning support services

• Management of healthcare, including choosing providers and insurance

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