In 2014, state lawmakers radically changed the method for calculating alimony in Chicagoland. Before the so-called “modern family bill,” judges had almost unlimited discretion in setting the amount and duration of payments, provided they relied on any of the approved factors in any way they saw fit. The 2015 changes made spousal support payments more like child support payments. The law fixed guideline amounts, which were presumed reasonable in most cases. Three years later, lawmakers approved House Bill 2587, which...

The divorce rate among couples who fight over money once a month is 30% higher than among couples without this problem. Moreover, couples who fight over money once a week are over twice as likely to get a divorce. Illinois premarital agreements completely remove money from the equation. In addition to securing separate property and other items commonly associated with these contacts, premarital agreements can cover areas like a husband using funds from his paycheck (marital property) to make payments...

Illinois law requires judges to equitably divide marital property in divorce cases. Even though “equitably” is not synonymous with “equally,” the judge will probably not even consider awarding one spouse a disproportionate share unless there is substantial evidence that only such an award would be truly equitable. To make this decision, the judge must consider roughly a dozen factors. Here are some of the most prominent ones. Agreements Between the Spouses This factor may be the most prominent one because...

To understand modern divorce laws in Illinois, one first has to go all the way back to the 1940 marriage between Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. At the time, Mr. Reagan was starting to work his way up the ladder and Ms. Wyman, who had already been divorced once, was already a well-established actress. The death of the couple’s young daughter in 1947 pushed the teetering marriage over the edge, and Ms. Wyman filed for divorce the next year. The...

Though they lived in two different eras, two brave individuals who were willing to make extreme sacrifices for their children largely shaped today’s family laws in the Prairie State. In 19th century England, Caroline Norton married a prominent British politician. He was physically abusive to the point that household staff often had to separate the two or he might have killed his wife. Ms. Norton left her husband twice, but came back each time for the sake of the children....

A 29-year-old woman surrendered to Chicago Police Department officials a day after she shot another woman during a fight that was streamed live on social media. The alleged victim, a 27-year-old, said she streamed the encounter because she expected an argument. The victim said she was surprised that the other woman brandished a handgun and shocked when she fired. The round landed in her shoulder, but “if I wouldn’t have turned around I would have got shot in my chest,...

One of the spate of new laws to take effect on January 1 alters and consolidates the protective order process in Chicago. The changes are largely procedural and designed to streamline this area of the law. The measure largely does away with the distinction between “civil” and “criminal” protective orders, so most protective order violations are now criminal law matters. The changes have significance for both alleged abusers, who now always have the right to counsel, and alleged victims, who...

We recently asked firm founder Tom Glasgow this very question, and here is how he answered it. When a person buys a car, that vehicle needs to be a full-service vehicle. For example, it should be roomy enough to comfortably accommodate all family members, yet also nimble enough to easily drive and park. Glasgow & Olsson is a full-service law firm. In addition to diverse practice areas, a common feature of many Schaumburg firms, we also have a diverse client...

If a DUI defendant provides a chemical sample, many defense attorneys essentially raise the white flag of surrender and immediately go into plea negotiation mode. While the conviction rate in test cases is almost twice as high as it is in refusal cases, it is still possible to fight the evidence in chemical test prosecutions and win based on the merits. It is important to both maintain an aggressive posture in each case and have a reputation for fighting DUIs...

Unless a DUI defendant submits to a chemical test and that test shows a BAC lower than .08, an outcome which is highly unlikely, the state will suspend the defendant’s driver’s license. Technically, that suspension does not happen until after a hearing officer reviews the evidence or the defendant fails to contest the matter within the time allowed by law. This hearing officer is usually a non-lawyer Secretary of State employee. Moreover, the standard of proof at these hearings is...

For the 10th time, Thomson Reuters named Mr. Glasgow one of Illinois’ Super Lawyers, placing him in the top 5% of the thousands of attorneys in the state. To even be considered for this honor, Super Lawyers must be peer-nominated. Then, a committee evaluates the applicants based on not only their courtroom records, but also on their mastery of their chosen areas of practice, their ability to communicate that knowledge to others through lectures and writings, client satisfaction levels, and...

A lawyer is both an “attorney and counselor at law.” Since she joined Glasgow & Olsson in 2009, Ms. Olsson has repeatedly demonstrated a mastery of both these traits that every top attorney has. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star again this year, a prestigious award given to outstanding attorneys under 40. Many family law cases have an emotional component that is as significant as the legal and factual components. Ms. Olsson is extremely compassionate and understands...

In a proceeding connected to allegedly corrupt cop Reynaldo Guevara, a judge vacated Thomas Sierra’s 1997 conviction in a gang-related slaying. According to evidence presented by Mr. Sierra’s attorneys, Chicago Police detectives conducted biased lineups as they investigated the 1995 murder of Noel Andujar, who was fatally shot in Logan Square. One witness said that detectives prompted him to select a picture from a photo lineup; another witness testified that Mr. Guevara “pointed to a picture and told him to...

In the immediate wake of her 2013 death, the story of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton became a centerpiece of then-President Barack Obama’s anti-crime agenda. The murder trial is now scheduled to begin on April 30, 2018, over five years after Ms. Pendleton was apparently the innocent victim of a gang war. According to prosecutors, Michael Ward opened fire on a group of teens, believing that they belonged to a rival gang. Authorities also charged Kenneth Williams, who was driving the car,...

Just days before the new SB 2034 took effect, there was talk of additional changes to the Illinois pretrial release system in criminal cases. The Illinois Supreme Court plans to create a special Commission on Pretrial Practices, consisting mostly of prosecution and defense lawyers, judges, legislators, and court clerks. In a statement, Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier said the commission’s overall goal would be a system that limits pretrial detention to those cases that involve defendants who pose clear threats to...