Throughout a marriage, couples acquire assets, that later are often deemed “marital property”. In the course of a divorce proceeding, if the spouses cannot agree, the court will decide the manner and amount of the division of assets (and debts).…
Pets have always been considered property in the eyes of the law. A new state law, effective January 1, 2018, now allows a judge to determine custody for companion animals within the context of a divorce proceeding. The law, which…
The legal process of divorce can be overwhelming emotionally, especially as it relates to the financial disruption that occurs with the divorce process. Each divorcing person has an interest in protecting their financial future-not just the near term, but also…
The new year brought new laws. One of the most highly publicized, and impactful new laws brought significant changes to the U.S. tax code. If you are an individual seeking divorce you may be affected by this new law. Illinois’s…
The new year brought new laws. One of the most highly publicized, and impactful new laws brought significant changes to the U.S. tax code. If you are an individual seeking divorce, a homeowner or potential home buyer, or a business…
Domestic violence occurs through abusive behavior or violent confrontation against an intimate partner or any other household member (past or present). Being a victim of domestic violence can have far-reaching, lifetime impacts. Domestic violence affects individuals regardless of gender, religion,…
Patient Rights Senate Bill 1564 Health care personnel, physicians or health care facilities are required to provide patients with more comprehensive information that will allow him or her to make informed medical decisions for his or her personal best interest…
In January 2016 amendments were made to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of the Marriage Act. (“IMDMA”). These changes instituted new terminology, words like “custody” and “visitation” have been replaced with terms like “parental responsibility” and “parenting time” to emphasize…
If you are in the midst of a divorce proceeding, but your marriage is not yet dissolved at the end of a calendar year, you may be able to choose Head of Household (HOH) as your filing status. There are…
Recently enacted legislation means that substantial change is coming in the way Illinois courts will handle divorce cases. These new laws will go into effect on January 1, 2016. Currently, in Illinois, there is a distinction between divorces based on…