With Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, visitation issues and scheduling can be a bit complicated for parents struggling through a divorce or who are divorced already. Throughout his career, Judge Michael Ian Bender has helped thousands of parents navigate...
Family Law
Five Steps You Can Take to Prevent Child Abuse
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and it should be everyone’s duty to educate themselves on the issue. In 2008, I was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County. There, I was assigned to the Domestic Relations...
Legal issues regarding paternity
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10 New Year’s Resolutions for Divorced Parents
With the start of the New Year, people across the nation are resolving to make changes that will improve their lives in 2017. Although studies show that most New Year’s resolutions do not make it through February, divorced parents, especially, should do their best to...
Enjoy This Holiday Season Despite Your Divorce
Enjoy This Holiday Season Despite Your Divorce Divorces can be tough on families with children, but it is especially difficult during the holiday season. The holidays are often a cornerstone of family bonding and tradition, and it can be extremely hard to navigate...
DFCS and UI Springfield Collaborate to Create the Child Protection Training Academy
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is partnering with the University of Illinois Springfield to create an unprecedented new training program called the Child Protection Training Academy (CPTA). The Academy is one of the first of its kind in the...
Illinois Hairdressers Trained to Recognize Domestic Abuse
In August of this year, Illinois became the first state in the U.S. to pass a law mandating that hairdressers receive training to recognize signs of domestic abuse in their clients. Signed by Governor Bruce Rauner, this law will take effect on January 1st, 2017....
“Polished Man” Campaign a Worthy Cause
Across social media this October, celebrities have been posting pictures of themselves with one fingernail painted as part of the “Polished Man” campaign. The movement was started by Elliot Costello, CEO of Australian non-profit organization YGAP. Costello was...
The Brangelina Break-up
It’s been a tough year for Hollywood marriages, and now another celebrity partnership has come to an end. Power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reportedly separated on September 15, after just a little over two years of marriage. Jolie filed for divorce, citing...
Joch the Support Dog Helps Victims of Child Abuse
Child abuse victims in Bloomington, Illinois have a new friend to provide love and comfort. Joch (pronounced Jock) is a two-year-old black Labrador and is the first support dog to come to McLean County. He was trained in the Support Dogs Inc. program, based in St....