A child’s overall safety and stability are vital to their well-being and development. While the United States has processes in place to protect citizens and their children from abuse and neglect, there are also proceedings available to immigrant children seeking safety from familial harm.
When immigrant children experience unsafe situations in their home country, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) provides a path to protection with additional immigration benefits. Kogut & Wilson attorneys navigate SIJS to help children and young adults find safety in the United States.
What is SIJS?
SIJS is a special immigration classification designed to protect children from…
Continue Reading Special Immigrant Juvenile Status as a Path to Protection and Residency

After many years as a domestic violence survivor advocate, Kogut & Wilson’s Sabrina Karakaya will continue to support those affected as a Trainer for Mutual Ground, a counseling, advocacy and education shelter for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.
Sabrina will host presentations, discussions and panels on various topics related to domestic violence including:

• Domestic and sexual violence basics
• Impact of trauma on children
• Recognizing signs of abuse and mandated reporting
• Trauma and trauma-informed care
• Trauma-informed practice for legal professionals
• And more

Mutual Ground aims to empower those who have been affected by domestic and sexual violence and the harms…
Continue Reading Sabrina Karakaya to Serve as a Trainer for Mutual Ground

With the excitement of a wedding and the stress of last-minute preparations, a prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement or prenup) may be the last item on a couple’s mind before heading to the altar but it should not be overlooked.
While meeting with an attorney to discuss a couple’s rights and responsibilities may not be the most romantic aspect of an engagement, establishing a prenuptial agreement protects both parties and sets expectations for the marriage and beyond, should things go awry.
Kogut & Wilson details what couples should discuss when drafting a prenup to avoid surprises in…
Continue Reading Prenuptial Agreements: Considerations Before Saying “I Do”

Eva Matela Kogut will discuss financial neutrals in the Collaborative Divorce Illinois’ (CDI) Fellows Collaborative Skills Training webinar on Friday, April 8 from 12:00 to 3:15 pm CT.  
In the webinar, “The Financial Neutral’s Value,” Eva and legal and financial professionals, Kim Grady, Jeff Kostis, Theresa Beran Kulat, Brandi Ruffalo and Anne Schmidt, will evaluate a financial neutral’s role in collaborative divorce proceedings to share insight on topics including: 

• Financial Neutral Roll Overview 
• Attorney Views on the Financial Neutral 
• Financial Neutral Activities 
• Data Collection 
• Income for Support Calculations 
• Drafting Marital Balance Sheet 
• Turning Words into Numbers 
• Do I Have Enough

…
Continue Reading Eva Matela Kogut to Share Financial Neutral’s Importance to Collaborative Divorce Teams in Upcoming CDI Training

While adoption is beneficial for biological and adoptive parents alike, the complex decisions involved can lead to disputes concerning parents’ rights and the viability of adoption.
In some cases, legal parents dispute adoptions leaving the process at a standstill and the other involved parties unsure of the outcome.
Kogut & Wilson elaborates on contested adoptions and why they occur to keep prospective adopters informed of potential setbacks.
What Are Contested Adoptions?
Contested adoptions occur when a legal parent does not consent to the adoption, typically in private adoption cases. If the adopting parents still want to pursue finalization, a trial…
Continue Reading Contested Adoptions: How Parental Disputes Can Impede the Adoption Process

The college application process can be daunting, especially when it comes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FASFA provides economic relief to college students based on parental income, however, the process raises questions for non-traditional families regarding how to report earned income and additional required information.
As the first step in the FASFA process, Kogut & Wilson details the options parents have when reporting their income whether divorced, separated or separated but filing jointly.
Divorced
FASFA defines divorced parents as those who have been legally divorced by a state. In deciding which divorced parent’s income to report,…
Continue Reading FASFA Parent Reporting: Options for Divorced, Separated and Joint Filers

While filing taxes this year, parents must claim payments made as part of the 2021 Child Tax Credit in addition to their normal income and asset reporting. For divorced parents, accounting for the Child Tax Credit can present challenges as only one parent can claim dependents on his or her 2021 tax return.

Kogut & Wilson discusses how to determine which parent should claim the credit for this year’s tax season.

What is the Child Tax Credit?

The Child Tax Credit, part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, refers to a tax benefit granted to parents or guardians…
Continue Reading The Child Tax Credit’s Impact on 2021 Tax Returns

When couples seek to reduce their legal obligation to their spouse but not dissolve their marriage permanently, legal separation presents an opportunity to maintain the marriage without a financial or physical commitment.
Kogut & Wilson attorneys outline legal separation and what the process entails.
What is Legal Separation?
Legal separation is a court-approved agreement between two spouses to live financially and physically separate from each other. In contrast to divorce, a judgment of legal separation does not legally and permanently end a marriage, meaning the parties remain legally married after separated.
The Legal Separation Process
The legal separation process shares…
Continue Reading Separate but Together: The Legal Separation Process

Starting a family is an exciting time in one’s life, especially when that means providing a permanent home for a child in need.
Adoption is a life-changing experience and the process can be daunting for new families with varying requirements throughout the country. Kogut & Wilson attorneys answer pressing Illinois adoption questions to de-mystify the process and help families decide if adoption is the right choice for them.
Q: What is adoption?
A: Adoption is the process of becoming the permanent and legal parent of a child. Through this legal action, the adoptive parent assumes full responsibility of the child,…
Continue Reading FAQs: Adoption in Illinois

Families come in various shapes and sizes. Many look to adoption to expand their family, including adopting the biological children of a current spouse. But often times, the excitement of a prospective adoption can be overshadowed by the unknown obstacles in the legal system.
Kogut & Wilson attorneys help families navigate the adoption process. Here are a few important considerations to determine if a stepparent adoption is right for your family.
How are Biological Parents Involved?
When adopting a step-child, both the biological parent and his or her spouse must be active participants throughout the entire process. This includes gathering…
Continue Reading Considering Step-Parent Adoption? Three Things to Consider Before Getting Started

Divorce affects every facet of one’s life, but many overlook estate planning post-divorce. What steps should be taken to ensure assets are protected after divorce?   
Update Documents  
While married, many people list their spouse as the executor of their estate in the event their spouse outlives them. After divorce, however, if the individual wishes to remove their ex-spouse as executor, it is necessary to create a new will.  
Additionally, if one’s ex-spouse is named in the power of attorney agreement to act on behalf of the individual, he or she should consider revoking that power of attorney and establishing…
Continue Reading Estate Planning Post-Divorce: Key Considerations for Protecting Assets