A failed field sobriety test is not a guaranteed DUI conviction. These roadside exercises are far from foolproof, and courts recognize that. Officers are trained to look for specific signs of impairment, but what they observe can be influenced by factors that have nothing to do with alcohol or drugs. The results are not scientific measurements. They are one officer’s interpretation of how you performed under pressure, and that interpretation can be challenged. If you are facing a DUI charge after failing field sobriety tests in 2026, a Chicago DUI defense lawyer can take a hard look at what actually
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Do Landlords Need an Attorney for Every Eviction Case in Illinois?
Landlords are not legally required to have an attorney for every eviction case in Illinois. But whether you should have one depends on how complicated the situation is, how much money is at stake, and how much risk you are comfortable with.
Some straightforward evictions go smoothly without legal help. Others involve tenant defenses, strict procedural rules, or counterclaims that can quickly become overwhelming without an attorney. If you are a landlord dealing with an eviction in 2026, our DuPage County, IL civil litigation lawyers can help you figure out whether legal representation makes sense for your situation.
Can a
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How Can Social Media Be Used Against You in an Illinois Divorce?
If you are going through a divorce, one of the first things your attorney should ask about is your social media activity. What you post online can follow you into the courtroom, and in 2026, Illinois family courts see it happen regularly. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 71 percent of U.S. adults use Facebook and half use Instagram, so it is no surprise that attorneys on both sides know exactly where to look for evidence that could hurt a case. If you are not careful about what you share online during your case, it could
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How Do You Build an Estate Plan That Will Avoid Probate in Illinois?
You can avoid probate in Illinois by making sure your assets have a clear way to pass directly to your beneficiaries without going through the court system. There are some common tools for doing this, such as a revocable living trust and beneficiary designations on financial accounts. An estate plan that uses these tools correctly can allow everything you own to pass to your loved ones quickly, privately, and without the time and expense of probate court. If you want to build that kind of plan in 2026, a DuPage County estate planning lawyer can help you put it together
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What to Do About a Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident in Illinois
Being hit by a car is a stressful event, even if the offending driver sticks around to make sure you’re okay and give you their insurance information. If they drive off instead, you’re left, possibly with injuries, to wonder how you’re going to get compensation for the accident.
The good news is that you still have legal options after a hit-and-run, even if the driver hasn’t been found. A McHenry County personal injury lawyer can help you understand how to pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run in Illinois?
If you’re physically able to
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Can You Be Charged in IL for Images Stored on Your Phone or Cloud?
You can be charged in Illinois for images stored on your phone or in cloud storage. Where the images are saved does not matter as much as what they contain and whether you had control over them. This often comes up in cases related to sex crimes like child pornography.
If law enforcement gets a warrant and finds illegal images on your device or linked to your accounts, those images can lead to criminal charges, whether they were saved on your phone or stored online. If you’ve been charged with a crime or think you may be under investigation
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How Do Prior Convictions Impact New DUI Charges in Illinois?
If you have a prior DUI conviction and you are facing a new DUI charge in Illinois, your record will directly affect how serious the new charge is and what penalties you are looking at. Illinois law treats repeat DUI offenders significantly more harshly than first-time offenders. However, that does not mean that you can’t fight the charge against you, and Appelman Law LLC can help. If you are in this situation in 2026, our Naperville, IL DUI defense lawyer can walk you through exactly what you are facing and what can be done.
How Does Illinois Count Prior DUI
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Does Illinois Child Support Include Health Insurance?
When parents in Illinois go through a divorce or separation, child support is one of the first things that needs to be worked out. Most people know that child support helps pay for basic living costs like food, clothing, and housing. What surprises many parents is that health insurance is part of it, too. If you are dealing with a child support order in 2026, here is what Illinois law says about medical coverage for your child. A Wheaton, IL child support attorney can help make sure your child is fully protected.
Does Illinois Child Support Have to Include Health
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Does a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Get Rid of All Your Debts?
