Posted on December 29, 2023 in Estate Planning

Creating a complex estate plan may be a reality for individuals with larger estates, diverse assets, and intricate family dynamics. While the process may seem daunting and potentially expensive, there are strategies to keep costs down without compromising the quality and effectiveness of the plan. If you are looking to create an estate plan but are concerned about the complexity of your estate and how much it may cost to make your plan, an experienced lawyer can assist you. Whether you want to create an Illinois will or something else, help is available.

Plan Ahead and Organize 

Before meeting with an estate planning attorney, take the time to gather and organize all relevant financial and legal documents. This includes property deeds, investment statements, insurance policies, and business documents. You can save time and reduce billable hours spent on information gathering by providing a comprehensive overview of your assets and liabilities.

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 Posted on December 27, 2023 in Family Law

A prenuptial agreement is not a rare concept. A lot of people are familiar with the term and even if they do not know the specifics, they know what it generally represents: a sort of contract between two people who are about to get married, explaining how their assets will be divided in the hypothetical chance that they end up getting a divorce. It can be compared to a will: people do not like to think about their death but are willing to do so to eliminate any disputes that could otherwise come up between whoever they leave behind and to remove any doubt about what should happen with their assets. Similarly, most couples planning a wedding would rather not think about the possibility of their marriage not working out, but some are willing to experience that discomfort for the sake of their future peace of mind.

However, the preference to not think about a negative future involving divorce is strong enough for some couples that they never sign a prenuptial agreement. With time, though, once they have settled into their marriage, they might regret this and realize that an agreement signed before divorce is even relevant can help their peace of mind. For such couples, a postnuptial agreement can be an excellent option. If you are already married and wondering whether a postnuptial agreement might be a good idea for you and your spouse, a knowledgeable Arlington Heights, IL family law attorney can answer your questions and help with this decision.

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 Posted on December 21, 2023 in Wills and Trusts

In Illinois, an irrevocable trust is a legal arrangement that provides individuals in Illinois with a powerful tool for estate planning. If you are looking to create an estate plan or add this type of trust as part of your estate plan, experienced lawyers are ready to make your goals a reality. By sitting down with an attorney, you will explore the key aspects of irrevocable trusts, their benefits, and how they differ from revocable trusts.

What is an Irrevocable Trust?

Irrevocable trusts are a legal entity created by an individual, referred to as the grantor, to hold and manage assets for the benefit of designated beneficiaries. Once established, the terms of an irrevocable trust cannot be modified or revoked without the consent of all beneficiaries. By relinquishing control over the assets, the grantor can protect them from creditors, estate taxes, and potential legal disputes. This type of trust is often used to transfer wealth, provide for loved ones with special needs, or support charitable causes.

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 Posted on December 12, 2023 in Divorce

Something that never used to be taken into account during divorce proceedings and now has an important role to play is how the soon-to-be-ex spouses conduct themselves on their various social media profiles. Social networks are increasingly important in people’s lives, as their uses have expanded to connecting with old friends, sharing milestones, professional networking, meeting potential dates, collaborating, and more. The issue is that regardless of whatever privacy settings you think you have put in place, whatever you post online is accessible to the entire world, and that can have implications for your divorce settlement. If you are considering divorce and find yourself wondering whether you need to make any changes to your social media conduct, an Arlington Heights, IL divorce lawyer can clear up any confusion you may have and help you create a plan of action for going forward.

Can My Social Media Profiles Impact My Divorce Settlement?

When a couple is going through a divorce, each spouse might try to represent themselves differently than how they truly are in an attempt to get a better divorce settlement. They might try to display themselves as having financial troubles, which could mean that they may not be compelled to pay their ex alimony or could even ensure that they receive these payments from their ex. They might try to present themselves as extremely loving and involved parents to ensure a favorable custody arrangement. However you wish to present yourself, there could be evidence to the contrary readily available online.

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 Posted on December 12, 2023 in Adoption

Adopting a child is a monumental life event, but it can also be a legally complex process. Even in an uncontested adoption in Illinois, seeking the assistance of a lawyer is wise and highly recommended. Your lawyer will help you navigate the uncontested adoption process, providing essential guidance through their first-hand professional experience in assisting clients to get through the process, all while ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Let Your Lawyer Lead the Way

A lawyer's primary role in an uncontested adoption is to provide legal advice and guidance. They can explain the legal requirements, rights, and obligations involved in the uncontested adoption process. A lawyer can help you understand the adoption laws in your jurisdiction, the necessary paperwork, and any potential challenges that may arise. They can guide you through the process, ensuring all required legal guidelines are adhered to in accordance with the law.

