Posted on February 26, 2024 in Family Law

Getting married is a significant life event filled with love, excitement, and hope for the future. While contemplating the possibility of divorce may not be a pleasant thought, considering a prenuptial agreement can offer numerous benefits and provide peace of mind for both partners. The following are some of the most common reasons couples draw up a prenup. To learn more, contact an Illinois family law attorney.

Asset Protection

One of the most common reasons a couple decides to sign a prenuptial agreement is to protect their assets. Whether you have built substantial wealth before marriage through investments, real estate, or business ownership, or if you anticipate inheriting assets in the future, a prenup can establish clear guidelines for how these assets will be managed and divided if you and your spouse divorce.

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 Posted on February 21, 2024 in Immigration

One of the most exciting times for immigrants is submitting their citizenship application. Unfortunately, there are situations where a person’s application gets denied. If this happens, the individual may worry that this will also mean their Green Card will be canceled. However, it is essential to understand that obtaining permanent residency and obtaining citizenship are two distinct processes, having their own requirements, procedures, and eligibility criteria. If your citizenship application has been denied, it is critical to contact an Illinois immigration lawyer for legal assistance.

What Are the Differences Between Permanent Residency and Citizenship?

When someone is granted permanent residency, they are given a Green Card. This card gives you the right to live and work permanently in the United States. There are several ways you can obtain a Green Card, including:

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 Posted on February 20, 2024 in Personal Injury

Many people know that if they are injured on someone’s property due to the owner’s negligence, Illinois law allows them to pursue a premises liability claim to recover damages for the losses their injuries have caused. These lawsuits typically involve injuries from slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and building code violations. However, people may not be aware that injured individuals can also pursue legal action if they were injured due to insufficient security by the property owner or business. An Illinois personal injury lawyer can help.

What Is an Insufficient Security Lawsuit?

An insufficient security lawsuit is a type of legal action brought against a property owner, business, or other entity responsible for premises where inadequate security measures have resulted in harm to individuals. These lawsuits typically arise when someone is injured or becomes a victim of criminal activity, such as assault, robbery, or vandalism, due to the property owner’s failure to provide adequate security.

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 Posted on February 12, 2024 in Immigration

Every month, the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) releases its Immigrant Visa Backlog Report. This report contains information regarding the status of worldwide visa operations. It includes the number of documentarily complete immigrant visa cases currently at the NVC, ready to have their visa interviews scheduled, and the number of cases that have scheduled interviews for the current month.

According to the data released for January 2024, the NVC had 380,407 cases that were documentarily complete and ready to be scheduled for an interview and 42,151 cases that have scheduled interviews in the month of February. If you have questions about your visa application, contact an Illinois immigration lawyer.

What Is Documentary Completeness?

Documentary completeness in the context of a visa application refers to submitting all required forms, supporting evidence, and fees necessary for the application process to proceed smoothly. Achieving documentary completeness is crucial because any missing or incomplete information can delay the processing of the application or even result in its rejection.

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 Posted on February 08, 2024 in Personal Injury

Childbirth is supposed to be a natural process, and in many situations, it is. However, there are situations where modern medical interventions are needed to ensure the health and well-being of both mother and baby. One of the most common of these interventions is Pitocin, which is used to induce labor. Unfortunately, while the drug can be beneficial, its use also carries significant dangers and risks. An Illinois birth injury lawyer explains some of those risks below.

Reasons to Induce Labor

When a pregnant woman is ready to give birth, her body releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the muscles of the uterus to contract. The hormone also increases the production of prostaglandins, which increases contractions of the uterus. There are situations where a doctor feels that the need to induce labor is necessary. Reasons can include:

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 Posted on February 05, 2024 in Family Law

Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow judges to issue search warrants with orders of protection to remove any guns in possession of the abusers. Nothing under Illinois law currently provides specific guidance to the courts and law enforcement. Despite this lack of guidance, the bill failed twice in last year’s legislative session. Anyone who is a domestic violence survivor should speak with an Illinois family lawyer to find out what steps they can take to protect themselves and their families.

What Is an Order of Protection?

In Illinois, an order of protection is a legal document issued by the courts to protect individuals from harassment, abuse, or threats from another person. It is typically issued in cases of domestic or family violence, stalking, harassment, or other forms of intimidation.

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 Posted on January 30, 2024 in Family Law

Many divorces involve the division of assets and property the couple has acquired during the marriage. Although that usually involves financial accounts (i.e., checking, savings, 401(k)), real estate (i.e., marital home), and other property (i.e., vehicles, boats), there are other assets that should be included in the marital estate division that a lot of couples do not realize. The following is an overview of some of those assets. For more detailed information if you are ending your marriage, contact an Illinois divorce lawyer.

Frequent Flyer Miles and Rewards Points

In today's world, many couples accumulate significant amounts of frequent flyer miles, hotel rewards points, and other travel-related perks. These assets can be valuable, especially for people who travel frequently for work or pleasure. In a divorce, these rewards can be divided or assigned to one spouse, but their value must be included in the marital estate.

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 Posted on January 24, 2024 in Immigration

For a non-U.S. citizen to lawfully enter the United States, they must obtain a visa from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The type of visa issued depends on the reason the individual wishes to enter. The following are the different types and the requirements to apply. For more detailed information about your situation, contact an Illinois immigration lawyer.  

Family-Based Visas

Family-based visas are designed for family reunification. To qualify for this type of visa, the applicant needs sponsorship from a family member who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. The sponsor must show that they have the ability to support the applicant financially.

Employment-Based Immigrant Visas

Employment-based immigrant visas are for people seeking professional and employment opportunities in the United States. A job offer from a qualified employer is mandatory, and certain visas may have specific skill or education requirements.

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 Posted on January 23, 2024 in Personal Injury

Texting and driving is illegal in Illinois, yet almost 10,000 distracted driving crashes occur each year in the state, with texting being a factor in many of those accidents. Proving that an at-fault driver was texting at the time of a car accident can be challenging, but it is not impossible. If you have been injured in a distracted driving accident, the following are some of the ways an Illinois personal injury lawyer can prove the other driver was engaged in texting when the crash happened.

Police Report and Witness Statements

Even if the crash appears minor, law enforcement should be called to come to the accident scene. The responding officer will be required to file a police report, and that report can be a key piece of evidence in proving liability.

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 Posted on January 13, 2024 in Immigration

When you are applying for any type of visa or U.S. citizenship, you not only have to provide specific documents with your application, but you also have to pay a fee. Each type of visa application has its own fee, with the prices varying depending on the type of visa you are applying for. One of the most frustrating factors to deal with when you are applying for a visa is the duration it takes for that application to be processed, however, there are certain types of visas where you can pay an extra fee for premium processing to accelerate that processing time.

Every two years, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is required to review its fees to determine if adjustments should be made. The last time there was an increase in premium processing fees was in 2016; however, that all changes in February when significant increases take effect. The following is an overview of these increases. For more detailed information about your particular situation, it is best to contact an Illinois immigration lawyer.

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