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Merel Family Law

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Parental Responsibilities in Illinois

April 10, 2026 | Merel Family Law

If you have been through a family law case in Illinois recently, you may have noticed that courts no longer use the word “cu…

Temporary vs Permanent Spousal Support in IL

April 3, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Spousal support doesn’t work the way most people think it does. There isn’t just one kind, and it doesn’t automatically kick…

Essential Habits for Family Law Clients

March 30, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Certain habits separate clients who thrive during legal proceedings from those who struggle. Family law cases demand more th…

Parental Alienation and Illinois Courts

March 27, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Parental alienation occurs when one parent, intentionally or not, influences a child to reject or fear the other parent with…

Is It Possible to Avoid Paying Alimony in Illinois?

March 11, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Whether or not you will have to pay alimony, also known as spousal support or maintenance, to your ex-spouse after your divo…

What You Should Include in a Prenuptial Agreement

March 6, 2026 | Merel Family Law

If you are preparing to get married and decided to include a prenuptial agreement in these arrangements, you should do what…

Repairing Trust Between You and Your Former Spouse

March 4, 2026 | Merel Family Law

After a divorce, raising children with your former spouse can feel like an insurmountable task. Your trust in one another ma…

Changing Your Name For Marital Reasons

March 2, 2026 | Merel Family Law

For many people in the United States, it is customary for a spouse—usually the wife—to assume their spouse’s name after gett…

Allocating Parental Responsibility In Illinois

February 18, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Historically, family law courts drew a distinction between legal custody and physical custody when deciding child custody is…

What To Wear To Family Court

February 9, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Obtaining a favorable outcome in your divorce case or child custody dispute not only depends on your character, history with…

Grandparent Custody In Illinois

January 29, 2026 | Merel Family Law

While grandparents can obtain visitation rights to see and continue to have a lasting and loving relationship with a grandch…

Your Essential Guide To Creating A Comprehensive Parenting Plan

January 26, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Creating a comprehensive parenting plan is crucial for divorced or separated parents to ensure the well-being and stability…

When Spousal Maintenance Ends In Illinois

January 23, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Spousal maintenance doesn’t last forever. Well, in most cases it doesn’t. Illinois law provides specific guidelines for how…

Who Should Have A Prenuptial Agreement?

January 14, 2026 | Merel Family Law

Marriage is not just about two individuals coming together to become a family; it’s a legal contract. This makes prenuptial…

What To Expect During Your First Family Law Consultation

November 9, 2025 | Merel Family Law

Walking into a family law attorney’s office for the first time can feel overwhelming. You might be dealing with divorce, cus…

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements: What They Should Cover

November 8, 2025 | Merel Family Law

When most people hear the word “prenup,” they think of celebrities, billionaires, or high-profile divorces splashed across t…

Protecting A Father’s Parental Rights

October 16, 2025 | Merel Family Law

Standing Up For Your Rights As A Father If you are in the unfortunate situation of having your rights as a father challenged…

Support Modifications After Divorce

October 16, 2025 | Merel Family Law

Even after a divorce is finalized, financial circumstances can change over time, making it necessary to revisit existing sup…

A Lawyer’s Look At Why Love Fails

September 19, 2025 | Merel Family Law

At Merel Family Law, our Troy, MI family lawyer team has a unique perspective on relationships. We often meet people at the…

Family Law Tips For Tough Times

September 8, 2025 | Merel Family Law

At Merel Family Law, we’ve been helping clients with their family law needs since 2009, and our team of 20 lawyers has a col…

From Classroom to Courtroom: The Truth About Practicing Law

August 21, 2025 | Kara Wolinski

Law School vs. Real Practice Law school is structured very differently than the real world. In some ways, law school is dras…

Who Can File An Order Of Protection

July 25, 2025 | Merel Family Law

At Merel Family Law, we often speak with people who aren’t sure whether they qualify to request legal protection from someon…

Recognizing When Legal Help Is Necessary

July 10, 2025 | Merel Family Law

Family matters that involve the court system are often emotionally charged and time-sensitive. Whether you’re dealing with a…

TikTok Advice That Will Screw You Over

May 16, 2025 | Jonathan Merel

Welcome to the wild world of TikTok divorce advice: where strangers with ring lights and zero legal training confidently han…