Posted on January 31, 2019 in Family Law

Over 100,000 children are adopted throughout the United States each year. It can be a wonderful thing for children needing a family and parents looking for a child to love. While many families yearn to adopt a child, the adoption process can be incredibly complicated. Every single adoption comes with its own complexities, and the process can be quite difficult for families to tackle on their own. If your family is interested in adopting a child, an experienced adoption attorney can assist you as you look to welcome another member into your family.

Types of Adoption in Illinois

Here in the state of Illinois, there are four primary types of adoption: private adoptions, agency adoptions, international adoptions, and related adoptions.

• Private adoption is when adoptive parents and biological parents set up the adoption without the use of an agency;

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 Posted on January 25, 2019 in Child Custody

For most parents navigating the divorce process, every decision is centered around the well-being of their children. A divorce can be an incredibly difficult emotional process for all members of the family, but watching parents separate can be especially challenging for children to process.

Some parents elect to fight for sole custody in their divorce. This decision can be based on a number of factors, primarily relating to one spouse’s doubts regarding the other spouse’s ability to navigate parenting responsibilities. Yet, if both parties still believe in the other spouse’s parenting ability, it may be best to begin discussing the possibility of a shared custody parenting plan.

How Shared Custody Can Impact Your Child 

According to statistics compiled by the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.4 sole-custody parents living in the United States. In some cases, sole-custody is the right decision to make for your child’s well-being, but there are numerous benefits to exploring the possibility of shared custody.

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 Posted on January 24, 2019 in Divorce

When navigating a standard divorce process, both parties must understand that their actions will be under extreme scrutiny. Your life habits, occupation, and living situation will all play a part in how a judge makes decisions on various issues regarding the separation. In any family law case, a criminal charge can have a monumental impact on the manner in which the judge will rule. If you have been accused of a crime during your divorce, it is crucial to notify your attorney as soon as possible.

Crimes During Divorce

The divorce process can be an incredibly stressful time for all parties involved. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that many people commit a criminal offense during their divorce. Listed below are the most commonly committed crimes that can severely impact a family law case:

Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Although turning to drugs or alcohol during stressful times usually tends to be a bad idea, many people increase their alcohol intake during their divorce. Here in the state of Illinois, a DUI charge can lead to extensive fines, loss of driving privileges, and even potential jail time.

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 Posted on January 18, 2019 in Divorce

For the thousands of Americans that elect to pursue a divorce each year, separating from a former-spouse can be an incredibly positive life-changing decision. However, parties must be prepared to live independently once the divorce process is finalized. Financial independence is, arguably, one of the more difficult aspects to master, post-divorce. As such, it is critical that parties start to prepare for financial independence as soon as possible. One of the best places to start is to consult with a seasoned divorce lawyer about the health of your finances, and how the divorce could impact it, moving forward.

Steps to Securing Financial Stability

Once your divorce has been finalized, you need to act quickly to ensure long-term financial security. A quality attorney can help you develop an action plan, and begin working towards financial independence.

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 Posted on January 11, 2019 in Divorce

When going through the divorce process, the vast majority of Americans are concerned about their financial well-being, post-divorce, and their eagerness to move forward from the relationship. For parents, however, the divorce process can be the most emotionally stressful time in their lives. When fighting for decision-making power in the lives of their children - whether full, partial, or somewhere in between - parents are sometimes faced with the thought that they may have very little say over their child's life, upbringing, or education. 

Parents who fear that their spouse may make poor decisions may also worry about the potential consequences that their children may face, should they become collateral damage in a negative situation. Fortunately, a quality legal team can assist you in winning custody (the power to have final say over decisions regarding your children) using knowledgeable and aggressive representation.

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 Posted on January 10, 2019 in Domestic Violence

Every single year, more than 10 million Americans face some form of domestic abuse from an intimate partner. For women, domestic abuse from a spouse or partner is incredibly common. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately 1 in 3 American women face some form of physical violence (slapping, punching, pushing, or life-threatening violence) from their intimate partner during their lifetimes. If you are being abused by your spouse, it is important to contact law enforcement officials and seek a way out of the relationship. Fortunately, a quality legal team can help you develop orders of protection and expedite the divorce process.

The Importance of Leaving the Relationship

In cases of domestic violence, many victims let their feelings for the abuser (or fear over the risk of an abuser's retaliation) be the reason they stay. In all reality, outside of increased chances of potentially fatal injuries, repeated domestic violence can only come with harmful ramifications.

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 Posted on January 04, 2019 in Divorce

Taking the step to file for a divorce can be one of the most difficult decisions in your life. Although it can represent a new brighter chapter in your life, the decision to separate can backfire, especially when you proceed without proper legal representation. From securing your marital assets to helping you fight for child custody, a quality family law team can ensure a happy and secure future for you and your family. If you are in the midst of a divorce, picking the right attorney can make all the difference.

Choosing the Right Lawyer

As you begin the divorce process, the most important step you can take is ensuring you choose the "right" attorney. When picking your divorce lawyer it is important to take into account their legal background, the experience of previous clients, your own needs, and your connection with the attorney.

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 Posted on December 28, 2018 in Divorce

When navigating the divorce process, it is common for parties to feel discomfort while going over contentious issues. For many, the most contentious issues revolve around a couple's marital property. Regardless of the economic position of the couple, property division can include nuanced financial portfolios, valuable assets, and land property. As you and your legal team prepare for the divorce process, it is important to first gain an understanding of marital property division.

What Constitutes Marital Property

Here in Illinois, marital assets must be equitably distributed. To be clear, that simply means that all marital property must be divided fairly (not equally). Before a court can make any decision concerning marital assets, they must first determine what property is marital and what property is non-marital.

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 Posted on December 26, 2018 in Divorce

On an annual basis, judges around the country make decisions on thousands of divorce cases. These decisions can have monumental impacts on your life moving forward, from child support and spousal maintenance payments to resource allocation and child custody. While this decision-making process is evidence-based and unbiased, errors can be made. Fortunately, even after a divorce case is finalized, a qualified attorney can help you.

Working for a Brighter Future After Your Divorce

Once your divorce is finalized, many people feel a sense of relief. Yet for those that have decisions go in directions that they do not agree with, the divorce finalization process can bring on a stressful panic. In all reality, divorce finalizations can be challenged, moving forward.

Appeals: If the judge in your divorce case made a mistake, an experienced attorney can guide you through the appeal process. Still, it is important to note that an appeal cannot be made, simply because you are unhappy with the final decisions. If you believe that your family law case was ruled incorrectly, contact a legal team as soon as possible, the vast majority of appeals can only be filed within 30 days of a ruling. Appeals are commonly made regarding issues of marital property valuation, alimony determinations, and parental visitation.

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 Posted on December 21, 2018 in Divorce

When making the difficult decision to file for divorce, people are faced with new and turbulent challenges. In many cases, couples with children do not feel that the other parent should maintain a parental relationship with their children, so they attempt to win sole-custody of the minors involved. A sole-custody victory should be celebrated, but independent parenting can be incredibly challenging and expensive. If you are awarded sole-custody of your children, speak with your attorney about the development of a child support payment plan.

The Importance of Child Support

Of the 13.4 million sole-custody parents living in the United States, just under half of them have child support plans in place to help them care for their children. Child support can make a massive difference for single-parents trying to work and raise children at the same time. Here in the United States, the average child support payments amount to $5,774 annually. Unfortunately, very few sole-custody parents in need of child support receive their payments in full.

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