Posted on December 10, 2020 in Family Law

Getting a divorce often has major financial implications for both parties, stemming in large part from the division of marital assets and the transition from a combined family income to an individual income. If you are not careful, you could end up in a situation from which it is difficult to recover. An attorney can help you make good decisions throughout the legal process that protect your financial interests and can contribute to your long-term stability.

Tips for Addressing the Financial Challenges of Divorce

There are several things you can do both during and after your divorce to promote your personal financial stability. Here are some suggestions:

• Consider lower-cost methods of divorce resolution. If you and your spouse are open to communication and negotiation regarding your divorce agreement, an uncontested divorce is usually the most cost-effective approach. You may still have some costs, including the services of an attorney to advise you or a mediator to guide negotiations, but they will often be minimal compared to the high attorney fees and court costs associated with a protracted divorce trial.

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 Posted on December 03, 2020 in Personal Injury

In the United States, car crashes and other motor vehicle accidents are responsible for more spinal cord injuries than any other cause. If your spinal cord has been damaged in an accident, the recovery process can be extremely difficult, and your life will likely never be the same. Spinal cord injury victims are often entitled to significant compensation from the driver responsible for the crash, which can provide some relief as you work to adapt to your new normal.

Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury

Your spinal cord is responsible for sending nerve signals from your brain to the rest of your body, and therefore, an injury can severely impair your body’s functions. At minimum, a spinal cord injury will likely impair sensation anywhere below the location of the injury, and it can also affect motor skills, sometimes resulting in paralysis from the neck or waist down. Damage to the spinal cord can also affect respiratory and circulatory functions, as well as the abilities of various bodily organs.

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 Posted on November 25, 2020 in Family Law

For many people, one of the greatest concerns when considering a divorce is the possibility of a long and contentious trial with high financial and emotional costs. The good news is that it is often possible to avoid this outcome, and many divorcing couples are able to avoid a trial entirely by pursuing an uncontested divorce. This means that you and your spouse work together to reach an agreement on all important decisions in your divorce resolution. This option is not feasible in every situation, but it is well worth considering whether it could work for you and your spouse.

Questions to Ask Yourself About an Uncontested Divorce

When determining whether to move forward with an uncontested divorce, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Are my spouse and I in agreement about getting a divorce? If the answer is no, your chances of an uncontested divorce may be eliminated right from the start, as you will likely face a legal challenge to even ensure that the divorce process can begin.

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 Posted on November 24, 2020 in Immigration

Legally immigrating to the United States can be challenging under any circumstances, but a criminal record can significantly increase the obstacles to immigration. It can also affect your ability to obtain a green card or citizenship, and it may result in your deportation. If you have been charged with a crime in the past, or if you are currently facing criminal charges, an immigration attorney can help to protect your rights and avoid excessive consequences.

What Kinds of Crimes Can Affect My Status?

There are several different categories of crimes that can affect your immigration status in some form. Two of the most notable categories are:

• Crimes of moral turpitude - This category is not clearly defined, but is typically considered to include crimes involving malicious intent and immoral behavior, such as fraud, abuse, or violence.
• Aggravated felonies - U.S. immigration law includes a specific list of aggravated felonies, including but not limited to murder, rape, some other violent crimes, drug and firearm trafficking, and some forms of theft, crimes against children, tax evasion, and money laundering.

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 Posted on November 23, 2020 in Personal Injury

If you are injured in a car accident, you may be left with high medical expenses related to emergency treatment, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation, among other things. You may also be forced to miss significant work time, affecting your ability to earn an income. A personal injury claim can help you pursue compensation for these economic damages, but it is also important to note that you may be entitled to non-economic damages if you are experiencing ongoing pain and suffering. It may be more challenging to make the case for these damages, but with your attorney’s help, you can fight for compensation that can help to ease your burden.

Pain and Suffering and Other Non-Economic Damages

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to return to your previous quality of life after your accident, even after receiving the best medical treatment available. In a civil lawsuit, non-economic damages are meant to provide compensation for lasting physical and mental hardship.