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 Posted on December 11, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce is a process where it can become easy to become bogged down and engulfed in negative emotions. While this makes sense, as divorce is rarely an easy process emotionally, it is important to remember for all parties going through a divorce that keeping a level head is very important, especially when children are involved in the situation. However, sometimes, the emotions of the process become too much to bear, and tempers flare. Illinois courts may appoint a parenting coordinator to help move along the custody side of things to ensure the well-being and best interests of the children in the situation. Discuss with your divorce attorney whether a parenting coordinator may be beneficial to your Illinois divorce.

Understanding Parenting Coordinator

A parenting coordinator is a neutral third party appointed by the court to assist divorcing parents in making decisions regarding their children’s welfare. Their primary goal is to promote healthy co-parenting relationships and help reduce conflicts. Parenting coordinators are typically experienced professionals, such as mental health professionals or family law attorneys, who have undergone specific training in this field.

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 Posted on December 06, 2023 in Family Law

No matter what the specific circumstances are, a couple going through a divorce will have several issues they need to work out and come to agreement about. When the couple has children, figuring out the division of parental responsibilities and costs can become one of the most complicated issues to settle.

These agreements are generally reached based on the circumstances of the couple at the time of the divorce settlement. However, circumstances can change and affect one’s ability to fulfill their obligations. If you are a parent who needs to pay child support and changed circumstances make it hard for you to do so, a Lombard, IL divorce lawyer can help guide you towards a more reasonable arrangement.

Can Child Support Arrangements Be Changed in Illinois?

If your divorce settlement includes the fact that you pay child support, it is likely that at the time of the divorce, you had stable employment and income. But what happens if you lose your job and can no longer afford to make those payments? Will you be obligated to keep paying even if it would harm your personal finances?

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 Posted on December 05, 2023 in Child Custody

If you are a parent and are heading toward a divorce, you probably have a lot of questions about how you and your spouse will divide parental rights and responsibilities. Since there is no uniform way for custody to be decided and every divorce is different, it would be legitimate for you to be feeling some uncertainty at this time. Have no fear. An experienced Arlington Heights, IL family lawyer will be able to clear up your confusion and create a plan to zealously fight for your rights.

What Is Considered Legal Custody?

What is commonly known as legal custody is referred to in the State of Illinois as parental responsibilities. This term covers parents’ rights to make decisions that concern their children in the following spheres:

• Health: This refers to all decisions about the child’s physical, dental, mental, and psychological health and treatment.

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 Posted on November 30, 2023 in Estate Planning

Building an estate plan is a highly important process that works to ensure your assets and wishes are protected and effectively distributed after your passing. However, many people looking to create an estate plan may be unaware of the timeline involved in the estate planning process. If you are interested in creating an estate plan and are wondering how long or short doing so may take, contact an experienced lawyer who practices estate planning law, as this person will be qualified to help you create an Illinois will or any other documents related to estate planning. Consulting with your lawyer will give you a better idea of the different factors that can influence the time it takes to create an estate plan and provide a general understanding of the timeline involved in the process.

Five Important Factors to Consider

1. Complexity of the estate – Of course, this is a significant factor in determining the time required to create an estate plan. The process may be relatively quick if you have a straightforward estate featuring minimal assets and beneficiaries. However, suppose you have a complex estate featuring things such as multiple properties, business interests, or blended families. In that case, more will be required to address these complexities and ensure your plan appropriately accounts for all aspects.

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 Posted on November 29, 2023 in Divorce

When both spouses going through a divorce have lucrative careers, the financial implications of their divorce may not seem so significant. They have both contributed to their bank accounts and marital assets and both would easily be able to make a case for why they deserve recognition for this in their divorce settlement, in the form of financial arrangements. However, when one spouse works and the other manages household responsibilities, it may be stressful for the latter to consider divorce and all the financial implications it could present. If you are a stay-at-home parent and you worry how divorce would affect your finances, an Arlington Heights, IL divorce attorney can answer your questions and passionately advocate for a divorce settlement you can be satisfied with.

How Does Equitable Division Help a Stay-At-Home Parent?

When a couple first starts dating, they might both have promising careers. They may both have studied and gotten specific degrees to prepare them for their professions and in the years they worked until they met, they may have been able to give everything to their jobs, staying overtime and dedicating themselves to their employers’ success.

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