Posted on February 20, 2022 in Immigration

Each year, thousands of asylum seekers come to the United States to seek refuge due to danger in their native country. The U.S. has traditionally been seen as a haven for those fleeing victimization. However, the process of seeking asylum is complicated. Applications are often denied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), forcing them to go through what is known as defensive asylum processing with the Executive Office of Immigration Review.

Regardless of what immigration method is chosen when attempting to immigrate to the United States, you want to enlist the services of a dedicated immigration lawyer you can trust. Skilled legal guidance is essential in navigating the difficult and time-consuming processes and overcoming the barriers that can serve as a deterrent.

What Is the Defensive Asylum Process?

Defensive asylum processing is the last opportunity afforded to asylum seekers after USCIS has denied an initial attempt at seeking asylum. Only those who are in the midst of the removal process can seek assistance through this route.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 18, 2022 in Family Law

A divorce in and of itself does not have the power to impact your credit score, but many behaviors that are commonly associated with divorce can easily change your financial situation for the worse. Changes to household income, disrupted bill payments, asset division, and debt refinancing can all impact your credit in ways that can affect you for many years to come. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your chances of financial success and protect your credit during and after your Illinois divorce.

Be Aware of Debt Payments

Divorce may legally dissolve your relationship, but it does not legally dissolve your obligation to pay your debts. Even if your divorce decree requires your ex to pay certain debts, if he or she fails to do so on time and the debt is under your name, your credit will take a hit, too. If your ex tends to be financially irresponsible, it may be a good idea to try to ensure the debt is refinanced in one partner’s name. Otherwise, you may want to make the payments yourself and try to recover your ex’s portion later.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 10, 2022 in Personal Injury

Over 30,000 people are killed in car accidents in the U.S. every year. Although the overall trend of car accident fatalities seems to be trending downward, car accidents are still tragically common in Illinois. Even for those who survive serious car accidents, the impact can be devastating. Traumatic head injuries are a common result of car accidents and these injuries can have a major long-term impact on a victim’s health, life enjoyment, employment prospects, and medical needs. If you have been injured in an Illinois car accident, you may need the help of an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.

Common Brain Injuries from Illinois Car Accidents

Brain injuries can be extremely serious, and victims of car accidents should seek medical attention as soon as they realize their head may have been hurt. Some of the most common brain injuries from car accidents include, but are not limited to:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 08, 2022 in Family Law

The home a couple shares throughout their marriage has both sentimental and financial value attached to it. Deciding what to do with the home during a divorce is often a source of great confusion, contention, or heartbreak. Spouses may both want to keep the home but wonder whether they can afford it. At the same time, they may be worried that relocating the children during divorce will be traumatic and cause more problems.

Whether you ultimately end up negotiating to keep the home or selling it and splitting the value, the issue of the home must be dealt with as part of the marital property division. Even transferring the mortgage or title to one spouse’s name can be a complex and time-consuming process, so it is best to begin early. Here are some tips to help you think about the process.

Determine Whether Keeping the Home is Feasible

Before you start assertively negotiating to keep your home, you need to decide whether managing the expenses and upkeep of the house by yourself is plausible or even worth it. Homes are expensive and require extensive maintenance. Unexpected repairs, major upgrades, and even unpredictable natural disasters may be twice as difficult to deal with on one income. Creating a budget to determine the mortgage payments, homeowners’ insurance, and repair costs can help you decide whether you want to keep the home or focus on other priorities.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 07, 2022 in Immigration

Immigrants who are living in the United States are likely to have a variety of concerns about their legal status and their ability to remain in the country. Because of this, some immigrants are hesitant to come forward and report crimes, since they may worry that they could face deportation. However, the U.S. provides some protections for crime victims, including the ability to apply for U visas that will allow a person to stay in the country and receive authorization to work. Immigrants will need to understand the eligibility requirements for these types of visas and the laws and policies that may apply as they seek protection from deportation.

