Posted on March 09, 2022 in Family Law

While Illinois state and federal laws have made significant progress in legal equality for same-sex couples, there are still unique challenges that same-sex couples may face when getting divorced. Although many same-sex couples who separate are officially married, not all couples decided to get married once it was an option and separating can prove difficult when children are involved. If you are in a same-sex relationship and you are considering divorce or separation, you may want the help of an experienced Illinois family law attorney who can help you consider the various legal aspects of splitting up with your partner.

Have You Established Parentage?

If a same-sex couple is legally married, the question of parentage is simpler. But, if you have not married your partner, you may want to take steps to establish parenthood before seeking separation. Here are five ways parenthood is legally recognized in Illinois:

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 Posted on March 02, 2022 in Family Law

If every marriage fell apart at the first sign of trouble, the divorce average divorce rate would be closer to 100 percent than to 50 percent. Staying married is notoriously difficult, even under the best circumstances, and committed couples often experience frustrations that are common in marriage. However, there comes a point in many marriages where one or both spouses need to ask themselves whether they are staying in a marriage for the wrong reasons. If you are married and are unsure about the future, here are three signs you may want to consider divorce.

You Are No Longer Trying to Improve the Marriage

Marriage takes constant work, communication, and reaffirmation of the commitments spouses made to each other on their wedding day. When a marriage has stagnated to the point where neither spouse is interested in trying to figure out how to make it better, but are instead both simply going along to get along, the marriage may have broken down beyond repair.

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 Posted on February 20, 2022 in Immigration

Each year, thousands of asylum seekers come to the United States to seek refuge due to danger in their native country. The U.S. has traditionally been seen as a haven for those fleeing victimization. However, the process of seeking asylum is complicated. Applications are often denied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), forcing them to go through what is known as defensive asylum processing with the Executive Office of Immigration Review.

Regardless of what immigration method is chosen when attempting to immigrate to the United States, you want to enlist the services of a dedicated immigration lawyer you can trust. Skilled legal guidance is essential in navigating the difficult and time-consuming processes and overcoming the barriers that can serve as a deterrent.

What Is the Defensive Asylum Process?

Defensive asylum processing is the last opportunity afforded to asylum seekers after USCIS has denied an initial attempt at seeking asylum. Only those who are in the midst of the removal process can seek assistance through this route.

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 Posted on February 18, 2022 in Family Law

A divorce in and of itself does not have the power to impact your credit score, but many behaviors that are commonly associated with divorce can easily change your financial situation for the worse. Changes to household income, disrupted bill payments, asset division, and debt refinancing can all impact your credit in ways that can affect you for many years to come. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your chances of financial success and protect your credit during and after your Illinois divorce.

Be Aware of Debt Payments

Divorce may legally dissolve your relationship, but it does not legally dissolve your obligation to pay your debts. Even if your divorce decree requires your ex to pay certain debts, if he or she fails to do so on time and the debt is under your name, your credit will take a hit, too. If your ex tends to be financially irresponsible, it may be a good idea to try to ensure the debt is refinanced in one partner’s name. Otherwise, you may want to make the payments yourself and try to recover your ex’s portion later.

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 Posted on February 10, 2022 in Personal Injury

Over 30,000 people are killed in car accidents in the U.S. every year. Although the overall trend of car accident fatalities seems to be trending downward, car accidents are still tragically common in Illinois. Even for those who survive serious car accidents, the impact can be devastating. Traumatic head injuries are a common result of car accidents and these injuries can have a major long-term impact on a victim’s health, life enjoyment, employment prospects, and medical needs. If you have been injured in an Illinois car accident, you may need the help of an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.

Common Brain Injuries from Illinois Car Accidents

Brain injuries can be extremely serious, and victims of car accidents should seek medical attention as soon as they realize their head may have been hurt. Some of the most common brain injuries from car accidents include, but are not limited to:

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 Posted on February 08, 2022 in Family Law

The home a couple shares throughout their marriage has both sentimental and financial value attached to it. Deciding what to do with the home during a divorce is often a source of great confusion, contention, or heartbreak. Spouses may both want to keep the home but wonder whether they can afford it. At the same time, they may be worried that relocating the children during divorce will be traumatic and cause more problems.