Chapter 7 bankruptcy gets rid of many debts, but not all of them. It is one of the most powerful tools available to people overwhelmed by debt. For the right person, it can wipe out tens of thousands of dollars in what they owe. However, certain types of debt survive a Chapter 7 discharge no matter what, and knowing the difference before you file is important.
According to a study published by the American Bankruptcy Institute, more than 62 percent of U.S. bankruptcies are caused by medical debt, making it one of the most common reasons people turn to
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What Does It Mean To Be an Accomplice to Murder in Illinois?
Being an accomplice to murder in Illinois means you can be charged with and convicted of murder even if you did not pull the trigger or directly cause anyone’s death. Under 720 ILCS 5/5-2, Illinois law holds a person legally accountable for the conduct of another when they aid, agree to aid, or attempt to aid in the planning or commission of an offense with the intent to promote or facilitate it. This is known as accountability, and it is one of the most serious and far-reaching aspects of Illinois criminal law. If you are facing a murder charge
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What Happens to Your Parenting Plan When You Are Deployed in the Military?
Deployment orders can turn a family’s life upside down fast. If you share custody of your child, one of your first questions is probably what will happen to your parenting plan while you are gone. Will you come home to the same rights you had before you left?
Illinois law protects deployed parents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States had about 15.8 million veterans in 2023. Many of those service members are parents with active custody arrangements, which means Illinois family courts deal with this situation all the time. Knowing your rights before you deploy
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How Should Landlords Prepare Evidence for an Illinois Eviction Hearing?
Preparing strong evidence is one of the most important things a landlord can do before an eviction hearing in Illinois. Judges move quickly in eviction court, and a landlord who shows up without the right documents can lose a case they should have won. Knowing what to bring, how to organize it, and what the court needs to see can make a real difference in how your case goes. If you are a landlord facing an eviction hearing in 2026, our DuPage County, IL landlord evictions lawyer can help protect your rights.
What Does a Landlord Need To Prove at
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What’s the Difference Between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts?
The main difference between a revocable trust and an irrevocable trust comes down to control. Each type serves a different purpose, and choosing the right one depends on your goals, your assets, and your situation. If you are thinking about setting up a trust in 2026, the Wheaton, IL estate planning lawyer at The McCormick Law Firm, LLC can help you figure out which option makes the most sense for you.
In Illinois, trusts are governed by the Illinois Trust Code, 760 ILCS 3, which sets the rules for how these trusts must be created, administered, and interpreted. Understanding
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Can I Still File a Wrongful Death Claim If My Deceased Family Member Was Partially at Fault?
Fatal vehicle crashes and other accidents are devastating for the families and friends of the deceased. All lives connected to the person who died are changed in a moment, and feelings of shock, disbelief, and grief can leave a person reeling, wondering what to do next.
Even more difficult is when loved ones find out that the deceased person contributed to the accident somehow. It can be hard to stop imagining the “what ifs” that might have changed the outcome. It also adds complications to questions of liability for anyone who was planning to file a wrongful death claim to
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Unlawful Use of Weapons Charges in Joliet: The FOID Card Violation That Sends People to Prison
Here’s something that surprises most Illinois gun owners: simply having a firearm in your car without a valid FOID card can result in a mandatory prison sentence of one to three years under Illinois law. Not probation. Not supervision. Prison. Under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon becomes non-probationable when you’re in public with an uncased, loaded, immediately accessible firearm and lack both a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and a Concealed Carry License. What starts as a routine traffic stop in Joliet turns into a felony arrest that can destroy your life even if you have no
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What Defenses Apply to Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Charges?
Predatory criminal sexual assault is one of the most serious charges a person can face in Illinois. However, being charged does not mean you’ve been convicted. The prosecution still has to prove every element of the case beyond a reasonable doubt. There are real defenses that may apply depending on the facts of your situation. Our Cook County, IL sex crimes defense lawyers are here to help you understand what you are up against and your legal options for fighting it.
What Is Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Under Illinois Law?
Predatory criminal sexual assault of a child is defined under
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