A married couple with three children is considering what their future will look like when their youngest child goes off to college next year. They have stayed together for their children, but as they consider their looming empty nest, they are drawn to getting a divorce. Should they put off their divorce, or should they go ahead and file for divorce now, before the end of the year? There are a few financial and personal benefits to filing for divorce...

A Schaumburg family decides to host a Halloween party at their home since bars and restaurants in Illinois are still not allowing gatherings larger than 10 people. After being in lock down for months, they are looking forward to having friends and family to let loose and celebrate. They splurge and spend a lot of money on the bar, and their guests let loose and indulge. The host of the party has invited his brothers and their families, and those...

Last Halloween, a drunk driver crashed into pedestrians, killing a 3-year-old boy and his father while critically injuring his mother. The family was on the sidewalk trick or treating with their young son when the driver of an SUV hopped the curb and ran into them. Police officers detained him and charged him with a DUI and vehicular manslaughter. The 20-year-old defendant now faces a serious prison sentence and significant fines. DUIs are always serious, but driving under the influence...

A Schaumburg couple has been isolating with their children since March. One of their sons was born prematurely and has chronic lung disease. If he contracts COVID-19, it could be deadly for him. The couple is already heavily in debt from his medical expenses and therapy. Their son's condition has also taken a toll on their marriage, making them somewhat resentful of each other. The wife had to quit her job to accommodate her son's medical appointments and therapies. The...

A husband and wife living in Cook County have struggled a bit in their marriage, but overall they have enjoyed a happy life together. After their third child was born during the pandemic, the wife began to experience symptoms of postpartum depression. She would sit for long periods of time in isolation, and for a while, she was barely able to care for her child. Because of the coronavirus-related shutdowns, both spouses were working from home on a reduced salary....

Last week, an Illinois man brought a gun into two different bars in Gages Lake. He has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm. The defendant allegedly displayed his weapon while outside one bar while walking over to another bar. Then witnesses stated that they heard two gunshots. Firearm sales have risen tremendously in the last few months, as a result of dangerous riots and high murder rates. If you are one...

A married couple have felt like their marriage is on the brink for over a decade, but they have stayed together for their kids, who are now teenagers. They have both been required to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic. The husband’s work hours have been cut as his company struggles to stay open. They finally decided to file for divorce. They have both hired lawyers and they have come to an agreement on all of the significant issues...

A woman with three children recently divorced her husband after she discovered that he had been involved in a series of affairs with other women. Before they got married, her husband promised her that after they had children, she could be a stay-at-home mother and quit her job. The court awarded her alimony, or what is now known as maintenance, in the divorce because she does not have marketable skills after staying at home for the last 10 years. This...

A successful real estate broker in Schaumburg has decided that now is the time to purchase his first gun. He is frequently driving in and out of the city, and with all of the civil unrest, he wants to protect himself if necessary. He went through the background check process and obtained a FOID card. He assumed that he could take his gun with him while driving around and showing high-end real estate, as long as his gun was not...

A Chicago stockbroker has been increasingly worried about his safety as he commutes to and from work. He has seen the record numbers of murders in Chicago in the last few months and is concerned that he will be assaulted while getting to and from his office. He has never owned a gun before and decides that his easiest option is to purchase a gun from his good friend who is always buying and trading guns. He pays his friend...

A small business owner in suburban Chicago is fighting to keep his business open. He and his wife opened up an indoor play area for young children. Their business allows parents and caregivers to pay to come in and let their children play while enjoying an adult sitting area with wifi. Before the coronavirus pandemic, they were profitable and beginning to pay off their initial business loan. When the virus struck, however, they were forced to close down temporarily. The...

A pediatrician who works at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has become increasingly worried about her safety. She lives in a newer condo building a few blocks away from the hospital. Until recently, she has not had any major safety issues when walking to and from her condo. Her condo itself has security, but she is concerned that she will be accosted while walking late at night after one of her late shifts. After reading that...

A 34-year-old woman studying to get her MBA decides one night to go out drinking with her friends. She has a small business and feels that the cost of her MBA will be a benefit in the long run. She takes three shots of vodka during the night, but she spaces them out over a period of time. One of her friends who owns a car decides to drive them back to her condo from the bar. As this friend...

A high school honors student with a scholarship to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign decided to let loose one night with some friends. Unfortunately, one mistake would cost him his scholarship. After neighbors called the police due to a noise complaint from a loud house party, he was charged and convicted of possession of a controlled substance. As a result, he had to serve 30 days in jail and he lost his scholarship. Now he is 19 years old, and...

A Chicago man has been suffering under the weight of the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 lockdowns. He had just started a tech company when the coronavirus pandemic happened, and recently signed a lease on an expensive commercial property downtown. Now, he is unable to raise capital investments as investors are being more cautious due to the turbulent economic times. He doubts he can pay his expenses for the next month. One of his friends from college hears about his...