For better or for worse, we may spend too much of our lives on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and numerous platforms that allow us to share our ideas, photos and personal thoughts with the world. While there are benefits to forging such electronic connections, there are also consequences. For example, the more we share on the Internet about our personal lives, the more vulnerable we become to cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is a serious offense. It is a Class 4...

Until last year, Illinois defined marriage as a union between a woman and a man. The marriage equality bill that Governor Pat Quinn signed in 2013 became law on June 1, 2014. Now, gay couples have the same right to marry as straight couples. That right affords benefits that were once out of reach. While same-sex couples already had the right to enter into civil unions in Illinois, the right to marry came as a personal – and financial –...

Have the privacy protections guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution disappeared in the current digital age? If you are active on such social media platforms as Facebook and Instagram, you might harbor some doubts. However, you can rest assured that at least some of your technological activity is protected. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Riley v. California that the police must obtain a warrant before they can search an arrestee’s cell phone. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote...

Conventional wisdom understands that driving under the influence (DUI) is a risky endeavor. Not only does it endanger the lives of you and everyone around you, but it also carries criminal penalties. A person convicted of a DUI in Illinois could face jail time, a monetary fine, and a loss of driving privileges. If you are a repeat offender, or if your actions resulted in another person’s injury or death, the penalties increase. There are also collateral damages that result...

Driving under the influence (DUI)–whether of alcohol, illegal drugs or a different intoxicating substance–is a serious offense that carries consequences. Aside from possible criminal charges, you could also lose your driving privileges. If you are pulled over for a moving violation in Illinois with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, the officer may immediately suspend your driver’s license. The officer may also suspend your license if you refuse to take a chemical test. This is called...

Illinois recently enacted a law that will simplify the process for determining alimony–the amount of money one spouse pays to the other after a divorce or separation. Before the change, a judge would determine the divorce alimony (or maintenance) payments based on multiple factors, including: Each spouse’s income and assets; Each spouse’s present and future income earning capacity; Whether one spouse’s future employment opportunities might be impaired because he or she delayed his/her own education or employment for the spouse,...

Encounters with the police can be intimidating, even when you have done nothing wrong. Whether the police are investigating a crime scene or patrolling a neighborhood, remember that they are simply doing their job. Nevertheless, it is important to understand your rights. For example, just because an officer has the right to ask you questions does not mean you have a duty to answer them. Or just because an officer has the right to knock on your door does not...

When you think of a domestic violence crime, you probably imagine physical violence: perhaps a person beating his or her significant other, or maybe a parent abusing his or her children. The law, however, does not limit the parameters of domestic violence to physical abuse. In fact, you might not be aware that telephone harassment is a common form of domestic violence in Illinois. (This includes other electronic communications such as text messages, email, and Facebook messages.) Repeatedly calling an...

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. What constitutes reasonableness has been the subject of many court battles, and the answer to that question depends on the nature of the search. For example, a search is reasonable when a person consents to it or when a person has no reasonable expectation of privacy (like with garbage you leave outside of your house). Generally, the police must obtain a warrant to search your home because...

Mandatory sentencing is a hot-button issue that incites heated debate along the political spectrum. Opponents argue that it unfairly limits judicial discretion and prevents judges from considering mitigating factors on a case-by-case basis. Proponents argue that it ensures uniformity in sentencing and ultimately reduces crime. However, no matter the merits or disadvantages of mandatory sentencing, it is a reality in both the federal and Illinois criminal justice systems. Illinois Supreme Court Bans Mandatory Minimums for Certain Juvenile Offenders A mandatory...

Earning and maintaining a professional license–such as a medical, dental, nursing or veterinary license–is a huge accomplishment. However, it is also a major responsibility. Due to the nature of these professions (and the corresponding trust that consumers place in these professionals), the government provides oversight to ensure the public’s well-being. The Illinois Division of Professional Regulation licenses and oversees almost one million professionals in the state. With that many professionals to oversee, the Division needs consumers to report any incidents...

Some reports suggest that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States. Considering those statistics, it is no surprise that Illinois law takes the issue very seriously. The Illinois Domestic Violence Act recognizes that all citizens deserve to feel safe in their own home and seek to fairly protect those hurt in this manner. As part of the law, victims of domestic violence may seek an order of protection (colloquially known as a restraining...

Next year is the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. History tells us that this tragedy resulted from a conspiracy hatched by Confederate sympathizers. The most famous conspirator–and Lincoln’s assassin–is John Wilkes Booth, but several others played a major role in advancing the plot. The conspirators intended to assassinate four Union officials that night, including Secretary of State William Seward, who received serious stab wounds from his would-be assassin. Ultimately, even though the conceived plot fell short...

Illinois classifies certain violent actions committed against family or household members as domestic violence crimes. A “family or household member” is a special classification, which refers specifically to: Current or former spouses; People related by blood or marriage, including parents, children and stepchildren; People who currently share or formerly shared a dwelling; People with a child in common; People who are dating or engaged; and People with disabilities and their caregivers. The law takes these crimes seriously. In addition to...

In community property states, marital property is split 50/50 between divorcing parties. That is not the case in Illinois, which is an equitable division state. Illinois law recognizes that the value of a party’s contribution to the marriage should affect the value of property that the party is entitled to if the marriage ends. Thus, “equitable” is not synonymous with equal. In fact, Illinois treats marriage almost like a business partnership. More specifically, Illinois considers marriage to be a “joint...