Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog
Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed by Illinois House and Senate
Illinois legislators in both the House and Senate have passed a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage. Governor Pat Quinnis expected to sign the bill sometime in the near future. It is highly likely the bill will officially become law by next summer.
The House passed the bill with a 61-54 vote after more than two hours of debate. The Senate took only an hour to send the bill on its way toward approval with its own passing vote.
Revenge Porn: Victims Searching for Relief from Public Humiliation
Imagine receiving a phone call that people in your town have been overheard talking about you because they have seen naked pictures of you online. You immediately wonder how that is possible because you have never posted any pictures of that nature to any online source.
Several Fox Valley Mayors Urge State Legislators to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
According to a report by Chicago Tribune, a letter, composed by Geneva’s mayor and backed by Illinois Unites for Marriage, was recently endorsed by several other mayors in the Fox Valley area. These mayors were from St. Charles, Plano, Sleepy Hollow, North Aurora, Elburn, and Yorkville.
The Religious Freedom and Marriage Equality Fairness Act, a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois if passed, will soon be considered by the Illinois House of Representatives. The letter demands a passing vote.
Avoid Making These Mistakes When Considering Divorce
A marriage is usually a joyful, memorable event, but its counterpart, divorce, is memorable in a wholly different way. Due to the nature of divorce, it is only natural for disputing spouses to go through strong emotions while dealing with the marriage dissolution process. However, emotions can make for bad decisions, which can in turn lead to more anguish down the line.
It is important for a divorcee to think clearly at pivotal points during the process and avoid making these five common mistakes.
Five Things to Keep in Mind during Divorce
The divorce process can get quite hectic and leave those involved emotionally and mentally drained by the end of each day. Especially turbulent divorce cases can last for years and incur legal costs of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, there are ways for former spouses to keep the process civil, clean, and efficient so all parties can come out intact and in relative peace with one another.
Communication is Key
Just because a marriage ends doesn’t mean you and your former spouse should cut all communication. In fact, open communication should be retained so all familial, legal, and financial issues can be hashed out through discussions and fair compromises, making the divorce easier for everyone involved.
Divorce, Asset Division, and the Importance of Location
Location does not just describe one’s physical environment; it incorporates social, financial, and legal “geographies,” such as culture, job availability and proximity, and laws. In other words, location affects everyone deeply and largely determines their lives. Even family law can vary widely depending on location.
Same-Sex Couples to Receive Recognition from I.R.S.
Marriage equality advocates experienced a watershed moment back in June when the Supreme Court revoked the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, extending federal tax benefits to same-sex couples all across the nation. As joyous as the occasion was for supporters of gay rights, concerns immediately arose as to how exactly the ruling would be implemented and administered. There were also questions on how the ruling would impact same-sex couples living in states where gay marriage is not recognized. An answer has finally been provided.
According to a report by The New York Times, on August 29, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that all legally married same-sex couples, no matter where they live, will be required to file federal tax returns as married couples starting from the 2013 tax year. The new restriction is being welcomed with open arms by gay and civil rights groups.
Finding the Divorce Lawyer Who is Right for You
Divorcees often have misconceptions about the representation they should get for their divorce case. Some believe the gender of an attorney plays an important role; supposedly, men make more aggressive lawyers while women are better at compromise. Others believe there are very specific approaches that see more success in the courtroom. For example, a divorcee might prefer an attorney with a meaner approach over a “nice guy” attorney. However, these ideas are all far from the truth.
There is no such thing as the perfect approach. There is no one perfect “type” of attorney.
Divorce for Gay Couples a Costly and Complicated Process
Gay couples have faced great challenges over the years trying to legalize gay marriage in their respective states. The Supreme Court’s decision in June to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act provided a watershed moment for many gay couples who hoped to someday be granted the same privileges as straight couples. Although the battle is far from over for those who seek marriage equality, much progress has been made. However, one surprising new issue has cropped up that adds a whole new layer to the marriage equality debate: divorce.
The Problem of Location
Gay marriage was legalized for the first time in Massachusetts in 2004. Since then, 12 more states and the District of Columbia have done the same. The majority of the United States still does not recognize gay marriage. Consequently, gay couples are often forced to travel to other states, outside of where they work and live, to get married.
Since a couple’s divorce is usually granted by the state of which they are residents, gay couples living in states in which gay marriage is not recognized may not be able to get a divorce. They also can’t simply travel to another state to file the divorce since many states require at least a six-month minimum stay in order to qualify for residential status.
Recovery from a Divorce May Take Longer than Expected
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, experts in the field of psychiatry say most people need two years to recover from an emotional trauma like divorce. Those who were blindsided by the traumatic occurrence — the sudden and often unexpected departure of a spouse, for example — may take even longer to get back on their feet.
A divorce brings about a dramatic shift in life, and it is perfectly natural for divorcees to take their time gathering themselves. Prudence Gourguechon, former president of the American Psychoanalytic Association, says that divorcees should make peace with the length of the process. This way, they’ll be able to relax and fully engage in their recovery.
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