Qualifying for a U Visa

Immigrants who have been the victims of certain types of crimes may be able to receive a U visa if they have information about criminal activity and are willing to assist law enforcement officials as they investigate a crime or prosecute an alleged offender. An immigrant will need to demonstrate that they have experienced physical or emotional abuse because of the crimes that were committed. They must also meet the qualifications to be admissible to the United States, although those who do not meet these requirements may apply for waivers of inadmissibility.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 05, 2022 in Personal Injury

While our natural gas lines are something most of us would prefer never to think about, they tend to turn up problems at the most inconvenient times. Winters in Chicago are notoriously cold and gray, and a malfunctioning gas line may result in a lack of heat or hot water when you need it most. The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that natural gas and petroleum systems are also among the largest man-made contributors of methane in the country.

The worst consequences of leaky or improperly functioning gas lines, however, are not simply inconvenient, uncomfortable, or bad for the environment. Leaking gas lines can present a significant hazard to your health and may even trigger life-threatening gas explosions. Ideally, landlords and property owners are responsive and address gas leaks immediately, but when they do not, serious personal injuries can occur.

How Common Are Gas Line Leaks?

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 27, 2022 in Personal Injury

Winter weather in the Midwest is notorious for being particularly brutal. Snow, ice, and weeks of sub-zero temperatures and no sunshine can work together to create particularly hazardous situations. Come springtime, cracks and holes in damaged sidewalks are common, as is damage to residential buildings like apartment complexes that are frequently made out of bricks and other materials susceptible to erosion. If you are a tenant living in a building with hazardous conditions, you may want to know whether your landlord is responsible for preventing damage from a tenant who might slip, trip, or fall on unsafe premises.

Common Injuries From Slips, Trips, and Falls

Many different conditions may be present on residential premises that present a hazard to the well-being of residents and visitors. For example, if a sidewalk is uneven or has a pothole, a pedestrian could trip and fall. Or perhaps weather damage caused a portion of the side of the building to crumble and fall, leading to hazardous objects in the walkway. Whatever the cause of a slip, trip, or fall, injuries can be numerous and severe. Such injuries may include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 20, 2022 in Immigration

There are a variety of issues that can affect the immigration process. Some of the most serious of these issues involve criminal convictions. U.S. immigration laws state that convictions for “crimes involving moral turpitude” may cause a person to be inadmissible to the United States, or these crimes may be grounds for deportation. By understanding what types of crimes fall into this category and how convictions may play a role in the immigration process, immigrants and their family members can determine the best way to proceed as they work to resolve any issues that affect their ability to enter or remain in the U.S.

What Are Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude?

The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that a person is inadmissible to the United States if they have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude (also known as CIMTs). While the INA does not list any specific crimes that fall into this category, these crimes may include any offenses that could be considered to be depraved or shocking by the general public. Courts have found that a number of different types of crimes may apply, including:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 20, 2022 in Family Law

Divorce orders are complex and legally binding documents. Divorced individuals in Illinois may not necessarily like the contents of their divorce order, but without seeking a modification in court, the order must be followed nonetheless. Many parts of the divorce order have an impact on a divorcee’s everyday life, especially if she shares children with her ex. It is important to understand that violating any part of a divorce order carries legal consequences.

What Happens if I Have Been Charged with Contempt of Court?

Charges for contempt of court usually follow a petition by one former spouse against the other for enforcing a part of the divorce order that a spouse has allegedly broken. Not paying child support or spousal maintenance, violating the terms of a parenting agreement, or failing to make payments on court-ordered division of debt could all lead a person to file such a petition.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 12, 2022 in Immigration

For immigrants who are seeking entry to the United States or those who currently live in the U.S. and wish to obtain an adjustment of status and become lawful permanent residents, there are certain issues that may affect this process. U.S. immigration laws include multiple “grounds for inadmissibility” that may affect an immigrant’s legal status or prevent them from entering or remaining in the United States. However, there are some cases where immigrants may be able to obtain waivers of inadmissibility. By understanding when these waivers may be available and the procedures to follow when applying for a waiver, immigrants and their family members can make sure they are taking the correct steps to overcome any issues that may affect the immigration process.

Waivers for Different Grounds of Inadmissibility

While immigration laws may prevent a person from being legally admitted to the United States in certain situations, there are some cases where exceptions may apply. Waivers may be available in situations where a person is inadmissible due to issues such as:

Continue Reading ››