Rincker Law is now on Pinterest!

Rincker Law Social Media and Technology Leave a Comment

If you are anything like me, Pinterest can be quite addicting.  I use it to find recipes, party ideas, office decoration ideas and heck – even chicken coop ideas.  You can now find Rincker Law, PLLC on Pinterest here!  Would love a follow and start pinning!

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Illinois Family Law: Parenting Time and Shelter in Place

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

We have received a lot of questions from folks about what to do about parenting time orders in the midst of a shelter in place.The current Shelter in Place Executive Order in Response to COVID-19 presently in place specifically excludes under Paragraph 14(e) “[t]ravel required by law enforcement or court order, including to transport children pursuant to a custody agreement.” …

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COBRA Basics for Divorcing Families

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

As a divorce attorney, I get a lot of questions about Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”).  More specific information relating to your family’s health insurance should be investigated by you and your spouse via the applicable employer. Generally speaking, COBRA is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and applies to covered employees, their spouses, their former …

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A Closer Look at the Pet “Custody” (or Pet Allocation) in Illinois

Rincker Law Animal Law, Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

A recent Champaign County case was decided concerning the division of property concerning pets in a divorce.  In the case of IRMO Montgomery v. Montgomery, a childless couple had two Shih Tzu dogs together that were about one year apart in age.  Both proved to be fit owners and the Husband had both dogs when the Wife moved out.  Later, …

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Ask Kym: Does my Spouse Have a Duty to Preserve Evidence?

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

As if there are not enough things to think about when beginning the divorce process, it is imperative that parties preserve evidence, even when merely the prospect of divorce litigation is present.  Thus, the duty to preserve evidence is triggered when there is probable, likely or reasonably anticipated litigation. See Shimanovsky v. General Motors  Corp. 181 Ill.2d 112, 121 (1998) …

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NALC Fact Sheet: Alternative Dispute Resolution in Farm and Ranch Divorces

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law, Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

If you follow me then you know that I loooooove Alternative Dispute Resolution.  In fact, I’m a trained mediator myself and I teach mediation as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois School of Law.  There is nothing that gives my heart more joy (well, except for puppies and baby goats) when I am able to resolve divorces through …

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Who Claims the Child(ren) as Tax Dependents under Illinois Law?

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

In Illinois, it is within the trial court’s discretion to give the dependency status to one parent because the tax dependency issue is viewed as an issue of support. In re Marriage of Evanoff and Tomasek, 2016 IL App (1st) 150017 (1st Dist. 2016), In re Marriage of Sawicki, 346 Ill.App.3d 1107 (3rd Dist. 2004).  If a court allows the …

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NALC Fact Sheet: Equitable Distribution Issues in Farm and Ranch Divorces

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

When I say that divorce is one of the Big D’s that hurt multi-generational family farms, I am mostly referring to equitable distribution issues.  Read my fact sheet on this issue here.  You can also check out all my fact sheets with the National Agriculture Law Center on family law issues here.

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NALC Fact Sheet: Farm Succession and Estate Planning Concerns in a Divorce

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law, Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

Oftentimes folks who are getting a divorce, do not think about estate planning concerns but this is an especially important issue for multi-generational farm and ranch families,  Read my fact sheet with the National Agriculture Law Center on this very topic here.  All of the family law issues in agriculture Fact Sheets can be found here.

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Family Law Issues in Agriculture: Fact Sheets with the National Agriculture Law Center

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law, Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

I just love it when my writing hits the press! And I especially love it when it combines my two passion areas — family law and agriculture law.  I am honored to have authored the Fact Sheets on family law issues in agriculture with the National Agriculture Law Center.  You can review them individually here or the packet here.

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Family Law Issues in Agriculture: Child Support

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

Child support in most states is largely formulaic (i.e., a math equation)– basic support is typically calculated by looking at the income and qualified deductions of each parent. However, for most involved in farming and ranching or other kind of agri-business, finding the numbers for the math equation is anything but straightforward. This figure is also used to help calculate …

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Family Law Issues in Agriculture: Orders of Protection

Rincker Law Family/Matrimonial Law Leave a Comment

An Order of Protection is available for parties who are being stalked, harassed, or abused by their partner (physically, verbally, or sexually). It is available not only for romantic relationships (e.g., spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend), but also other family relationships (e.g., between a farmer landlord uncle and farmer tenant niece). Although the procedures for filing and defending against an order of protection …

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