There are many facets to a Collaborative Dissolution. The focus of the process is on the best interest of the family, not on any particular party. The discussions are team driven and needs based rather than positional bargaining looking for a winner or a loser. When a family is in the right place to have open and transparent talks about how to create their story after the divorce, the Collaborative Process can make a tremendous difference financially and emotionally. Read More »
Archives for 2018
The Collaborative Divorce Participation Agreement
So many clients contemplating a collaborative divorce wonder, if they can’t cooperate during their marriage, how are they going to collaborate to get divorced. The instability and chaos people usually feel at this point of their decision making is unsettling. How much will a divorce cost? How long will it take? Can I keep the house? What will my parenting time look like? The questions run fast and the answers not fast enough.
The uncertainty can sometimes be tamed by focusing on common interests. Almost always when meeting new clients, they can agree generally on several important things: the kids should be impacted as little as possible, they should spend as little as necessary in divorcing, they are concerned about their finances going forward, they are concerned about how the family dynamic will look when it’s over. Those common goals and concerns can be the focal point used to collaborate in a divorce despite the feeling of non-cooperation in the marriage. Read More »
Frequently Asked Questions On The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act
FAQ’s On The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act – 765 ILCS 77/1 et seq. Read More »
Important Things To Know When Thinking Of Bankruptcy
If you are thinking bankruptcy might be an option for you, there are a few important things to remember in order to avoid hurting your chances of a successful bankruptcy: Read More »
Condo Owners Now Have Another Defense To Association Collection
A recent Appellate Court decision gives condo owners another defense to collection actions from their associations. Now, like a regular eviction, condo owners may claim that they are not required to pay their association dues because of the poor condition of the condominium complex. The association attempted to evict the owner for non-payment of assessments, but the owner claimed that the building was poorly maintained and, as a result, her unit flooded causing interior damage. She claimed that the association was aware of the failing brickwork, but did nothing to correct it. Since the condominium declaration required the association to use the assessments to keep the property in good repair, the appellate court allowed the defense. Read More »
Giving The Finger To Cop Not Enough For Arrest
An appellate court in New York recently determined that giving the finger to a cop is not sufficient probable cause for an arrest. A passenger in a vehicle flashed the bird at a cop in a speed trap. Naturally, the cop took off after the car. Words were exchanged between the couple in the car and the officer, which eventually resulted in the passenger’s arrest. After the charges were dismissed, the couple sued the officer for violations of their civil rights. The officers attempted to avoid liability by claiming they properly stopped the vehicle after receiving the finger since they thought that was a sign that somebody was in distress or in trouble. The appellate court found the reasoning humorously off base and the traffic stop unconstitutional. Read More »