Posted on July 19, 2016 in Family Law

When a divorce happens, everyone in the family is affected. However, children are often the most at risk for long-term emotional problems and maladjustment. This is especially true when conflict continues after the divorce is complete. You can minimize the risk to your children by developing a well-planned, thoughtful, and intentional parenting plan that reduces conflict and encourages a healthy, lasting relationship with the other parent. Of course, this is often easier said than done. To help you get started, here are some of the most commonly used parenting plan structures.

Traditional Co-Parenting Plans

Most parents are familiar with the traditional co-parenting plan. It is one in which the allocation of parental responsibilities follows a predictable schedule, and both parents have equal (or close to equal) decision-making power. Of course, this can look very different from one family to the next. Whereas one family might switch off time with their child on a weekly basis, others might alternate holidays and weekends. Some may even switch off a couple of times throughout the week. This parenting plan is often most beneficial for parents who can communicate effectively.

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 Posted on July 12, 2016 in Family Law

When it comes to divorce in Illinois, marital property is divided equitably, but not necessarily equally. This can result in a great deal of contention, and even confusion over who gets what out of a divorce. If you are separated, planning on filing for divorce, or have already begun the process, the following information can help you better understand how marital property is divided in divorce.

Marital Factors That Influence Property Distribution

Once the assets and debts have been valued in a divorce, couples can begin to negotiate a reasonable settlement regarding how the marital estate can be distributed. However, those that are unable to reach an agreement may take the matter to court. Here, a judge will consider several factors to determine how marital property should be distributed. These include:

• Each party’s income, property, and assets;
• Needs of each party;

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 Posted on July 08, 2016 in Personal Injury

Drivers who train to operate large tractor trailers are required to know the nuances of how to safely drive the truck. There are more levels of techniques over and beyond that used to operate regular cars or SUV’s. And while fender benders can run the gamut in terms of severity, if you are in a car, the risk of an impact from a truck is much worse. In 2010, Illinois reported 2,569 Injuries in Crashes Involving Large Trucks.

If your loved one has been hurt in an accident involving a truck, you should seek legal assistance. If it turns out that the truck driver was negligent in their operation of the vehicle, and that is what contributed to the accident, compensation may be awarded. Call a personal injury attorney to establish whether a case can be made.

Commercial Driving Techniques

A commercial driver’s license is required for drivers of heavier vehicles because their operation and handling is significantly different to that of a car. That being the case, truck drivers have to be more aware of the techniques they need to employ for the safe operation of their vehicle.

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 Posted on July 05, 2016 in Immigration

The rules of claiming citizenship, if one is not born in the United States, are very complex for most people. It does sometimes lead to situations where one becomes confused, even about their own immigration status. It also can lead to unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of inefficient regulations. If you or a loved one have intentionally or unintentionally claimed U.S. citizenship when you have not been entitled to do so, it may carry serious consequences for you or even for your family.

Honest Mistakes

People unintentionally claiming U.S. citizenship happens far more often than most people think. It is a common mistake among young people, who are often taken to the U.S. from their home country when they are too young to remember or be aware of immigration regulations. Their parents may also have taken steps to get them a Social Security (SS) card or to otherwise shore up the idea that they are citizens, thinking it will make their lives easier. When their Social Security card turns out to be invalid, it can be a very rude awakening - though the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that if someone does not knowingly steal another’s SS number, it is not a crime (but still an immigration violation).

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 Posted on July 05, 2016 in Family Law

Every year, changes and modifications are made to existing laws. Oftentimes, they are made to ensure current laws reflect the needs and situations experienced by today’s members of society. Other times, changes are made to improve how the system functions, or to better define our laws. Both prompted the most recent changes to Illinois family state laws. Understand what these charges are, and what they mean for your divorce, custody, or family law case.

No-Fault Divorce Seeks to Reduce Contention

Prior to 2016, couples often filed for divorce based upon reason or circumstances. The new laws eliminated these reasons, including the popular “heart balm” divorce options like spousal alienation and infidelity. Now there is only no-fault divorce – a simple, clear-cut filing that couples can use to indicate that, for one reason or another, the marriage broke down and cannot be resolved. The theory is that, by removing fault and finger-pointing, couples could focus on the legal aspects of their divorce instead of getting into arguments about who wronged whom. In short, the change was meant to reduce contention during divorce, both in and out of the courtroom.

