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How Do Illinois Courts Calculate Spousal Maintenance?

posted on 6/11/21

Going through a divorce can be emotionally trying and confusing for all parties involved. This is especially true of the financial aspects of a divorce, including spousal maintenance calculations. Spousal maintenance, also called spousal support, or alimony, occurs when one spouse must pay the other spouse money on an ongoing basis after a divorce. Family court judges typically order spousal maintenance. However, spousal maintenance can also be agreed upon by the couple in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. Recent Changes...

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When Can a Police Officer Use Deadly Force During a Foot Chase?

posted on 6/6/21

Recently, a teenager and a 22-year old were fatally shot by Chicago police officers during foot chases. In the case of the 13-year-old, the Chicago Police Department has stated that bodycam footage shows he was holding a gun in his right hand. As he turned towards the police officer, he raised his empty hand, and the police officer shot him. They later found the gun behind the fence a few feet from where he was killed. Only two days later,...

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When Can the Police Use Deadly Force Under Illinois’ New Law?

posted on 6/6/21

The question of when police officers can use deadly force has been a significant talking point over the last few years. Many state legislators are pushing for criminal justice reform that makes it more difficult for police officers to use deadly force against suspects. Illinois has taken the lead by passing a comprehensive criminal justice reform law that limits the use of force among police officers. We will discuss what has changed below. The New Law Limits the Use of...

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How Long Will Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Last in Illinois?

posted on 5/28/21

In many marriages, one spouse earns more than the other spouse. As a result, the spouse who earns less comes to rely on the other spouse for financial support to maintain their shared standing of living. When a marriage ends in divorce, it can be difficult for the lower-income spouse to recover financially. Thankfully, Illinois courts often award spousal support, also known as alimony, in these cases. Spousal support is not a permanent solution, however. We will discuss how long...

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Illinois Creates a New Database for Police Accountability

posted on 5/28/21

Illinois is leading the country in addressing police accountability and criminal justice reform. A significant part of Illinois’ new criminal justice reform law involves making police misconduct records more readily available to the public. Illinois must maintain a Professional Conduct Database maintained by the state board responsible for certifying and decertifying police officers. Illinois’ Police Officer Misconduct Database Illinois’ new law makes several changes to the police officer misconduct database. First, the Illinois State Police Merit board will be responsible...

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No More Mandatory Minimums for Retail Theft Crimes in Illinois

posted on 5/22/21

An 18-year-old girl was recently accepted into the University of Chicago with an athletic scholarship. She is a great student and dedicated to swimming. However, on a recent shopping trip to celebrate their upcoming graduation, her friends suggest it would be funny to steal a pair of wireless earPods from the Apple store. She goes along with them, and they all get caught by the store’s security guard. Now she is facing harsh penalties for the retail theft that could...

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2021 Guidelines for Spousal Maintenance in Illinois

posted on 5/16/21

2021 is shaping up to be another challenging year for married couples and families. Many couples have spent too much time together with few of the outlets for enjoyment and distraction they used to enjoy. With more people working from home and experiencing job loss, household responsibilities have shifted, and many people's anxiety has increased. Nearly 75% of the licensed psychologists who treat patients for anxiety have seen an increase in demand since the pandemic. These pressures have also led...

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A New Bill Would End Police Officers’ Qualified Immunity in Illinois

posted on 5/16/21

In February, Governor Pritzker signed a police reform bill that ended cash bail and significantly reformed Illinois’ criminal justice system. Now, a bill that would end qualified immunity for Illinois police officers is making its way through the House of Representatives. The bill, called the Bad Apples in Law Enforcement Accountability Act of 2021, would allow citizens to sue police officers for depriving “any individual rights guaranteed under the Illinois constitution.” Officers who fail to intervene on behalf of citizens...

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Defendants Can Now Receive Credit for Time in Custody

posted on 5/6/21

Defendants who are facing drug-related crimes in Illinois may be able to take advantage of recent changes in Illinois law. Illinois’ groundbreaking criminal justice reform law makes it easier for suspects to receive sentencing credit for probation, eases electronic monitoring restrictions, and makes it easier for those convicted with drug felonies to qualify for probation and alternative sentencing. Changes Regarding Time in Custody The new law makes it easier for the Department of Corrections to award suspects with a sentencing...

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Illinois Stops Pretrial Release Bonds in Sweeping Police Reform Bill

posted on 5/2/21

An Illinois businessman has been working long hours from his home office trying to keep his company afloat during these challenging economic times. His wife spends long days helping their kids through their Zoom schools schedules in addition to doing her own work. The stress has the spouses at each other’s throats all the time. They have never been more angry with each other or more miserable in their marriage. One night, after a particularly intense argument, the wife throws...

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Will You Have to Pay Child Support After an Illinois Divorce?

posted on 5/2/21

The wife of a former Chicago Bulls player decides that it is time to pull the plug on their marriage. During their marriage, she quit her job so she could support her husband’s all-consuming NBA career. She took care of their home and their three children while he traveled to and from games. During her marriage she enjoyed an affluent lifestyle, and she is concerned that she and her children will not be able to maintain their lifestyle if she...

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New No-Knock Warrant Requirements in Illinois Police Reform Law

posted on 4/23/21

A young couple is watching a movie in their apartment when police officers burst through the door. Thinking that a home invader was breaking in, the boyfriend got his gun and fired what he considered to be a warning shot. The shot hit one of the police officers, injuring him. Police officers then opened fire into the apartment, fatally wounding the woman. The boyfriend claims that he never heard an announcement that the police were entering his apartment. The raid...

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A Police Officer’s Duty to Intervene in an Unlawful Use of Force Case

posted on 4/23/21

The murder trial of the police officer accused of killing George Floyd has concluded. While attempting to subdue George Floyd, who allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill to purchase cigarettes, the former police officer kneeled on the man’s neck for an extended period of time. George Floyd died during the incident. Once the video was released to the public, massive protests erupted across the country. The former police officer has been convicted of murder. In the video showing the incident,...

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