Month: January 2014

Family law cases can be emotional, typically involving fathers, daughters, mothers, and sons. They can also involve a wide variety of different legal issues, including ones affected by cultural, jurisdiction, and procedural issues. The cultural aspects in particular...

Divorce is a big decision. Even when it is the right decision, it still involves a significant change in the lives of the spouses. When children are involved, the parents are not the only ones that have to adapt to a new future. Making sure that decisions are made...

Money is a key factor in every Illinois marriage. While couples approaching the altar often want to just focus on their relationship, the reality is that money will affect that relationship. One of the most common arguments that married couples have is over financial...

One of the most important things that any country can do is ensure that the children are well taken care of. Of course, who should do the caregiving is often a matter of dispute. Illinois, like other states, has a high number of child custody cases. One interesting...

Celebrities and business people who make a lot of money often sign premarital contracts. These typically ensure that the earnings of each is protected in the event of a divorce. When there is no premarital contract, that protection doesn't exist, and property division...

Divorce affects couples across the country. The divorce rate soared in the 20th century and remains high in the 21st, with approximately half of marriages splitting up. This trend affects celebrity couples just as frequently as it does those that aren't famous. One...

Every state has a default effective date for new laws. The date generally falls a couple of months after the legislature adjourns, to give agencies a chance to write any necessary regulations and, of course, to simplify the lawmaking process; it may or may not...

A number of new laws went into effect in Illinois on Jan. 1 that relate to families and family law. One of our favorites is HB0129, the law allowing school boards all over the state to declare the first Monday of October "Take Your Parents to School Day." The...

Judges in Illinois often have very full schedules, typically hearing a wide variety of cases throughout each week. They also have numerous research and organizational duties, meetings with staff and communications with others in the legal profession. Some work...

The question of who is responsible for children is a key one in society. Child custody issues often dominate divorce cases, including those in Illinois. These issues also come up when parents surrender their children voluntarily. Many parents in Illinois have been...