Posted on January 04, 2016 in Family Law

There are a number of reasons that couples may divorce: infidelity, disagreements about children, in-laws . . . the list is endless, really. However, experts have long-thought there to be one very important predictor when calculating a couple’s risk for divorce, and it just so happens to be an issue that any couple can—and likely will—face at some point in their marriage: money troubles.

Money Problems: Not Just for the Financially Troubled

While most people assume that money troubles are restricted to financially troubled couples, the truth is that money problems often extend to couples well within the middle income and higher income brackets. In fact, financially secure couples are often more likely to experience arguments about finances because they have the means to commit financial infidelity, whereas financially troubled couples often do not.

In financial infidelity, one spouse or the other has a financial secret — it could be a credit card (or a few), a bank account, a loan, or any other form of credit. Experts say that, oftentimes, these secret accounts are created to avoid arguments about money and spending habits. And at least one out of 10 say they do so because they feel their spouse is a “financial bully” who controls assets, sets budgets, or restricts spending in an unfair way.

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 Posted on December 30, 2015 in Personal Injury

With the cooperation of El Nino, The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting a winter with typically above normal temperatures and lower amounts of snowfall. Although many may welcome this as wonderful news, there will be a time when driving conditions may worsen as winter looms on the Windy City’s horizon.

As many Chicagoans brace for even the hint of winter, NBC News recently offered various safe winter driving tips that may help when winter weather does touch down.

As noted by the news organization, November through March can be quite challenging when it comes to winter driving. Highways become jammed with Snowbirds heading south, business travels, winter sport enthusiasts, holiday vacationers, foreign visitors, and traveling students.

If your winter plans include joining in on the fun, NBC News offers the following safety tips to not only ease your winter driving concerns but to safeguard you against an unpredictable car accident.

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 Posted on December 30, 2015 in Immigration

To many people, family is absolutely everything. However, sometimes people have to leave family behind when immigrating to the United States due to legal obstacles, timing, or simply because they are unaware of the methods they could use to bring their families over. If you are in a similar position, it is generally a good idea to research all of your potential options.

Spouses and Children

Spouses and children are by far the most common family members that accompany immigrants into the United States. Most non-immigrant visas, such as H1B and L classifications, allow a person to bring his or her spouse and children with him or her on derivative visas. Most derivative statuses allow a spouse and children to remain for the duration of the primary visa, but do not grant any benefits such as the ability to apply for work authorization. There are, however, a few select visas under which derivative holders are entitled to benefits—H1B visas are an example of this, with H4 visa holders only recently being permitted to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) as of early 2015.

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 Posted on December 30, 2015 in Family Law

With the holiday season officially coming to a close, we are headed into a time when divorce rates are the highest. Unfortunately, many couples are also recovering from the end-of-year financial burdens, which can sometimes lead to taking tempting but dangerous shortcuts in filing. Avoid making this common mistake by knowing which cost-cutting options are a good idea, and which are best avoided.

Manage the Details in a Peaceable Manner

Long, drawn out divorce battles can end up costing thousands of dollars in attorney and court fees. Alternatively, there are couples who try to go at it without the help of an attorney and then end up regretting the decision later when the negotiations get out of control. Avoid both of these issues through either divorce mediation (one attorney serves as a third-party negotiator) or collaborative divorce (each couple hires their own attorney but chooses to work cooperatively to achieve an uncontested divorce).

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 Posted on December 22, 2015 in Family Law

Holidays are a time for family and fond memories, which might give at least a partial explanation as to why many couples wait until after the holidays to announce a divorce. Indeed, studies suggest that the majority of couples who are planning to divorce end up adopting a peacekeeping arrangement and, instead of moving forward with an impending divorce, they behave as though everything is normal. Experts call it the calm before the storm.

“Divorce Month”

In 2012, an analysis of divorce filings across the United States was done. The conclusion was that divorces typically spike in January, right after the holidays, and then hit a peak in late March. This led to the researchers declaring March “Divorce Month,” which continues to remain the month in which most U.S. divorces are filed. To understand this trend, experts have considered a number of possible factors, namely cost.

