Blog Posts in June, 2013

Can I Get Legal Guardianship of a Disabled Adult

An adult is considered anyone 18 years of age or older and is expected to be able to take care of themselves mentally, physically, and financially. However, adults who have a mental illness, a decline in mental ability with age, have had a disability since childhood, or those who have a physical ailment, are not fully capable of taking care of themselves and might need legally appointed ...

What Constitutes Abuse?

In 1986, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act set clear definitions and rules when it comes to abuse. This act makes it mandatory for members of law enforcement to protect a victim of abuse. If you are in an abusive marriage and are considering divorce, here are a few things that you need to know. What is Abuse? Physical abuse is punching, hitting, choking, pushing, or any other act of violence. ...

Property Division in Divorce

Property division is one of the most challenging parts of a divorce. The parties usually need the help of an attorney to separate marital property from non-marital property. Marital property is property acquired during the marriage and is subject to equitable division. 750 ILCS 5/503(a) . Non-marital property is property acquired by one party before or during the marriage and kept separate from ...

What is the Difference Between Annulment and Divorce?

There are two different ways to dissolve a marriage; divorce and annulment. The two methods are very different from one another. A divorce terminates a marriage, while an annulment voids the original marriage contract. If you are trying to decide between the two processes, it is important to carefully consider the differences between the two. Many people choose to go the annulment route because ...

Does Divorce Mean Doom For Your Business?

When two people get married, are optimistic about their future together. The thought of the divorce is not usually a topic of discussion. Nonetheless, statistics have shown that more than half of marriages end in divorce, and being prepared in the beginning and discussing divorce planning options is not a bad idea, particularly when the partnership includes a business. Most people would find it ...

What Exactly is Mediation?

According to the Huffington Post , “despite divorce mediation’s well-deserved reputation as a sensible alternative to fighting it out in court,” it seems the general public isn’t so versed as to just what mediation is. Mediation according to the Center for Conflict Resolution at Brigham Young University, is a “negotiation process in which the disputing parties are assisted by a neutral ...

Child Custody Battles in Illinois

Divorce cases always become significantly more complicated when there are children involved. Not only does the court have to deal with the separation of a couple, but it also has to decide which parent would be the best fit to have custody of the child and create a visitation schedule for the other parent. Children can have a say in their own custody, but it is not the determining factor. Mature ...

Facebook Can Help Determine Your Custody Case

Facebook can be a great way to connect with friends and loved ones on a daily basis. However, Facebook can also open doors to the discovery of information that you never realized can ultimately come back to haunt you. A recent study reported that Facebook was mentioned in over 30% of divorce cases last year. It is important to realize what the public forum can mean to your divorce. Many different ...