Recent Blog Posts
Creating a Parenting Plan in Illinois
If you plan to divorce in Illinois and wish to share custody of your children with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse, you will be required to create a parenting agreement. Parenting agreements, also called parenting plans, create the foundation for post-divorce child custody and visitation. Divorcing parents who wish to pursue joint custody are required to sign a joint parenting agreement which outlines how they will share parental responsibilities and resolve disagreements as co-parents.
What to Include in Your Parenting Plan
There are certain elements an Illinois parenting plan must contain. At minimum, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5) requires that a parenting plan include:
- A designation of the parent who will have the majority of parenting time and who will make most of the decisions about the child’s life;
Harsher Penalties Now in Effect for Wrong-Way DUI Crashes
Often with a new year comes new laws, and 2019 was no different. In fact this year, over 250 new laws went into effect on January 1, 2019. One, in particular, affects those charged with a DUI while traveling on the wrong side of the road. Now, wrong-way travel is an aggravating factor in sentencing for DUIs.
What exactly does the new law entail, though? And what does it mean for drivers in Rolling Meadows?
The New DUI Law
House Bill 4554 was debated throughout most of 2018. In August of that year, Governor Bruce Rauner signed the bill that would become law in January of the new year.
The new law amends a section of the Illinois Criminal Code. It does not, however, actually change the drunk driving laws in Illinois. Those found driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher will still likely be charged with driving under the influence. This will apply regardless of the side of the street they were driving on at the time, or whether or not the DUI driver caused an accident.
When Can I Stop Making Spousal Maintenance Payments in Illinois?
If you are divorced, you may have been ordered to pay your spouse spousal maintenance. Spousal maintenance, also called spousal support or alimony, is designed to help subsidize a financially-disadvantaged spouse after a divorce. For example, a stay-at-home parent who forgoes work outside the home to care for children is left at a serious disadvantage after divorce. Reentering the work force can be difficult or impossible after such a long absence. Depending on the health, employability, and life circumstances of an individual awarded spousal support, the support may be ordered to last indefinitely. Other times, support is only ordered temporarily.
There are several ways in which spousal maintenance obligations terminate or are available for modification. If you want to stop or modify court-ordered spousal support payments, it may be helpful to learn about Illinois spousal maintenance laws.
Are Porch Pirates Burglars?
The holidays are over, but that has not stopped porch pirates from scooping up items left on porches. In a recent case, a porch pirate was caught on a security camera stealing a unicorn from the porch of a Wicker Park home in the early morning hours. Unlike most porch pirates heard of in the news, the unicorn was not a package delivered by a postal service or courier. Instead, a two-year-old living in the home had simply left it on the porch.
This type of crime is clearly against the law. However, this is one area of law that is not as clear as others. Are porch pirates considered burglars in the eyes of the law? Or, are they charged with another crime, such as petty theft?
Definition of Burglary in Rolling Meadows
According to 720 ILCS 5/19-3, residential burglary in Illinois is defined as when a person enters a dwelling, or any part thereof, without permission with the intent to steal another person’s property. The statute also states that anyone convicted of residential burglary is guilty of a Class 1 felony. In Illinois, a conviction of residential burglary can carry sentences of four to fifteen years in prison.
Is My Spouse Entitled to Half the Marital Estate in an Illinois Divorce?
If you are considering divorce or have already decided to end your marriage, you probably have many questions. One of these questions may be about how your accumulated wealth and property will be divided during the divorce process. Television and movies are rife with examples of a resentful spouse getting more than their fair share during a divorce. However, Illinois courts do make every effort to make property division decisions as fairly as possible. If you are wondering how your property will be divided between you and your soon-to-be-ex spouse, read on to learn about Illinois equitable distribution laws.
If You and Your Spouse Agree on How to Divide Property
Illinois courts encourage divorcing couples to make their own decisions about property. If a couple can agree on who will get what after the divorce, there may be no need for court intervention. Understandably, some divorcing couples are not able to come to such an agreement. If you and your spouse cannot reach a settlement about property and debt, the courts will use a method called equitable distribution to make property decisions.
Challenging a Search Warrant
During a criminal trial, the prosecution’s case often rests on evidence seized by law enforcement officers during a search. In order for that search to be lawful, the owner of the property must voluntarily agree to the search, or law enforcement officers must have a valid search warrant. When police officers have a search warrant, the owners of the property must never interfere with the search. However, this does not mean that the search cannot be contested in the future.