Cost Considered a Factor

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 Posted on December 22, 2015 in Immigration

Many people do not wind up in the United States of their own volition. Rather, they are brought here by traffickers, or come into the country to marry someone who them abuses them. If a foreign national is brought to the United States as a result of a crime, or becomes a crime victim while living in the country, he or she may have immigration recourse that can separate him or her from their abuser.

U Visas

The U visa is perhaps the most common way that victims of crimes are able to stay in the United States after their experiences. U visas are awarded to victims who have been mentally or physically abused, and have been able to aid law enforcement in the “investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.” The program began in 2000 as a way to both help law enforcement agencies crack down on crime, and to help vulnerable people get into safer situations.

There are six criteria that one must meet in order to be eligible to apply and include the following:

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 Posted on December 17, 2015 in Personal Injury

Pregnancy and childbirth are two very special experiences in a women’s life. Both should be treated with care. Unfortunately, several events can occur that can harm mother and baby, most notably during labor and delivery.

Medical advances, such as scans and analysis of amniotic fluid, have enabled more detailed monitoring during pregnancy. Yet serious health issues can still occur. During birth, a trusted medical professional may deviate from the proper standards of care and cause a permanent injury with his or her mistake. With close to 4 million births in 2013, this demonstrates just how many babies could be at risk.

If you have a child who has received a cerebral palsy diagnosis, please contact a compassionate attorney with a practice area in personal injury to discuss your situation. You may be able to obtain a monetary judgement in your favor which would go a long way in covering the extensive medical and therapy costs associated with this diagnosis.

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 Posted on December 15, 2015 in Family Law

In most divorces, couples share joint custody of their children. However, there are cases in which one parent is absent, despite having legal rights. In some cases, it is a lack of effort or desire. In others, it is a matter of the absent parent being denied their rights. So what happens when one parent is absent and the other one dies or the absent parent wants to come back?

While the matter of why is obscure in an ongoing custody battle between a stepfather and father, the case does bring to light to some questions regarding custody after a parent has been absent. And it only further solidifies the importance of having the right plans in place, should something ever happen to the custodial parent.

Absentee Parents and Their Rights

While it is extremely important for both custodial and noncustodial parents to stay involved in the lives of their children, there are certain circumstances that may cause one parent to be absent for a period of time—serious illness, military service, domestic violence, or relocation are the most common examples.

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 Posted on December 15, 2015 in Immigration

When someone applies for asylum in the United States, there are five different grounds upon which they can make their claim. The most common rationale, after ‘membership in a particular social group,’ is that of religious persecution. However, the actual application is much more complex than is commonly believed. In order to succeed in claiming asylum on this basis, one must have a good grasp of what constitutes ‘religious persecution’ under U.S. immigration law.

Religion Defined Under U.S. Law

Religion is not defined specifically in U.S. law, so as to avoid excluding anyone who may subscribe to an unusual interpretation of a ‘mainstream’ religion. However, it also does not mean that any unique set of beliefs will pass muster as a ‘religion.’ Generally, U.S. immigration officials tend to define religion on a case-by-case basis, which can be a difficult presumption to overcome if your belief system is not held to meet those criteria.

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 Posted on December 09, 2015 in Personal Injury

Our most vulnerable citizens board buses every day, and disturbing incidents are reported in the news frequently about school bus tragedies. In addition to the typical bus issues of children popping out of their seats, routes being memorized by drivers with or without GPS assistance, and behavioral issues amongst the kids, parents have warranted safety concerns.

Between 2003 to 2012, 174 school-age children died in school-transportation related crashes, 55 were occupants of school transportation vehicles.

If your child has been involved in a crash involving school transportation, having the counsel and guidance of a personal injury attorney is crucial in navigating the legal process.

Bus Crashes

According to 2013 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics, there were 1,667 school bus crashes with over 1,400 of those occurring on urban roads and streets. Now, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is recommending the use of three-point seat belts—an endorsement to protect the 25 million children that ride school buses. Currently, only six states have seat belt laws.

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