Posted on June 05, 2018 in Immigration

Whether an immigrant is documented or undocumented, he or she may one day receive what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) calls a Notice To Appear (NTA). Receiving an NTA does not automatically mean that someone is going to be deported, but it does alert the recipient that there has been an alleged violation of immigration law. If you receive an NTA, it is imperative that you understand what it actually means, and why you may be on the proverbial hook. If you do not, it will harm your ability to put on a good defense.

Potential Outcomes

The sole reason why you might receive an NTA is because the U.S. government believes you are removable (deportable) from the country, for whatever legal reason. This does not only apply to undocumented immigrants; if someone enters the country legally and then overstays, or has committed a crime, he or she may also become removable. He or she will also receive an NTA if his or her situation requires it. The “appear” in the Notice To Appear is an advisory that you are permitted to plead your case before a judge, and to articulate any special circumstances.

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 Posted on June 05, 2018 in Personal Injury

Truck accidents often result in fatal injuries in DuPage County and throughout Illinois. As the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) explains, when big rigs are involved in collisions with smaller passenger vehicles, those passenger vehicle occupants often suffer life-threatening or fatal injuries since trucks weigh anywhere from twenty to thirty times as much as a smaller passenger vehicle and have a greater ground clearance.

Truck collisions often occur because of driver error—as a result of negligent driving, which often involves drowsy driving—and can also happen if a truck is not properly maintained or is improperly loaded.

According to a recent article in the Belleville News-Democrat, Illinois State Police have been focusing on semi-truck safety by making random stops to check the truck and its driver for any safety concerns.

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 Posted on May 31, 2018 in Family Law

If you have recently divorced, you are likely wondering how your job as a parent must change. Fortunately, it does not have to change. Instead, you will need to focus on how to make the divorce an easier transition for your children and try to work together with your children’s other parent to provide your children with the high quality of life they deserve. Here are some valuable tips that can help your children adjust to divorce.

1. Ensure Consistency

As your children travel back and forth between two homes, it is crucial for them to understand exactly what your expectations are. Make sure you and your ex-spouse take the time to create a unified set of rules. Their bedtime should be the same time at your home as it is at the other parent’s house. By ensuring consistency, your children will strive to meet your expectations.

2. Do Not Speak Poorly About the Other Parent

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 Posted on May 24, 2018 in Personal Injury

How frequently do trucking crashes occur in DuPage County, and do current laws and regulations have any impact on the rate of truck collisions in the state of Illinois?

A change to Illinois’s truck inspection laws took effect on January 1, 2018, and some safety advocates argue that it could lessen roadway safety in the state. Oppositely, regulators are moving to do away with side-view mirrors on large trucks and to replace them with more advanced technology to help truckers stay safe on the road.

If new inspection laws are in fact resulting in more collisions, could changes to side-mirror regulations help to reduce the overall rate of crashes?

Large Trucks Only Need to Be Inspected Once Every Year

According to a report from Peoria Public Radio, a new trucking industry law took effect at the beginning of this calendar year, and it gives certain truck drivers in Illinois a break when it comes to safety inspections. The new law means that large trucks traveling only in Illinois are no longer required to have inspections twice per year. Instead, for the last several months, those trucks have been on a once-per-year inspection schedule.

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 Posted on May 24, 2018 in Immigration

When a foreign national marries a U.S. citizen, they normally either do so abroad and enter the U.S. as a married couple, or they apply for a K visa for the fiance(e) and they enter and immediately marry.

Once the couple is married, the foreign national may apply for a green card (lawful permanent resident, or LPR) status based on the marriage. However, this is not immediately granted—in most if not all cases, a new foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen will receive what is called a conditional green card, with certain criteria that must be met after a two-year period. Only then will the conditions be removed.

Marriage Fraud is a Concern

While some might wonder why new foreign spouses are subject to this two-year conditional period, the answer is that marriage fraud is and has been a significant concern to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). While it is not often prosecuted to its fullest extent, individuals whose marriages are held to be illegitimate will face fines, possible jail time, and deportation for the foreign spouse upon the conclusion of any prison time. Some think that sham marriages are a victimless crime; however, in reality, these marriages can be a way for terrorists and foreign intelligence officers to enter the country. Thus, it is taken very seriously.

