Author Archives: MickiMoran

About MickiMoran

Micki Moran is the founding partner of The Child and Family Law Center, Ltd. She dedicates her practice to providing legal assistance to children and families who are in need of representation in the areas of special education, disability law, juvenile and young adult criminal law, abuse and neglect, guardianship and mental health issues. Micki's practice is founded on the principle that children and their families require and deserve excellent legal representation with a multidisciplinary approach that works with multiple systems of care and creates communities that support and improve the quality of all peoples' lives.

Special Needs Consideration in Divorce

This article is intended to provide practical assistance to professionals and clients who are dealing with a family with a child with special needs. Many of these cases are factually complex and involve considerations that are outside of the normal … Continue reading

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Changes to the New Tax Law that will Impact How Maintenance and Alimony is Taxed

In the past, maintenance or what has been formerly referred to as alimony was taxable to the person receiving the payment (obligee) and deductible to the person who was paying (obligor). Federal law determines the taxability of maintenance. As of … Continue reading

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Estrangement and Parental Alienation are NOT the Same Thing

In my years of practicing family law and working with all kinds of family structures in my divorce practice, as well as in the other areas of law that we deal with in our office (e.g. special education, mental health … Continue reading

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Statutory Factors that Judges Utilize in the Allocation of Parent Responsibilities: Decision Making

Parents can certainly agree to share decision making and allocation of time. However, in the absence of an agreement, courts will look to the factors outlined in the statute in determining parenting time and decision making. The court may even … Continue reading

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School Shootings: A Perspective

Since the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida this month, I have been once again thinking about how school shootings have become a tragic and all too common event in this country. I have avoided this … Continue reading

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Autism and the Justice System

For the past twenty years, our office has represented many individuals on the autism spectrum. As those children grew into adolescence and young adulthood, some of them found themselves involved in the criminal justice system. Their parents were shocked that … Continue reading

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Special Needs Divorce

Divorce and custody issues impact many families and can be particularly daunting for parents of children with special needs. There are many more moving parts and no formulaic solutions for these unique families. I now devote a portion of my … Continue reading

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Changes in Illinois Divorce Law

On January 1, 2016, many new changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act as well as the Parentage Act will be put in place. Senate Bill 57 and House Bill 1531 will greatly alter the divorce process … Continue reading

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Divorce: Parallel Parenting

Parallel Parenting Defined As my divorce practice has grown, I have encountered parents who have so much animosity towards each other, and/or divergent views of parenting, that cooperation, co-parenting and shared decision making aren’t possible. For these families, a parenting … Continue reading

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Rights of Teens Regarding Confidentiality under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act

Many parents who come to our office are surprised to learn that their child, if they are at least 12, must consent to the release of mental health information. Who has the right to the records protected by the Act? … Continue reading

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