Law Office of Russell D. Knight

Law Office of Russell D. Knight Full service family law firm located in downtown Chicago. Call us today for more information.

Child Support Covers More Than BasicsIn Illinois, child support extends beyond food and shelter. Daycare, medical costs,...
09/09/2026

Child Support Covers More Than Basics

In Illinois, child support extends beyond food and shelter. Daycare, medical costs, and college expenses can all be divided between parents.

Read more: https://rdklegal.com/what-should-child-support-cover-in-illinois/

Have questions about child support in Illinois? Contact the Law Office of Russell D. Knight for a free consultation and speak directly with an attorney about your individual circumstances — call (773) 334-6311 today.

09/08/2026

📌SAVE THIS: Illinois divides marital property without regard to marital misconduct. Maintenance is awarded without regard to marital misconduct. Parenting time excludes conduct of a parent that does not affect that parent’s relationship to the child. Nobody “takes everything.” The statute does not have a setting for that.

Now the kids. Illinois presumes both parents are fit. The court shall not place any restrictions on parenting time unless it finds the parenting time would seriously endanger the child’s mental, moral, or physical health. That is the standard. Not who is angrier. Not who threatened first.

So what do you actually do? Two things. Save the messages. If a threat ends up in a pleading filed to harass you, Supreme Court Rule 137 allows sanctions against the person who filed it. Then hire a lawyer who has heard this speech before.

Because divorce judges have heard it all. And divorce judges are rarely, if ever, fazed.

Your spouse is not describing the law. They are describing their feelings.

Only one of those gets a ruling.

09/07/2026

Chip Wilson started Lululemon in 1998. Got married in 2002. Now he is getting divorced in British Columbia with no prenup.
British Columbia looks at that 24 years of Lululemon growth and says, "That's marital. We're splitting it."

Illinois looks at the same asset and says, "You started it before the wedding? The whole company is yours, and every dollar it gained in value during the marriage stays yours too."

His wife helped build the brand while working there. Is she entitled to a piece? In Illinois, no. She was already paid for that contribution. It's called a salary.

So Chip Wilson does not need a prenup. He needs an Illinois address.

09/06/2026

Your child turned 18. Your child support obligation may not have ended.

In Illinois, support continues past the 18th birthday in three scenarios.

1️⃣ The child is still in high school. Support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first.

2️⃣ The payor owes back child support. Payments continue and are applied to the arrearage until it is completely paid off.

3️⃣ The child is deemed disabled after turning 18. Support is readjusted to reflect the child's actual needs and the support received from the state.

Verify which scenario applies to your family before assuming the obligation is over.

09/05/2026

Some chapters aren’t meant to be fixed.

They’re meant to be finished.

09/04/2026

I get this question a lot, but I’d like my divorce lawyer colleagues to chime in as well.

09/03/2026

I can't tell you how many times I've watched a case unravel because an attorney could not stop over-complicating their own position.
More motions. More theories. More exhibits nobody will read. The file grows heavier and the argument grows weaker.

In a high-asset divorce, the discipline to identify what decides the outcome and to discard everything else is what separates a persuasive case from an expensive one.

Retirement accounts are often among the largest assets in an Illinois divorce.Many people assume a 401(k), pension, or I...
09/02/2026

Retirement accounts are often among the largest assets in an Illinois divorce.

Many people assume a 401(k), pension, or IRA can simply be divided between spouses. In reality, the process is governed by specific legal and tax rules. The timing of contributions, the type of account, and the proper court orders can all affect the outcome.

Understanding how retirement accounts are addressed during divorce can help you protect your long-term financial interests.

Read our latest blog at the link below.

Victoria and I rushed into the Daley Center yesterday ready for trial with all our binders. A judge saw us and yelled “G...
09/02/2026

Victoria and I rushed into the Daley Center yesterday ready for trial with all our binders.

A judge saw us and yelled “Go get ‘em!”

Your Child's Opinion Is Not ControllingIllinois courts weigh a child's preference alongside maturity and best interests....
09/02/2026

Your Child's Opinion Is Not Controlling

Illinois courts weigh a child's preference alongside maturity and best interests. It guides — but never controls — the final custody decision.

Read more: https://rdklegal.com/a-childs-preference-and-parenting-time-in-an-illinois-divorce/

Contact the Law Office of Russell D. Knight at (773) 334-6311 to schedule a free consultation about parenting time and your child's preferences in an Illinois divorce.

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1165 N. Clark # 700
Chicago, IL
60610

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