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 Posted on June 29, 2016 in Family Law

There is no shortage of do-it-yourself divorce information on the internet. You can even download forms for little to nothing. Now, there are smartphone applications that claim they can help you successfully achieve a divorce. But do these options actually deliver? More importantly, should you even attempt to go through with a do-it-yourself divorce? Once you know the risks and dangers, the truth is that these do-it-yourself options often seem less appealing.

Do-It-Yourself Divorce Mistakes

Divorce attorneys spend years going to school to learn the complexities of the law. Once they graduate, committed attorneys continue their education by constantly staying informed and on top of all changes, modifications, and new limitations in their state. Logically speaking, all of this time and effort would simply be a waste if a divorce were easy. Furthermore, there would be no need to pursue years of education to simply fill out and file a few forms.

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 Posted on June 24, 2016 in Personal Injury

Weekly trips to the grocery store are a common routine for many individuals. For those who like to purchase fresh produce, or pick up ingredients for a last minute dinner plan, trips to the store can occur frequently. Moreover, fighting traffic, encountering distracted drivers, and attempting to find a parking spot can turn into a mission, or even an accident. Yet, what if the real danger lurked inside the actual store?

Stores Taking Stock of Their Premises

According to the U.S. Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration, slips, trips, and falls account for 15 percent of all accidental deaths, and these accidents are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.

Grocery and retail store owners often neglect basic cautionary steps to keep their premises safe, yet any business that invites the public onto its premises is obligated to take certain steps to keep customers protected from harmful situations.

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 Posted on June 23, 2016 in Immigration

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) maintained a directive referred to as Secure Communities (Secomm for short) between 2008 and 2014. This program professed to establish a new direction for U.S. immigration enforcement, largely by enlisting local and state police to help detain and deport undocumented immigrants. However, it steadily declined in popularity after implementation, with the program eventually being discontinued in favor of a new initiative, the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP). Modifications have been made; however, if you or a loved one is undocumented, it is still something of which you need to be aware.

How it Works

Many of PEP’s primary features do vary greatly from those in place under Secomm. If someone is arrested by state or local authorities for a criminal violation, then the fingerprints and biometrics taken at that time are forwarded to both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and ICE. A hit at either agency may raise the urgency to deport that individual.

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 Posted on June 20, 2016 in Family Law

Divorce can be messy, full of anger and resentment, and emotionally trying on all involved. But children are especially prone to feeling like they are “caught in the middle.” This can lead to difficulties in emotional adjustment that may lead to a battery of issues, including depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and difficulties at school. According to experts, parents may be able to prevent such maladjustments through attentive, supportive, and compassionate parenting.

The Need to Compete

Couples going through divorce experience a lot of emotions: grief, feelings of betrayal, anger, frustration. Those feelings, which are sometimes paired with a desire to “win” the divorce, can lead to feeling as though you have to compete for your child’s love or affection, that by expressing love or affection for the other parent, they are somehow discounting you. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your child loves both you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse, which means their affection for one does not diminish their love for the other. So, when you feel the need to compete, remember that no one wins in the end: not you, not your ex, and certainly not your child.

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 Posted on June 17, 2016 in Personal Injury

The unfortunate circumstances that surround car accidents are multi-faceted and can end up impacting more than just the driver and immediate passenger(s). Any driver involved in a crash is affected in some way, no matter how minor or major the damage. Crash aftermath is overwhelming from start to finish, as those affected are faced with everything from auto insurance claims and hospital bills to blemishes on their driving records.

A Limited Window of Opportunity

What is often the most troublesome factor for those involved in a car crash, however, is the burden of any personal injuries incurred. Even mild injuries can mean serious repercussions for the driver at fault, and what might seem like a small injury at first can often times turn out to be a serious injury just days or weeks following the accident, thanks to the human body’s response to shock and its delay in registering certain aches and pains. This is why bodily injury claims (and how quickly you handle them) after the crash are so important.

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