While many people do not take speeding offenses seriously, it is important to understand that some traffic offenses are actually crimes and not just traffic court violations. In Illinois, it is a Class A misdemeanor to travel 35 miles or more above the posted speed limit. When someone is charged with misdemeanor speeding, they do not simply pay a ticket and move on. They are facing criminal charges and must appear in criminal court to be tried for them. If...

Underage drinking is a serious issue, which puts both underage youths and everyone else on the road at risk. While many parents think it is safer to have their children drink at home, under their supervision, they may not realize that in Illinois that can have serious consequences for them. Under Illinois’ Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act, parents, homeowners, and property renters are liable if minors consume their alcohol or consume alcohol on their property, and go on...

Divorce is a painful process regardless of the circumstances, but when infidelity is involved, it can truly be an emotionally torturous process. The spouse who was cheated on may feel betrayed after years of building a life together, and they may want to rake their spouse over the coals in court. In many ways, the court is on the side of the spouse who was cheated on. Illinois is an equitable distribution state. This means that instead of automatically giving...

Divorce is a complicated process, but can quickly become overwhelming when looking at the assets to be distributed. Many people think of major property, like homes, boats, and cars, and assets like checking and savings accounts, but few consider the impact of divorce on assets like stock options, golden parachutes, and stock options. Things like this require you to really get into the nitty gritty, but are critical to consider if you want to make sure that your divorce settlement...

If you cheated or were cheated on you may have serious concerns and major questions about how that fact could play out in or impact the divorce proceedings. In some states, adultery is still a grounds for filing for divorce. However, Illinois has removed all grounds for divorce other than irreconcilable differences. So, while adultery can certainly give you a reason to cite irreconcilable differences, it is not necessary to prove that adultery occurred in order to proceed with a...

Many people are reluctant to move forward with a divorce because of the financial impact that it could have. Not only are there costs related to attorney’s fees and court fees, but there is the division of marital assets and possible alimony. For some, it feels financially safer to stay married. However, many people have misconceptions about the divorce settlement process and what exactly the financial impact will be. Of course, the best way to get an accurate idea of...

When it comes to divorce, there are so many things to consider. One thing that many people worry about is how their assets will be distributed and whether they will lose their home or other property. However, many people do not even consider that their businesses could come into the realm of assets that are distributed between them. If you or your spouse own a business and you are contemplating divorce, it is important to consult with an attorney as...

You have likely heard horror stories about alimony. Many people stay in unhappy marriages longer than they want purely out of fear for the financial impact the divorce could have on them. They worry that they will be unable to maintain their current standard of living if they have to fork over a large part of their earnings to their ex-spouse each month, essentially indefinitely. Alimony is meant as a means of establishing fairness and equity for both parties in...

Illinois is an equitable distribution state, which means that the judge of your divorce proceedings will essentially have discretion to determine what is a fair division of all marital assets. In some cases, it may still be a 50-50 split, as it would be in other states. However, it is not limited to being equal, and courts can consider a number of factors in determining what a fair share for each spouse is. One of the factors that judges can...

If you are going through a divorce, one of the first things you may be concerned about is how your assets will be divided. Will you get to keep the house? Will your spouse be entitled to any part of your business? The valuation of marital assets is a vital part of this process. These are big questions, and we will do our best to answer them here. Because it can be easier to understand these concepts in application, we...

A family of four resides in a large ranch house with a pool on an expansive five acres in Barrington. The Father, Alex, owns a successful electrical contracting business. He has been a devoted father through the years, attending all of his son’s little league games and his daughter’s dance recitals. Alex has also been a good and loving husband, taking his wife, Erica, on trips around the world and showering her with gifts whenever he could. He supported her...

They say that in life only two things are certain — death and taxes. However, with a 50% divorce rate, divorce is fairly certain, as well. Most people would be hard-pressed to think of something less enjoyable than divorce or taxes independent of each other, so when they collide, it can feel truly overwhelming. Luckily, you do not have to figure this out on your own. An experienced Illinois divorce attorney will know the ins and outs of taxes and...

A young woman is bar hopping downtown with a bunch of her friends, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago. They stop to see the Chicago River dyed green, drink green beer at a number of pubs, and enjoy the beautiful weather as they explore the Loop. When day turns to dusk, she and her friends are ready to head home. Just as she is about to get an Uber on her phone, one of her friends offers to drive her...

A salesman from Schaumburg has had a very good quarter. His bosses have invited him and everyone else in his office who hit their sales quotas to quit work at lunchtime and enjoy free St. Patty’s day drinks at their favorite local bar as a reward for their efforts. While he’s reluctant to start drinking so early on a Thursday, the salesman is proud of the work he has done and he does not want to be left out of...

A Schaumburg couple recently started talking about getting divorced. During the course of their 10-year marriage, they have seen ups and downs, but lately the downs seem to be most prevalent. The wife recently learned about a number of credit cards that the husband had opened without her knowledge, and the debt they now owe is causing intense stress on them both. She is furious that he has breached her trust, and she blames him for their marriage ending. She...