Whether you ultimately end up negotiating to keep the home or selling it and splitting the value, the issue of the home must be dealt with as part of the marital property division. Even transferring the mortgage or title to one spouse’s name can be a complex and time-consuming process, so it is best to begin early. Here are some tips to help you think about the process.

Determine Whether Keeping the Home is Feasible

Before you start assertively negotiating to keep your home, you need to decide whether managing the expenses and upkeep of the house by yourself is plausible or even worth it. Homes are expensive and require extensive maintenance. Unexpected repairs, major upgrades, and even unpredictable natural disasters may be twice as difficult to deal with on one income. Creating a budget to determine the mortgage payments, homeowners’ insurance, and repair costs can help you decide whether you want to keep the home or focus on other priorities.

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 Posted on February 07, 2022 in Immigration

Immigrants who are living in the United States are likely to have a variety of concerns about their legal status and their ability to remain in the country. Because of this, some immigrants are hesitant to come forward and report crimes, since they may worry that they could face deportation. However, the U.S. provides some protections for crime victims, including the ability to apply for U visas that will allow a person to stay in the country and receive authorization to work. Immigrants will need to understand the eligibility requirements for these types of visas and the laws and policies that may apply as they seek protection from deportation.

Qualifying for a U Visa

Immigrants who have been the victims of certain types of crimes may be able to receive a U visa if they have information about criminal activity and are willing to assist law enforcement officials as they investigate a crime or prosecute an alleged offender. An immigrant will need to demonstrate that they have experienced physical or emotional abuse because of the crimes that were committed. They must also meet the qualifications to be admissible to the United States, although those who do not meet these requirements may apply for waivers of inadmissibility.

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 Posted on February 05, 2022 in Personal Injury

While our natural gas lines are something most of us would prefer never to think about, they tend to turn up problems at the most inconvenient times. Winters in Chicago are notoriously cold and gray, and a malfunctioning gas line may result in a lack of heat or hot water when you need it most. The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that natural gas and petroleum systems are also among the largest man-made contributors of methane in the country.

The worst consequences of leaky or improperly functioning gas lines, however, are not simply inconvenient, uncomfortable, or bad for the environment. Leaking gas lines can present a significant hazard to your health and may even trigger life-threatening gas explosions. Ideally, landlords and property owners are responsive and address gas leaks immediately, but when they do not, serious personal injuries can occur.

How Common Are Gas Line Leaks?

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 Posted on January 27, 2022 in Personal Injury

Winter weather in the Midwest is notorious for being particularly brutal. Snow, ice, and weeks of sub-zero temperatures and no sunshine can work together to create particularly hazardous situations. Come springtime, cracks and holes in damaged sidewalks are common, as is damage to residential buildings like apartment complexes that are frequently made out of bricks and other materials susceptible to erosion. If you are a tenant living in a building with hazardous conditions, you may want to know whether your landlord is responsible for preventing damage from a tenant who might slip, trip, or fall on unsafe premises.

Common Injuries From Slips, Trips, and Falls

Many different conditions may be present on residential premises that present a hazard to the well-being of residents and visitors. For example, if a sidewalk is uneven or has a pothole, a pedestrian could trip and fall. Or perhaps weather damage caused a portion of the side of the building to crumble and fall, leading to hazardous objects in the walkway. Whatever the cause of a slip, trip, or fall, injuries can be numerous and severe. Such injuries may include:

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 Posted on January 20, 2022 in Immigration

There are a variety of issues that can affect the immigration process. Some of the most serious of these issues involve criminal convictions. U.S. immigration laws state that convictions for “crimes involving moral turpitude” may cause a person to be inadmissible to the United States, or these crimes may be grounds for deportation. By understanding what types of crimes fall into this category and how convictions may play a role in the immigration process, immigrants and their family members can determine the best way to proceed as they work to resolve any issues that affect their ability to enter or remain in the U.S.

What Are Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude?

The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that a person is inadmissible to the United States if they have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude (also known as CIMTs). While the INA does not list any specific crimes that fall into this category, these crimes may include any offenses that could be considered to be depraved or shocking by the general public. Courts have found that a number of different types of crimes may apply, including:

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