Generally, all types of assets acquired during your marriage are marital property and may be divided by divorce court.*For many years in order to keep their employees, companies offered not only a salary but frequently a bonus and a pension plan. During the economic good times before 2008, stock options have even more popular as a means of additional compensation to employees.Your spouse may receive company stock or stock options as a form of additional pay. You need to be sure to verify whether your spouse in fact owns company stock or stock options. As part of the "discovery" process in an …

"In a criminal case, can the government make you testify if you claim your Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination?"From 1870 until 1970, in order to compel a person to testify who had claimed the Fifth Amendment, the government had to grant what was called "transactional" immunity.So, if you were granted immunity you could be made to testify but there was no way that the government prosecutors could ever charge you with any crime related to your testimony. This the United States Supreme Court said was the only constitutional way to grant you immunity and to make you talk.

If you have been the victim of an accident involving a slip and fall on someone’s property, you should reach out to an attorney to have your case evaluated. Slip and fall accidents can produce serious and sometimes lifelong injuries. Understanding some of the common terminology in these cases can help you understand whether your case might qualify for damages and give you a sense of what to expect in a slip and fall lawsuit.Common law negligence: The individual in charge of the business premises must exercise “reasonable care” for customers, employees, and delivery personnel. This is a…

In a move that can only be described as "Monty Python imitates life," according to the ABA Journal, a living man appeared in court and was declared legally dead by the judge. The judge then refused to reverse the ruling.In my opinion, this created some rather interesting problems:Can the dean man still vote if he is a registered voter?

If my spouse files for divorce in Illinois, do I need to file a counter petition also asking for divorce? It sounds like a simple question doesn't it? But the answer is not what you would expect.

"After my divorce, my ex-husband didn't give me a deed to our house in Illinois as he was ordered to do in our Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage. I can't find him now to have him sign the deed. What do I do?"All is not lost, if you received the house as part of your divorce settlement, Marital Settlement Agreement, or Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage you should take two immediate steps.1. Record your divorce judgment commonly called your Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage with the Recorder of Deeds in the Illinois County where the house is located. This should be done so that if a …

Divorce is a scary and stressful situation to deal with. For parents, the stress of divorce can be much more intense than for childless couples. One of the trickiest tasks of a parent going through a divorce is sitting down and breaking the news to the kids. However, this task can be more bearable if you do your research beforehand and follow a few simple steps.One of the most important factors to consider when planning your talk with your children is to make sure that you and your spouse will do it together. You want to present a united front so as to convey to your children that they still …

"In Illinois, can the father of my child be ordered to provide medical insurance for our child and contribute toward medical expenses not covered by insurance? Or is that all covered in child support?"

"As the mother of two children going through a divorce in Illinois, can I ask the court to order their father child to pay the children's extracurricular activities such as sports and lessons or this all included in child support?"Good news here. Since January, Illinois law has changed. Although it is still up to the judge in your case as to how much is paid the new law requires that divorce judges consider your request for the children's' expenses outside of child support.The new provision of the law 750 ILCS 5/2- 505(a)(2.5) effective January 1, 2013, reads:

While Illinois income taxes ranked high among the states in general, Illinois does offer income tax breaks for those who are retired.Illinois does not assess state income tax on Social Security benefits. As a side note Alabama, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania all exclude Social Security benefits from their state taxes.Illinois does not assess state income tax on military pensions, in-state pensions, and many private pensions.

"Should I file for custody or guardianship of my niece who has been left with me for several years by her mother? Is there a difference between the custody or guardianship of a child?"

Especially if you’re experiencing a medical emergency, you need qualified physicians and personnel who can quickly evaluate the situation and arrive at a clear conclusion. Sadly, misdiagnosis happens in hospitals and clinics, leading to serious and even fatal errors in treating patients. If you have suffered injuries, pain, or further complications as a result of a misdiagnosis, confer with a Hinsdale medical malpractice attorney sooner rather than later. You may be eligible for compensation, which can help avoid financial problems that may arise from medical treatment. Medical bills are …

Drug commercials run constantly on every channel.  Sometimes it is unclear what is ever being treated by some of these medications.  If the purpose of the product is sometimes unknown, then what else is improperly presented by commercials for drugs?A research team comprised of academics of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Dartmouth College looked to answer that question.  They reviewed the veracity of TV commercials that drug companies run in the United States.

Rather than choosing to terminate a marriage with divorce, some couples choose an annulment. Annulment, when granted by a court, essentially invalidates a marriage from day it began. Unlike with a divorce, an annulment means that there was never a marriage at all and the two parties involved were never united as husband and wife.

Over the past decade, state legislatures have been exploring ways to reduce car accidents by considering placing restrictions on teen driving. Although there has been a general decline in teen traffic fatalities, research also shows that drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 are nearly eight times as likely to get involved in a fatal car accident if they are carrying two or more peers in the vehicle. Serious car accidents can harm other drivers with catastrophic injuries, and if you have been a victim, you need legal representation.A teen driver with just having one passenger under the age of…

Because of the Recession that shook the country for the better part of the last decade, there seem to be quick-fix solutions for everything popping up just about everywhere. Divorce is no exception. Especially in major cities such as Chicago, signs advertising a fast, painless, easy, and cheap solution to your marital woes are ubiquitous. But can they fulfill the promises they make?Most experts, including the Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money magazine, note that there are often hidden costs associated with these quick fixes, and they lack the security brought by a qualified family law …

If you've been in a car accident, it is usually apparent. Your car may be scratched, dented, or worse. Our bodies can also be injured, but the injuries are not always as apparent.Many automobile accidents result in soft tissue injuries. While these injuries can be quite severe, they are not easy to see with the eye and symptoms are not always immediate. For this reason, prompt evaluation by a physician is important. There are several types of soft tissues that are commonly injured during an automobile accident. Understanding their function can help you visualize what may have happened to your…

Going to the hospital is scary no matter what age you are.  These visits are necessary if you are facing a serious illness or emergency situation.  The stakes are higher and any mistake could be costly and fatal.  There are a few common mistakes that can be avoided when you visit a hospital to make sure you get the best possible care.1. Improper MedicationAt the hospital, you may be required to take medication throughout your visit.  There are many other patients taking their pills also.  To safeguard yourself or loved one throughout the visit, make sure you ask your doctor to list the …

"My husband and I were divorced in Cook County several years ago. He has since relocated to California. I now live in DuPage County. I want to petition the Court for an increase in child support and back support, do I need to go back to Cook County to present my petition or can I file in DuPage County where I live?"You are in luck, you have several choices of counties where you can to see file your new petition.By law (the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act), if your ex-spouse no longer lives in Illinois and more than 30 days have gone by, you have the right to go to any one of…

If you are not married to the mother of your child in Illinois, you have a right to establish in court that you are the legal father of your child or prove paternity. It is important to do so since the mother can stop your visits with your child anytime unless there is a court order setting court-mandated child visitation rights for you.Also, establishing your paternity of your child lets your child know that you cared enough to take the legal steps to be recognized as his or her parent. This knowledge will stay with your child throughout the his or her life.Give Them a Better Life