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Recent Blog Posts
What is a Limited Guardianship?
Full guardianship places the guardian in control of most aspects of the ward’s life. A guardian decides where the ward should live, makes important medical decisions for the ward, and manages the ward’s financial affairs. When an adult with significant disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s or developmental delays, needs assistance with almost every area of life, a typical guardianship is likely appropriate. A limited guardianship can be used when the prospective ward is functioning well in most areas of daily life but requires help with others. Your Schaumburg, IL guardianship attorney can help you determine what type of guardianship would be best based on the prospective ward’s needs and abilities. If you begin with a limited guardianship, it is possible to advance to a full guardianship later on if the ward’s condition deteriorates and he needs more help.
3 Legal Steps Cohabiting Parents Should Take
Not all couples who are in committed relationships choose to take the step of getting legally married. Some people do not believe in legal marriage for various cultural, personal, or political reasons. Many such couples choose to have a commitment ceremony that does not result in a legally binding marriage. Other couples intend to get married in the future and simply have children together first. Planning a wedding while pregnant or caring for an infant is not easy, so many couples postpone marriage until their children are a bit older. A third category of parents who cohabit but are not married are those who experienced an unintended pregnancy and are not prepared to get married but do stay together. Fortunately, there are legal steps nontraditional families can take to protect their family unit. An experienced Schaumburg, IL family law attorney can help determine what steps you should take.
3 Choices You Can Make Using a Living Will
A living will is one of several very important advance directives that every adult should have in place. Your advance directives allow you to make certain decisions about your own medical care ahead of time in case you become incapacitated in the future. A healthcare power of attorney lets you name the person you would want to make decisions on your behalf. A living will lets you make some decisions on your own behalf more directly. When you are creating your living will, it is very important to think carefully about what types of treatments you would accept if you were incapacitated by a condition like dementia. Different people have different beliefs about end-of-life care. Some would want everything done to prolong their life, while others would prefer to be allowed to pass peacefully without being subjected to painful treatments first. A Cook County, IL estate planning attorney can help you create these essential documents.
How to Prepare for a Protection Order Hearing
Getting an order of protection can help you stay safe while you are in the process of divorcing your abuser. Perpetrators of domestic violence can react violently when they find out that the victim is leaving for good. This makes the first few weeks after leaving a highly dangerous time for domestic violence survivors. While it is possible for an abuser to ignore a protection order, having one in place can greatly reduce the chances of an incident. Protection orders act as a strong deterrent for abusers, who know that they can be arrested just for approaching your home. They also inform the police and everyone around you that your spouse is a dangerous person and any sightings of him near your home or workplace need to be taken seriously. An aggressive Schaumburg, IL protection orders attorney should represent you.
Choosing the Right Medical Power of Attorney
If you are getting older, experiencing a major health condition, or have other lifestyle factors like a dangerous job or hobby that makes you more likely to have a serious medical event, you should make sure that you have important documents like a medical power of attorney and a living will in place. A living will tells your medical providers what types of medical interventions you would and would not accept if your injury or illness prevents you from expressing your own wishes. A medical power of attorney names the person you would want to be able to access your medical information and make important decisions on your behalf. Choosing this person wisely is of the highest importance. You should discuss your decision with an experienced Schaumburg, IL estate planning attorney.
Can I Get Court-Ordered Visitation With My Grandchildren?
Spending time with your grandchildren may be one of your greatest joys in life. Being a grandparent is far different from being a parent. Instead of being responsible for a child’s upbringing 24/7, you are only responsible for loving and perhaps spoiling them a bit. If you are not being allowed to see a grandchild you have an established relationship with, you might be able to go to court to enforce your grandparents’ rights. However, courts will only help grandparents assert the right to see their grandchildren under limited circumstances. A Schaumburg, IL family law attorney can help determine whether you might qualify for court-ordered visitation with your grandchildren.
When Can a Grandparent Enforce Visitation Rights?
While having your adult child refuse you access to your grandchildren can be heartbreaking for all involved, parents do have a right to decide who their children should spend time with. If your adult child has made this parenting decision and the only issue is a family dispute, you may not be able to convince a court to override his or her choice in this matter. You may be able to get court-ordered time with your grandchildren if:
How Can a Trust Protect My Estate From Creditors?
Estate planning allows the owner of an estate to distribute it to beneficiaries after passing away. However, one of the common obstacles estate owners face is having to protect those assets from being seized by creditors. Many debts are not forgiven upon a person’s death, so creditors often have a right to settle any outstanding debts from a debtor’s assets before they are distributed to his or her heirs.
One of the ways to protect an estate from creditors is to put it in a trust. While there are several types of trusts, this article will discuss those that can help safeguard property from being snatched up by banks and other lenders. To know which type of trust is right for you, consult an experienced Illinois estate planning attorney.
What Is a Trust?
A trust is a legal entity that assumes ownership of an asset for a certain purpose. When an estate owner transfers property to a trust, the trust becomes the owner of the property.
What Is a Cohabitation Agreement and Do I Need One?
Marriage is a major life-changing step, both personally and legally. Couples who are married cannot simply "break up" and part ways. Instead, married couples who want to break off their relationship must file for divorce. That triggers a complex legal process that can be invasive and unpleasant.
For those reasons and others, a growing number of couples are choosing to live together rather than get married, an arrangement that the law calls "cohabitation." Illinois recognizes cohabitation as a legal relationship in which two unmarried people live together intimately. Research shows that a larger share of Americans have cohabited than those who have been married.
If two people live together intimately without being married, it is advisable to sign a cohabitation agreement as soon as possible. This article will discuss what a cohabitation agreement is and how to have one drafted by an Illinois family law attorney.
Three Crucial Components of Living Wills
A living will is a common estate planning document that discusses a person’s preferences for medical treatment in situations where the person can no longer communicate his or her decisions. Establishing a living will ensures your healthcare wishes are respected, providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Contact an Illinois estate planning lawyer to learn more or to incorporate a living will into your own estate plan.
Designation of Treatment Preferences
Defining Your Medical Wishes
One of the most important aspects of a living will is the designation of treatment preferences. This section outlines the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures you prefer or wish to avoid should you become incapacitated. Common considerations include:
What Do My Ex and I Need to Figure Out in a Divorce?
For couples considering divorce, the future can seem very uncertain. You might already know you definitely want to end your marriage, but what do you do next? Who makes the first move? What kinds of issues need to be resolved? Can you do it on your own and save some money, or do you need an attorney in your corner, fighting for your rights?
These are all tough questions, and the answers are different for every couple. But knowing what kinds of issues you will need to resolve in a divorce is a great place to start. Here, we will look at the most common aspects of divorce that couples negotiate and include in their divorce agreement. For specific guidance with your case, talk to an Illinois divorce attorney. Even if you are confident you and your spouse can negotiate a fair divorce settlement on your own, having an attorney advise you and review your proposed agreement is always a good idea – especially if minor children are involved.
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