Challenging a search warrant during a trial is a very common defense for those accused of committing a crime. If the defense can prove a search was unlawful, any evidence obtained during that search is deemed inadmissible in court. This can lead to the entire case being dismissed.
So, how does one challenge the validity of a search warrant? In Rolling Meadows, there are three possible ways to do it.
Unlawful Items Seized
With a search warrant, law enforcement officials must indicate the exact property they plan to search, and the evidence they are looking for. When they conduct the search, they are only allowed to take the property specified in the warrant. If they find evidence of another crime, or evidence such as electronic data that was not listed on the search warrant, they cannot seize that property.
Driver’s License Reinstatement Hearing
A driver’s license suspension can happen for a number of reasons. Perhaps you were charged with a DUI, or had too many points on your license. Whatever the reason, now you want your license back. And to get it back, you will need to attend a driver’s license reinstatement hearing.
These hearings are held at the Secretary of State Formal Hearing Offices, and the process can be intimidating. Lawyers are present to represent the Secretary of State, and whether or not you can start driving again all depends on the outcome. For your best chance at success, below are some tips to follow that can help.
Bring All Supporting Documents
Your hearing will end before it has even begun if you do not have all the necessary documents. An attorney for the Secretary of State will ask for them before the hearing even starts. A license reinstatement lawyer can advise on the specific documents you will need for your case, but the most common are:
There Are Defenses to Burglary in Illinois
Recently, burglaries occurred on the same day at two different businesses in Chicago. As of this writing, the police had not yet released much information, including whether or not the two incidents are related. They had released basic information about the suspects and are asking for the public’s help in finding them.
Facing burglary charges is extremely difficult, and may seem like a hopeless situation. It is not. A burglary lawyer in Rolling Meadows can help those accused build a strong defense and retain their freedom.
Elements of Burglary in Rolling Meadows
According to 720 ILCS 5/19-1, a person commits burglary when they enter into a building or structure without the permission of the owner or occupier. In order for burglary charges to apply, this breaking and entering must be done with the intent to commit a crime.
The prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that all three elements of the crime existed in order for a court to convict those accused. Refuting these elements will be a strong defense to any case, as this will create reasonable doubt in the minds of a judge or jury.
Been Charged with a Hit-And-Run? Defenses Are Available
When someone is involved in an accident, it is natural for the fight-or-flight response to kick in. It is for this reason that many people flee the scene of an accident. This is particularly true if they do not believe there was major property damage or serious injury. Leaving the scene of an accident could result in a hit-and-run charge. Those charged will face serious consequences if convicted. Due to this, it is important anyone charged knows that there are defenses available.
Illinois Law on Hit-And-Runs
The Illinois Compiled Statute, 625 ILCS 5/11-402 explains very clearly that hit-and-runs are against the law. Those charged with this crime in Illinois may be convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, a possible license suspension, and even jail time in some cases.
In addition to the state statute, it is also law to report certain accidents to the Illinois Department of Transportation within ten days of the incident. Accidents that must be reported are those that result in death, bodily injury, or property damage over $1,500. This law pertains to contacting authorities. Even when minor accidents do not require reporting, all drivers involved are still required to stop. This is mainly so drivers can exchange information in case an issue from the accident arises later.
Do Not Make These Social Media Mistakes During Your Divorce
Social media has revolutionized the way we talk to our friends and loved ones. Most people who experience a major life change such as a marriage or birth of a child write about the event on their social media pages. Ideally, everyone would be able to post what they wanted to online without any negative consequences. Realistically, however, almost everything you do or say online could come back to cause problems for you during divorce. Those undergoing a separation or divorce should make sure to post with caution and avoid the most common social media blunders.
Bragging About Expensive Vacations or Other Purchases
You can inadvertently cause problems for yourself in the future by posting information about major purchases on social media during your divorce. If you are putting pictures up of a new car or computer, this will could your argument for spousal support. You may have been pinching pennies for a long time to afford your new things, but such posts can create the impression that you are making money “under the table” or are otherwise not being honest about your assets.
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Arlington Heights Office 3030 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 120 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Phone: 847-253-3100
At Cosley Law Office, we represent clients in Illinois, including the cities of Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Buffalo Grove, Barrington, Elk Grove Village, Inverness, Wheeling, Long Grove and Mundelein, as well as Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County and throughout the Chicago, IL, metropolitan area.
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3030 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 120, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-253-3100