Can I refuse or stop the other parent's visitation when no court order for visitation has been entered by an Illinois judge or administrative hearing officer?When a court order has yet to be entered to grant visitation to the other parent, then the custodial parent or the parent in possession of the child can simply deny the other parent visitation, correct?Yes, that is true. However, that is not the whole story. Even when a court order does not exist for visitation by the other parent, and if the parent having the child denies visitation over an extended period of time, this may give rise …

Domestic violence is a serious problem, and some even describe it as one of the ugliest forms of violence. Looking at the other side of the coin, a matter with potentially as severe and ugly consequences is being falsely accused of committing acts of domestic abuse. Presently, there is an increased awareness around domestic abuse cases against women in the United States and correspondingly, laws - such as the Violence Against Women Act, established in 1994 - have been put in place. There is a lot less attention on acts of domestic violence in which the women are the perpetrators. Pointing to …

A divorce is complicated in and of itself, but when you add large amounts of money and assets such as businesses, vacation homes, retirement accounts and the like, a divorce becomes even more complex. Anyone who is considering, or who is already in the midst of, a high-asset divorce should speak with an attorney immediately. An attorney can be an excellent resource and can help with division of property and other related matters that may arise in a high-asset divorce.

Ordinarily, in an Illinois divorce or paternity case, a father who is not awarded custody is granted visitation with his children. In fact, Illinois Statute places a heavy burden on a custodial parent who seeks to have the other parent’s visitation supervised. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act provides that a non-custodial parent is entitled to reasonable visitation unless "that visitation would endanger seriously the child's physical, mental, moral or emotional health." Without such a finding, a judge is prohibited from restricting visitation. Furthermore, any …

Division of property is often one of the most significant issues faced by divorcing couples. What the court considers property and how it will be divided between the parties can be complicated, and anyone currently going through this process should seek the help of a skilled family law attorney.

Divorce can be an overwhelming process in every aspect. Feeling overwhelmed emotionally, financially, and even physically is not uncommon during a divorce case. As two spouses end their legal union, many complications can arise. Even the most straightforward divorce matter can become quite complex very quickly, and may require a professional with a significant knowledge of Illinois law. Sometimes, it seems that only a judge at trial can resolve these complications. However, an alternative dispute resolution method, mediation, is often used with great success while saving each spouse …

On August 15, Governor Quinn signed into law new alimony rules that will drastically change how support is determined in divorce cases in Illinois. The new rules will become effective on January 1, 2015 and all divorce cases filed after that date will be subject to the new laws.

I live in Illinois—Should I make a Health Care Power of Attorney?Yes, most certainly you should. On June 27,2014, the Governor of Illinois signed into law a new Health Care Power Of Attorney Act that will be effective January 1, 2015.How do I create a health care power of attorney?

Sometimes a relationship turns south and becomes abusive. Unfortunately, it’s hard to realize when your relationship has become abusive and when you need to leave. The good news is that once you have made that decision, obtaining a protective order can help keep you safe.