Nearly all of us know someone who has suffered domestic violence at the hands of a husband or intimate partner. You probably know or have known a woman who has suffered a situation similar to the following example. A woman has suffered mental, verbal, or physical abuse for years or decades. Her husband has a history of drinking after work. By the sixth drink, he usually becomes violent. She hides her bruises and all other proof of domestic violence well...

Alcoholism is a cruel disease that causes pain and suffering for many Illinois residents. Many of us know friends and loved ones who suffer from functional alcoholism. At Glasgow & Olsson, we are proud of the number of clients we have helped to get clean and sober. Sometimes an arrest can lead to getting the help that they need. We can help. For example, a single mom who hides her alcoholism so well that many of her colleagues and friends...

Many of us have a friend or family member who has suffered abuse from a husband for years, if not decades. We are often surprised and taken aback to learn about the abuse. Many times, domestic violence does not become known until the police are called to a domestic disturbance and the husband is charged with domestic violence. Abused Wives Who Fight Back In the movie Enough, Jennifer Lopez plays an abused wife who has finally had enough. She decides...

Imagine a marriage in which the husband gets drunk and gambles almost every night. He has a distinct pattern of becoming verbally abusive to his spouse after three drinks. After the fifth or sixth drink, the husband always begins throwing things at his wife and screaming at her. The domestic violence progresses until he begins punching his wife on her body, in places where bruises are not visible. One night, the wife decides that she has had enough of this...

Domestic violence continues to be a serious issue for Illinois residents. Domestic violence can sometimes go on for years, or even decades before an abused spouse decides to protect herself. Imagine a woman who has suffered severe verbal abuse from her husband for over a decade. One day, as her husband is taunting her, screaming at her, and verbally abusing her, she decides to hit him in an attempt to get him out of her face. This woman has suffered...

Domestic violence is a complex issue that can negatively affect all Illinois residents. Domestic violence takes place when the abuser, most often a husband, feels entitled to control his partner, most often a wife, by exerting power over her. Usually, one person is the primary abuser, even when the abused spouse occasionally fights back in an attempt to stop the violence or defuse the violent situation. The question becomes: under Illinois criminal law, can an abused spouse defend herself preemptively...

Going through an Illinois divorce is always stressful, but going through a divorce when your soon-to-be ex is a reckless spender is extremely difficult. The pressure of going through a divorce has a tendency to bring out the worst parts of a person’s personality. Some divorcing partners try to take revenge on the other partner by overspending. Unfortunately, the consequences of being an incredibly aggressive spender can be financially devastating to both parties in a divorce. At Glasgow & Olsson,...

Illinois recently joined Michigan in legalizing recreational cannabis. As of January 1, 2020, Illinois residents can legally purchase up to one ounce, or 30 grams of marijuana plant materials. Residents can also legally purpose up to five grams of cannabis concentrate products and edibles with 500mg or less of THC. However, marijuana use is still prohibited on a federal level. Additionally, the use of recreational marijuana is still unlawful in Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Indiana — all states that...

The holidays can be a joyful time, yet they are often incredibly stressful for individuals and families. On top of the holiday stress, the winters in Chicago can be incredibly long and challenging. In particular, parents of young kids must endure the added stress of dealing with rowdy kids who have been cooped up inside for many months. Additionally, the holidays often put financial stress on parents and spouses. When schools close for the winter holiday, many parents are left...

Illinois recently passed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. As of January 1, 2020, Illinois residents will have the right to purchase and use recreational marijuana and marijuana products. Due to this new law, the Illinois governor has already issued over 11,000 pardons for those convicted of low-level marijuana possession. Nonetheless, Illinois is only the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana. Many potential problems are anticipated when it comes to enforcing the new law. Will firearm owners be able to...

Coming to the conclusion that you need a divorce can be disheartening, especially during the holiday season. You may be wondering what your options are during the divorce process. The good news is that Illinois is a no-fault divorce state, which is one of the least challenging types of divorce. In a no-fault divorce, both soon-to-be ex-spouses agree that their divorce is due to irreconcilable differences. If you are in the process of seeking a no-fault divorce in Illinois, the...

Filing for divorce during the holidays can be particularly difficult. Many Americans are already suffering from loneliness and isolation during the winter months. Facing a divorce while bouncing between holiday parties, festivities, and celebrations can make the divorce process seem even more daunting. If you are in need of a skilled divorce attorney this holiday season, the Cook County divorce attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson can help. Contact our law firm today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how...

In June 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act into law, effective January 1, 2020. The law legalizes recreational marijuana for adults. Additionally, the law expands the licensing system for cannabis. This means certain defendants who have been convicted of criminal marijuana laws can seek expungement of their criminal records under the law. Medical marijuana patients will have the ability to grow their own cannabis at home. Illinois is only the 11th state to have legalized...

At the end of the year, people often attend multiple holiday functions, many of which involve alcohol. Recent college graduates in their first office jobs might feel the pressure to drink with their new employers. Family members might let their guard down during the football game and drink one too many alcoholic beverages before getting into their vehicle to drive. Perhaps an unexpected holiday event comes up and someone does not make a contingency plan to get home, deciding to...

The holiday season is a joyous time of relaxation, quality time with family, and parties. Most of us have experienced having one too many alcoholic beverages during holiday festivities. Between school and university events, work events, and other social and family holiday parties, we seem to encounter a tasty cocktail at every turn this time of year. Many of us are trying to relax after a long year of hard work, and we deserve it! Unfortunately, a night of innocent...