Divorces among farm families inherently have animal issues – not only with live animals but also with genetic material (e.g., embryos, semen). These are important property disputes for some farm families. Depending on the state, companion animals can be treated differently. Companion Animals To begin, companion animals typically include dogs and cats, but can also include some exotic animals and …
Not only am I on the GAL roster for the Sixth Circuit (including Champaign and Douglas Counties) and the Fourth Circuit (including Shelby County) but I am now on the GAL roster for the Fifth Circuit which includes Coles County, Vermilion County and Edgar County. Working with children is a passion of mine and looking forward to continuing to serve …
Cryogenically frozen embryos are a very unique type of marital property, to say the least. They represent two divorced people having a baby. Dividing this unique, and emotionally charged, property hinges on balancing one party’s interest in not being forced to procreate after a divorce and the right of the other party to have a biological child, which in most …
In Illinois, spousal maintenance obligations ends either: (1) automatically based on a date specified in the court order; (2) automatically upon remarriage; (3) when the recipient spouse begins cohabitating with a significant other, which requires the payor-spouse to ask the court; (4) automatically upon death unless a life insurance policy is to be paid to the recipient ex-spouse when the …
I had the pleasure of being the keynote speaker last night to the Knox County Beef Association, a county affiliate of the Illinois Beef Association. What a crowd they had for their annual meeting — exciting to witness and be a part of. My keynote focused on family and its importance to the beef industry. You can read it here.
Generally, a non-custodial parent is entitled to reasonable visitation. 750 ILCS 5/607. However, if a court finds that the parent “seriously endangered the child’s mental, mortal, or physical health or…significantly impaired the child’s emotional development, the court shall enter orders as necessary to protect the child.” 750 ILCS 5/603.10. Actions that limit, restrain, or confine visitation include the following: a requirement ofsupervised visitation; …
Medical records are required to be produced if they are relevant for spousal maintenance. If the spouse requesting maintenance is claiming he or she cannot work because of a medical condition, then the other spouse is entitled to the medical records. During the discovery phase of litigation, the parties may request documents that are relevant to the divorce, including spousal …
When a divorced or separated parent who has physical custody of the child(ren) wants to relocate, he or she is required to give at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice of the change of residence (“relocation”) to the other parent, unless such notice is impracticable or unless otherwise ordered by the court. See 750 ILCS 5/609.2(d). This notice must …