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Prenuptial Agreements Many individuals nervously contact me before their wedding date to ask about a “prenup” agreement.  They might have been advised by a family member or a friend to investigate signing a prenuptial agreement, but aren’t sure whether or not they need one.  Even if the person knows that they should have an agreement drawn up, they are concerned about the emotional ramifications of approaching their soon-to-be spouse and his or her family about it. ...   Read more ...  

Divorce Questions There are many people who question whether or not to represent themselves in their divorce case, instead of hiring an attorney. In most cases, lawyers would advise against representing oneself, especially when children, maintenance (alimony), and assets are involved. As we know, there are many reasons why some choose to represent themselves. The most commonly heard reasons are related to the cost of a divorce. Those who represent themselves in court without lawyers are referre...   Read more ...  

Lack of Communication Can Trigger Divorce I have been a Chicago divorce attorney for many years now. In my time, I have counseled a sea of both divorced spouses, as well as, spouses contemplating a divorce. The vast majority of these parties, at some point, come to focus on the main reasons for why they are even considering, or going through, a divorce. Finances and infidelity have traditionally been at the top of the list. The truth of the matter, however, is that there are a host of facto...   Read more ...  

Divorce Discovery Paperwork In Illinois divorce cases, a crucial element is how to divide marital assets. Each divorce is unique and there are a number of ways to resolve this key issue. But one thing common to all Illinois divorce cases is that complete information is imperative. As a Chicago divorce lawyer, I know that in many cases, this isn’t a major problem. Some spouses come into the divorce with shared financial responsibilities, jointly owned accounts, and no secrets. For others, ...   Read more ...  

Divorcing Woman Searching Facebook Divorce lawyers have noticed an increase in the number of times Facebook, texts, and instant messaging are mentioned by clients when discussing their divorce cases. In fact, according to Divorce On-line, a family law firm in the UK claimed that almost one in five divorce filings cited Facebook in their petitions. Divorce lawyers and their clients have been using social media sites to find incriminating evidence. An excellent example is a wife seeking a jo...   Read more ...  

One of the new laws increases the penalties for individuals who are repeat domestic violence offenders.  Currently, many repeat domestic abusers are charged with a misdemeanor crime under Illinois law.  This will all change come January 1st. Under the new law, repeat domestic violence offenders could easily face a felony charge  Prison time for repeat offenders is also enhanced.  Persons with four or more domestic violence convictions can face as much as 14 years behind bars. Joliet Democra...   Read more ...