A 2018 report by the United States Census Bureau revealed that about 6.6% of marriages in Illinois end in divorce. Notably, only a fraction of divorces in Illinois are resolved via litigation in a formal court trial. Most divorces are resolved and finalized via mediation. Here is a comprehensive overview of how the divorce mediation process in Illinois works, what to expect, and how to prepare.
The Mediation Process in Illinois – What to Expect
Divorce mediation involves consulting a trained and certified mediator to help you resolve contentious issues regarding your divorce. Mediators adopt a neutral position throughout…
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One of the most common questions that lawyers get from clients is ‘how long will the litigation process take?’ This is an important question when it comes to planning because it helps you budget for your finances, especially on how you will pay your attorney.
However, there is no specific timeframe for litigation cases because each case is unique. Your attorney should review your case and give you an approximate time for the case.
What Is Litigation?
Let’s first start by defining litigation. Litigation is the process of taking a dispute to a law court. It is a practical…
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POWER OF ATTORNEY DOCUMENTS – COLLEGE KIDS
When most people think of estate plan documents, they think that is something that you do when you are older, have a family, have a house, etc. However, that is absolutely not the case!
While people under the age of 18 automatically have their parents in charge of their healthcare and property decisions when something happens to them, once they turn 18 that designation no longer exists. In particular, when a person goes away to college, they may be far away from home and may be involved in situations that increase the…
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There are many important decisions to make when selling or buying a home, and hiring a real estate attorney is one of them. A real estate attorney can represent you in negotiations with the other party, help you understand your rights and obligations under the contract, and protect your interests if the deal goes south.
Let’s say you are considering the possibility of buying or selling a house in Lake County, Illinois. There is a good chance that you need to consult with a real estate lawyer before proceeding with such a transaction. Here are some things you must…
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Nowadays, having a blended family is becoming increasingly common. This can cause estate plan documents to need additional details in order to include or exclude children from a spouse’s previous marriage as beneficiaries of an estate plan.
STEP-CHILDREN
When it comes to step-children from a spouse’s prior marriage, it is up to you to decide if you would like to include or exclude those children as beneficiaries of your estate. This decision can stem from multiple factors such as whether you are close with the children, if you have your own children who you would prefer receive all of…
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A person who may feel their safety is in danger may request the court to issue them an Order of Protection.
The legal order will prohibit a person from committing any domestic violence acts or contacting the people protected by the order. The order also serves several protective reliefs like removing licensed firearms from the home, adding other people to the order, and general use of the home.
Once the court issues the orders of protection, it will require the person to stop certain behaviors like contacting or abusing the person requesting the order. Most restraining orders are related…
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Many people often wonder how to transfer car ownership after the death of a loved one. While the family may have certain plans or expectations of distributing the car, it is best to follow the right process to transfer the vehicle to another person.
There could be challenges and difficulties in handling the situation among family members. However, the family can follow various steps and may engage an estate planning attorney to make the process smooth. Read on to learn more about transferring a car title after the death of a loved one.
Transferring Ownership of a Vehicle When the…
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Illinois is an “equitable division” state, which means that during a divorce, all marital property should be equitably divided between the parties. Some assets are easier to split, like shared savings accounts and vehicles. But for some, it gets even harder to negotiate who keeps what and who leaves it. This includes dividing a family home and dividing a business and all its assets.

It doesn’t matter who spent most of their time working to build the business; if it was started after marriage, it automatically becomes marital property. In circumstances where one spouse started the business before…
Continue Reading Businesses in an Illinois Divorce and How They Are Divided During the Process

Division of property can be one of the most divisive moments during a divorce, because not always does everyone get exactly what they want. This is especially so when you live in a state like Illinois.
Illinois is an equitable distribution state, which means that marital assets are not equally distributed between spouses. Rather than dividing everything 50/50, the judge looks at each party’s current condition and future needs to determine what they get. Most cases are resolved with 70/30, 60/40 splits, and rarely some even give all marital property to one party.
The state of Illinois considers several factors…
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The Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA) was enacted in 1982. It enabled protection to a greater class of persons who have been abused by a family or household member. Under the Act, survivors of domestic abuse such as “persons related by blood or marriage, persons who share or formerly shared a common dwelling, persons who have or allegedly have a child in common, persons who share or allegedly share a blood relationship through a child, and persons who have or have had a dating or engagement relationship” could now be warranted safety under the law.
With an Order of…
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A life insurance policy is a safety net for your loved ones. It’s ensuring they are well taken care of when you’re not there. This policy contains the following information;
The death benefit – The amount of money to be paid when the insured person dies. It’s usually income tax-free.
The beneficiaries – These are the people who receive the death benefits. Beneficiaries don’t have to be loved ones or people close to you. You can leave part or all your death benefits to an institution or entity.
The policy term – The length of time for which the insurer…
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