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 Posted on November 18, 2020 in Family Law

As a parent, one of the many important decisions you will need to address during your divorce is how parenting time will be distributed between you and your spouse. Even in the most amicable of divorces when both parties are committed to their children’s best interests, shared parenting time can still be challenging to manage. However, you can take steps both during and after the divorce process to make it easier.

Suggestions for Successful Co-Parenting

Taking the following suggestions into consideration can help you create and maintain a parenting plan that works for everyone involved.

• Consider both parents’ schedules. A successful parenting plan allows both parents to maintain a strong relationship with their children. When determining the parenting time schedule, it is important to consider when each parent will be working or attending to other commitments so that both of you can make the most of the time you have with your kids.

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 Posted on November 16, 2020 in Personal Injury

Falling on someone else’s property, perhaps at a restaurant, store, or other business, is a fairly common occurrence, especially as winter approaches and snow and ice may accumulate around sidewalks, parking lots, and entrances. If your slip and fall accident results in injuries that require medical attention, you should consider hiring an attorney who can help you determine whether the property owner or another party may be considered liable.

Negligence in an Illinois Slip and Fall Case

According to Illinois law regarding premises liability, a property owner has a duty of care to take reasonable measures to promote the safety of lawful visitors to the property. Fulfilling this duty generally means that the owner should:

• Avoid contributing to a dangerous environment. For example, an owner should take care to ensure that debris, loose objects, obstructions, or wet or slippery floors are not left in an area that the owner knows is likely to see foot traffic.

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 Posted on November 09, 2020 in Immigration

The fear of an arrest by ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is something that many immigrants must live with on a daily basis. In part, this is a fear of the possible consequences, but it is also often a fear of the unknown, as you may be unsure of what will happen and how you should react. While it may not fully alleviate your fears, knowing your rights if you are detained can at least remove some of the uncertainty and help you avoid making a scary situation worse.

What Should I Do If I Am Arrested?

Regardless of your immigration status, you have certain rights if you are stopped, questioned, or detained by an ICE agent. These include:

• The right to remain silent. You are not required to answer an agent’s questions about your immigration status, your criminal record, or any other subject. Doing so, whether truthfully or untruthfully, can provide information that may be used against you in an immigration hearing. If you wish to invoke your right to remain silent, it is usually best to state this clearly to the agent.

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 Posted on October 29, 2020 in Family Law

If you are concerned about the possibility of a difficult divorce involving a long, stressful trial, you may be relieved to learn that many divorcing couples are able to reach an agreement through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and avoid a protracted court battle. You may find that you and your spouse are able to communicate well enough to negotiate an agreement on your own, or that you benefit from the services of a neutral, third-party mediator to guide the conversation. Regardless of the approach you choose, achieving your desired outcome through ADR still requires that you go into the process fully prepared.

Tips for Getting Ready for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Before you enter negotiations with your spouse or any other form of ADR, you should be sure that you know what to expect and that you have a plan for how to approach the conversation. All of the following can help you make the most of ADR:

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 Posted on October 23, 2020 in Personal Injury

The Federal Highway Administration reports that in the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016, weather was a factor in 21 percent of all vehicle accidents, 19 percent of all crash injuries, and 16 percent of all crash fatalities in the United States. It is clear that weather plays a significant role in car accidents, and as the late fall and winter months approach in Illinois, wind, rain, snow, sleet, and hail can make driving conditions increasingly dangerous. If you are injured in an accident during inclement weather, it is important to know how it may affect your claim for compensation.

Weather Is Not an Excuse for Negligence

Although weather conditions can make driving more dangerous and increase the chances of an accident occurring, in most accidents involving two or more vehicles, a driver may still be considered negligent despite the weather’s impact. Negligence is defined as a situation in which one party owes a duty of care to another and fails to uphold it, thereby causing injury or other damages. When weather conditions are poor, drivers have a duty to take the necessary precautions to ensure they are driving safely, which may include:

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