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 Posted on May 24, 2018 in Family Law

If you are going through a divorce and have children, there are a number of important decisions you need to make. You have to determine where your children will live and how frequently they will spend time with their non-custodial parent.

Child support payments will also have to be arranged. While you may know that child support covers a food, water, shelter, and other basics, you may wonder who is responsible for paying for extracurricular activities during a divorce.

How Child Support Works

During a divorce that involves children, one parent typically has full custody of the children while the other parent has visitation rights. In addition, the non-custodial parent will also likely be required to pay child support to the parent who has full custody to provide them with financial support.

Child support payments allow children to maintain the lifestyle they enjoyed when their parents were married. Although these payments do cover basic necessities, they can also be used for extras in life such as sports, art classes, music lessons, and other extracurricular activities children may participate in.

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 Posted on May 19, 2018 in Personal Injury

How often are elderly drivers involved in auto accidents in DuPage County? And are older drivers more often the cause of serious traffic collisions than younger adult drivers? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2015 there were approximately 40 million drivers on the road aged 65 and older across the United States. While the CDC emphasizes that retaining a driver’s license can help a senior to “stay independent and mobile,” there are also downsides. To be sure, the risk of being hurt or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases as you get older.

What should Lombard drivers know about aging and age-related car accident risks?

Getting the Facts About Older Adults and Traffic Collisions

The CDC provides facts and figures about older adults and traffic collisions, including the following:

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 Posted on May 18, 2018 in Immigration

On March 12, 2018, a lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco by representatives of immigrants from four countries, alleging that the end to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was racially motivated. Immigrants from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti and Sudan filed in the Northern District of California seeking a reinstatement of TPS, or alternatively, a stay that would allow those with minor children of school age to remain until graduation. This is the third suit filed challenging the program’s end. While the decision will take time, these suits could wind up ultimately affecting TPS holders for the better.

TPS Provides Safety

Temporary Protected Status is a status granted by the Department of Homeland Security (formerly by the Attorney General) to nationals of countries deemed to have been affected by natural disasters or war to an extent where the country’s infrastructure has broken down. As of this writing, there are 10 countries whose nationals have TPS—Haiti, El Salvador, Somalia, Nicaragua, Nepal, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Honduras. All these countries have experienced either significant natural disasters, such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal, or periods of civil war or unrest, such as in Somalia or El Salvador.

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 Posted on May 17, 2018 in Family Law

Divorce is difficult for children of all ages. However, it is particularly challenging for teenagers who are facing peer pressure and balancing school, extracurricular activities, college applications, and a social life.

If you do not help your teen cope with divorce, you may notice poor grades, sleeping issues, increased stress, depression, substance abuse, and behavioral problems. By following these tips, you can make divorce easier for your teen and ensure it does not harm their current life and future:

1. Encourage Your Child to Stay Busy

When your child is busy and involved in academic and social activities, they will be able to take their mind off of the divorce and focus on their own life. Encourage your child to stay busy and help them fill their calendar with fun and meaningful hobbies, activities, and events.

2. Seek Professional Help

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 Posted on May 10, 2018 in Family Law

Adoption is a familiar term that most people understand. However, guardianship is less known even though it is a popular alternative to adoption. In Illinois and other states, you can seek legal guardianship of a child who is under 18 years of age. Let’s take a closer look at how adoption and legal guardianship are similar and different.

Similarities

If you become the guardian of a minor child, you have the legal authority to act as the child’s part in every area of their life. You are now the one responsible for providing for them financially and making important decisions about their life. An adoption is similar in that it will also provide you with the authority a biological parent would have.

It is important to note that in Illinois, adoptions and legal guardianships are only granted if the child’s birth parents give consent, are incapable of caring for and providing for the child, have passed away, or cannot be found.

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