Posted on July 13, 2018 in Family Law

If you are getting divorced, you may be worried about the high expenses you may face. After all, attorney’s fees, court costs, and other expenses can take a toll on your finances. Fortunately, however, there are ways you can reduce costs in your divorce case. Here are five money saving tips you should keep in mind:

1. Stay Organized

You can reduce how often you need to consult your lawyer and save money on your divorce by simply staying organized. Keep all of your important documents tidy and make sure they can be accessed easily. Remember that the more time you spend calling your lawyer to ask questions about paperwork you cannot find, the more money you will spend.

2. Be Collaborative

The most expensive divorce cases are the ones that involve couples who cannot agree on anything. If you make an effort to work with your spouse, you can avoid a long, drawn out divorce that could hinder your finances. By coming to agreements with your spouse, you can save thousands on attorney fees and court costs.

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 Posted on July 12, 2018 in Immigration

Many immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years make the decision to become naturalized citizens. In order to naturalize, a person must go through an interview in addition to submitting an application and documentation. However, some applicants are not able to meet the criteria and accommodations must be sought. If you are disabled or otherwise unable to meet one of the requirements for the interview, there is a procedure that must be followed.

General Accommodations & Exceptions

While age or other certain conditions are not considered disabilities, per se, it is possible sometimes to seek accommodation for an elderly applicant or for someone who has another condition that may not rise to the level of medical disability.

Age is perhaps the most common reason why people seek accommodation, and U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) does grant certain exemptions and workarounds to the elderly. For example, if a person is over the age of 50 and has lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for 20 years or more, then he or she is exempt from taking the otherwise-required English language tests.

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 Posted on July 12, 2018 in Personal Injury

Earlier this spring, a self-driving car struck and killed a woman, and it made national news. News about the deadly pedestrian accident involving an autonomous vehicle has increased the public’s concerns about the safety of self-driving cars. Can autonomous technology really prevent auto accidents, or do we need to be more concerned about software mistakes and other technological errors that could lead to deadly collisions between self-driving vehicles and pedestrians?

According to a recent article in U.S. News & World Report, drivers are more skeptical than ever of the safety value of self-driving cars, and many believe that they are likely to cause more car crashes than to prevent them. The study reports that, in order for people to trust autonomous technology, they would need evidence that it is significantly safer than human drivers.

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 Posted on July 06, 2018 in Family Law

If you are a single parent, you may find time management challenging. Fortunately, we have compiled this handy list of time management skills to help you save time and stress as you follow your parenting plan and try to juggle your other duties.

1. Do Not Be a Perfectionist

You should accept the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. By trying to be perfect, you can add more stress to your life. Rather than being a perfectionist, strive to be good enough. If you forget to do something or are unable to complete a task, tell yourself it is okay and move on.

2. Opt for Grocery Delivery

Shopping for groceries can take up a great deal of your precious time and energy. If you would prefer to skip the grocery store every week, consider investing in a grocery delivery service. You can order your groceries online and have them delivered right to your doorstep.

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 Posted on July 03, 2018 in Immigration

On April 17, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Sessions v. Dimaya, which effectively struck down a law called the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) as being void for vagueness. In other words, the provisions of ACCA that had been used to render immigrants deportable were held to be too vague to be used as applicable immigration law. The question many might ask is whether or not this ruling could affect pending cases before an immigration judge.

Aggravated Felonies and ACCA

The Armed Career Criminal Act was passed in 1984, and it grants the power to courts to impose additional sentence enhancements on felons who commit three or more violent felonies or “serious drug offenses,” allowing for a 15-year minimum instead of a 10-year minimum. This law’s residual clause has also been construed as holding that immigrants who qualify for sentencing enhancements under the ACCA are removable, because ‘crimes of violence’ or violent felonies almost always qualify as deportable offenses under the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA).

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 Posted on July 03, 2018 in Personal Injury

If you are planning a family road trip this summer that takes you away from DuPage County, it is important to consider the risks of a serious car accident while you are on the road. No one plans for a devastating motor vehicle collision, but they happen more often than most of us assume, and they frequently occur because of another driver’s negligence.

While negligence can take many forms, one of the more frequent reasons for crashes during extended road trips is drowsy driving. It is more difficult for a driver to stay alert—and to stay awake—behind the wheel after hours on the road without a break. According to a recent article in the Claims Journal, auto accidents caused by drowsy driving are more likely to occur farther away from rest stops.

Rest Areas Help to Prevent Fatigued Driving Crashes on Highways

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 Posted on June 29, 2018 in Family Law

When you make the decision to go through a divorce, you may be wondering where you should live. The answer to this question depends on the circumstances of your particular case. Let’s take a closer look at all of your living options.

Remain in the Marital Home

In most cases, one spouse stays in the marital home while the other spouse moves out. This is particularly true if children are involved. However, figuring out which spouse gets to stay in the home and which one needs to move out is rarely an easy task.

Since your home is likely your largest investment and most prized possession, it can be difficult for you to leave it. Be sure to remember that even if you do move out during the divorce process, the ownership of the home will not be finalized until the property division has been negotiated in your divorce settlement. Therefore, moving out of your home during divorce does not necessarily mean you are handing it over to your spouse.

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 Posted on June 26, 2018 in Immigration

When someone enters the United States, he or she either does so at an inspection point, like an airport or shipyard, or he or she enters without inspection, by slipping over a border. Entering without inspection (EWI) does make someone undocumented, but many people become confused about the true meaning of EWI and its potential immigration consequences.

Inadmissible vs. Removable

One of the most important misconceptions about EWI is what it means to one’s immigration status. If someone is lawfully present in the U.S. and commits a crime or overstays his or her visa, then he or she becomes removable. In other words, he or she is able to be removed from the country. However, someone who has never been lawfully present in the U.S. cannot technically be removable, because he or she is legally not present. He or she is deemed to be inadmissible instead — one of many grounds for inadmissibility listed in U.S. immigration law.

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 Posted on June 26, 2018 in Personal Injury

While Illinois certainly is not a state on the ocean, many Lombard residents routinely spend summer vacations boating on Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes. However, sometimes people do not think about the serious boat accident risks that can arise when out on the water. Boats are motor vehicles. Therefore, if people are not careful, serious crashes can lead to life-threatening personal injuries.

Always Wearing a Life Jacket on the Water

The National Safe Boating Council recently introduced a campaign called “Wear It,” which encourages anyone who plans to go boating to take the “Life Jacket Pledge.” What is the pledge? In short, it is a promise to be safe and responsible out on the water. Safety means always wearing a life jacket. Those who take the pledge agree to the following:

“I will always wear my life jacket while boating or fishing, and encourage others to do the same! I’ll regularly inspect my life jacket and keep it in good condition.”

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 Posted on June 22, 2018 in Family Law

You have the right to privacy. If you are going through a divorce and suspect you have no privacy because your soon to be ex is spying on you, there are ways you can stop this behavior. Regardless of whether you are trying to hide something or not, a spying partner can cause complex issues in a divorce.

Why Does Spying Occur?

There are a variety of reasons your soon to be ex may spy on you. If they believe you are cheating on them, they will likely snoop. Your soon to be ex may also spy in order to find out how you spend your time, who you associate with, and how you are spending money.

Most of the time, spying occurs to gather evidence that can be used against a spouse in court. If your spouse finds information that could hurt your case and reveals it at court but hides the evidence, they may significantly hinder your case.

Ways to Protect Yourself from Spying

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