Recent Blog Posts
Should You Tell Your Spouse You Are Considering Divorce Before Speaking With A Lawyer?
Thinking about divorce does not mean you have already made up your mind. You might still be deciding if separation is the right step, wondering how divorce could affect your children, or trying to figure out if you can afford to live on your own. One of the first questions I hear is whether… Read More »
What Happens If the Husband and Wife Signed Different IVF Consent Forms?
IVF treatment usually involves a substantial amount of paperwork, and married couples may sign consent forms at different stages of treatment. Problems can arise when a husband and wife sign different versions of those forms, select inconsistent options, sign documents on different dates, or express different instructions about what should happen to frozen embryos… Read More »
Can Frozen Embryos Be Addressed In Temporary Divorce Orders?
Frozen embryos can become one of the most sensitive issues in an Illinois divorce when spouses underwent IVF during their marriage but no longer agree about what should happen to the embryos. A divorce may take months to resolve, which raises an immediate question about whether either spouse can use, transfer, donate, discard, or… Read More »
Can You File an Emergency Motion to Stop the Transfer or Destruction of Frozen Embryos?
Disputes over frozen embryos can quickly become urgent. If one spouse thinks the other is about to authorize a transfer, destruction, donation, or another irreversible action, waiting for the usual divorce process may not protect everyone’s rights. Once an embryo is transferred or destroyed, it may be impossible to undo. Illinois law now has… Read More »
Can A Judge Order Frozen Embryos To Remain In Storage Until A Divorce Dispute Is Resolved?
Frozen embryos are often one of the most emotionally challenging issues in an Illinois divorce. Unlike dividing a bank account, car, or house, decisions about embryos involve deeply personal choices that can impact both people for years to come. One spouse might want to use the embryos to try for a pregnancy, while the… Read More »
What Happens When One Spouse Wants to Donate Frozen Embryos and the Other Wants Them Destroyed?
Frozen embryos can be one of the hardest issues to face in an Illinois divorce. Couples often create embryos while planning a family, but after a breakup, they may have very different views about what should happen next. One person might want to donate the embryos, while the other prefers they be destroyed to… Read More »
Can My Ex Stop Me From Using Embryos We Created While Married?
Frozen embryos can be one of the hardest issues to face in a divorce because they are more than just property. They may offer the hope of having a biological child, but also bring up questions about consent, parentage, and whether a former spouse can be made a parent against their wishes. Illinois law… Read More »
Can A Known Sperm Donor Seek Custody In Illinois?
Using a known sperm donor can give intended parents greater familiarity with the donor’s identity, medical history, and background, but it can also raise important questions about future parental rights. One of the most serious concerns arises when a known donor later seeks custody, parenting time, or involvement in major decisions affecting the child…. Read More »
Can An Egg Donor Claim Parental Rights In Illinois?
Using donated eggs can make it possible for individuals and couples to become parents when pregnancy might otherwise be difficult or impossible. However, assisted reproduction can also raise important legal questions about who is considered a parent under Illinois law. One of the most common concerns is whether an egg donor can later claim… Read More »
Who Controls Frozen Embryos After A Spouse Dies?
The death of a spouse can create difficult legal questions when a couple has frozen embryos remaining at a fertility clinic. The surviving spouse may want to use the embryos to have a child, preserve them for a future decision, donate them, or direct that they no longer be stored. At the same time,… Read More »