Would you like to pursue 50/50 custody in Illinois? If so, understanding how custody works is the first step. In Illinois, judges prefer to allow parents to decide how to split up their responsibilities and parenting time independently or during mediation outside of the court. However, when the parents cannot decide how to divide custody, a family court judge will decide. Judges use multiple factors to determine how the parents will share custody. Except in rare circumstances, courts try to...

A Chicago couple decided to move out of downtown Chicago and give their young children some space to play. They found a beautiful home in the Village of North Barrington and have enjoyed living in a more spacious area. A few years passed by, and the husband began coming home from work later and later. When his wife asked him about it, he blamed it on Chicago traffic and late work meetings. One night, she saw a text come across...

The Village of North Barrington, Illinois, is a charming area located around 35 miles northwest of Chicago. North Barrington is home to many beautiful properties. Recently, a couple who owns one of the many stunning properties in North Barrington decided to file for divorce. The wife realized that her husband had taken out several large and risky business loans without her knowledge. She knows it is time to pull the plug on her marriage but does not want to lose...

A Schaumburg couple learned that their son has autism when he still was not talking at age 3. Their son’s special needs became all-consuming. Between therapy and special lessons, the wife felt she could no longer keep her position as vice president of a small start-up. Her husband promised her that he was okay with her quitting her job. As the years went on, however, they began to bicker more and more with each other over finances. The husband began...

A couple who recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary has decided to get divorced. The wife is a functioning alcoholic. Although she can show up to work and come home, she is barely able to parent. Despite trying to help his wife for years, the husband has realized that there is nothing more he can do. He would like custody of their children, knowing that his wife cannot take care of them while constantly drinking alcohol. The wife, infuriated, tries...

A South Barrington, Illinois, couple recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. The wife took great care to plan an anniversary celebration at a charming restaurant in the Foundry in South Barrington. She was surprised to find that one of her and her husband's mutual friends, whom her husband had dated long before they were married, came to their anniversary party. She noticed her husband spending a significant amount of time chatting with this woman. Later that night, she noticed his...

A South Barrington, Illinois, couple who own a retail business together have just overcome a challenging year. Their customers are returning to shop in person, and they are recovering from an economic downturn. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about their marriage. After 15 years of marriage, running a business together has become too much of a strain on their relationship, causing non-stop arguments. The wife has realized that all of her teenagers would likely be out of the house...

The CEO of a successful Chicago business finally found the right woman while attending a work conference. They decide to settle down in Barrington, a northwest Chicago suburb. Knowing he has substantial wealth, the CEO presses his fiancee to sign a prenuptial agreement. She convinces him not to sign a prenup, promising that they will split all of their expenses equally once they are married. Their plan sounds reasonable, but they begin to show resentment toward each other soon after...

After her divorce from her first husband, a Barrington-area woman decided to start her life anew. She finally applied for her dream job and got it. Her future was beginning to look rosy, and she could place her children at her dream school. Just when she thought her life could not get any better, she met a successful, charming businessman. After a whirlwind romance, they decide to get married within a few months. During the honeymoon stage, they enjoyed their...

A police officer driving on the highway sees a driver honking his horn and playing his car stereo loudly, both of which are possible traffic infractions. The police officer followed the driver's car, switching on the flashing lights. A few seconds later, the driver pulled into his driveway and entered his garage. The police officer parked and exited his car, then stuck his foot underneath the garage door to stop it from closing. The police officer did not have a...

A Pennsylvania teenager who did not make the varsity cheer team wrote a message on Snapchat, a social media site, that said “F--- school, f----softball, f--- cheer, f---everything.” As a result, her coach suspended her from the cheerleading program for one year. She brought a lawsuit against the school, claiming that the school does not have the authority to regulate her speech outside of school on the internet. The Supreme Court

Part of the reasons child care costs have increased involves the loss of child care jobs. One in six child care jobs were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in child care costs makes it difficult for Illinois parents. If you receive child support and you are responsible for paying for child care costs, you may find yourself needing to modify your child support agreement to increase the funds you receive. If your child care costs are increasing, you...

Prison and Sentencing Reforms in Illinois’ New Police Reform Law

posted on 7/5/21

Illinois’ new criminal reform law, the SAFE-T Act, was signed into law on February 22, 2021. The controversial law is some of the most sweeping criminal justice reform we have...

When couples get divorced in Illinois, they will divide the marital property they have acquired during the marriage. The marital property includes the accumulated value of the spouses’ retirement assets. When a couple can negotiate their property division, they can agree to a divorce settlement and keep their case out of court. However, when a couple cannot agree, the court will need to step in and decide how the couple's retirement benefits will be divided. Three major types of retirement...

Illinois’ General Assembly passed legislation amending and in some cases reversing the changes in their Police reform legislation. The changes addressed concerns about a sweeping criminal justice reform law that came into effect in 2020. This legislation will amend the SAFE-T Act, which was signed into law in February. The SAFE-T Act required a new police certification system, ended cash bail, imposed body camera mandates, and changed the guidelines for police officers’ use of deadly force. Law enforcement groups across...