Recent Blog Posts
Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon - What You Should Know
When one has been convicted of a felony, many of their rights are restricted. A prime example is the law that restricts felons from owning, carrying, or using a firearm. Unfortunately, some are wrongly given the impression that their right may be restored after a certain time period. Others believe they may be able to purchase, own, or use a firearm if they move to another state. Still others find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. In all instances, the consequences for the unlawful use of a weapon by a felon charge can be severe.
Potential Consequences
In the state of Illinois, the unlawful use or possession of a firearm by a felon is considered a Class 2 felony. This means that a conviction will place a second felony on your record. Even worse is that unlawful use of a weapon can make you ineligible for probation, so you may also receive a prison sentence. In addition, you may be forced to complete community service, could be faced with significant fines, and may suffer increased difficulties in obtaining housing or employment.
Conviction of a White Collar Crime Can Result in Serious Consequences
Few people who commit white collar crimes (financial crimes) have a real understanding of the criminal justice system. In fact, most have a spotless criminal record and may not have even had to deal with so much as a minor traffic ticket. As a result, they can feel overwhelmed when facing charges. Some may also underestimate the impact of a conviction. This makes preparation and the experience of an attorney invaluable to those being charged with a white collar crime. The following explains further, and provides details on where to find assistance.
Money-Related Crimes Often Prosecuted as Felonies
Because the amount of money typically determines the severity of a financial crime, and because most white collar crimes involve significant amounts of money, the charges typically fall into the felony category. These are the most severe types of crimes, and they can result in an imprisonment term of one year or longer. Furthermore, felony convictions can impact your life, long after you have served your time. It remains on your criminal record which can make obtaining employment and a safe place to live all the more difficult.
Parental Conflict During Divorce Should Never Eclipse a Child's Needs
While about 70 percent of divorcing couples are able to go their separate ways once the paperwork is finalized, another 30 percent have children together. For them, divorce is not the end of communication. Instead, it is the start of a new sort of relationship. - a co-parenting one. To do it successfully, they must coordinate schedules and maintain at least some level of contact to ensure their child's physical, emotional, financial, and health-related needs are met. How, exactly, do they manage this, and why should they? The following explains.
What the Research Says About Parenting After Divorce
Scientists, child psychologists, and other specialists have spent years gathering and analyzing data on children of divorce. In their research, they have found that children tend to do best when they have a close and healthy relationship with both parents. Even more interesting is that, despite common theory, it is not divorce that causes distress in young children. Instead, it is the relationships within the family. Contentious situations can create problems for children, but children with parents who find a way to get along often adjust better in difficult situations. This includes situations involving divorce. So, regardless of what parents are going through - no matter how they feel about one another - each can best serve their child by working hard to develop a healthy co-parenting relationship. Further, parents should mind their manners, so to speak, whenever their child is around. They should avoid speaking negatively about the other parent, resist the urge to let their feelings of jealousy show when their child returns from a visit, and should, above all, encourage a love and a healthy relationship between their child and the other parent.
A DUI Arrest in Illinois Can Lead to Multiple Charges
Getting arrested for a DUI in Illinois can, undoubtedly, result in a DUI conviction. It is not necessarily the only charge you will face, though. In fact, a single DUI arrest can result in multiple charges. Some can result in serious consequences. If you or someone you love was recently arrested for driving under the influence, the following can better help you understand the situation and possible consequences. You can also learn how to fight the charges, and where to find assistance for your case.
Situations That May Lead to Multiple Charges
Not every DUI case will result in multiple charges, but those that do typically have either additional moving violations (i.e. speeding, driving on a suspended license, etc.) or an element of harm to another road user. However, you can also receive additional charges if you have minor passengers in your vehicle, or were operating a commercial or transit vehicle at the time of your arrest. Further, charges may be added if you have created property damage in an automobile accident and were allegedly intoxicated at the time.
Debunking Divorce and Money Myths: Even Amicable Divorces Can Cause Financial Issues
Couples often assume that an amicable divorce automatically means easy. Yet this is not always the case. In fact, even non-contentious divorces can result in serious financial problems for one or both parties. Learning the potential pitfalls of divorce, and how they might apply to your particular situation, can help you avoid this all-too-common problem. The following explains further.
Amicable Does Not Always Mean Easy
Divorce is not always about getting away from a contentious situation. Some couples grow apart, want different things, or simply realize that each would be happier on their own. The ill feelings and anger is not present, and each may still love and want the best for the other. They may not argue or sweat the small stuff. They may even be willing to part with more, simply because they want their partner to be happy and cared for once the divorce is over. It sounds like a divorce made in heaven (if there were such a thing) – an easy and fairly straightforward process. It might not be.
Drivers Should Expect More DUI Checkpoints This Holiday Season
It happens almost every year – the influx of DUI checkpoints throughout the holiday season. Yet many Americans still find themselves on the poor end of the sobriety enforcement. In fact, statistics suggest that DUI arrests jump by about 33 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year's when compared to the rest of the year. Be prepared this holiday season. Know how to avoid a DUI arrest, and how to best protect your rights at a DUI checkpoint, and in the event of an arrest.
Try and Plan Ahead
The best way to avoid getting nailed at a DUI checkpoint this holiday season is to ensure that you are not driving while intoxicated, and the most reasonable way to avoid driving intoxicated is to plan ahead. If you know that you will be going to a get-together where there will be alcohol, and you plan on drinking, consider taking a cab or rideshare to the location. This will almost completely ensure you will not be driving once you have started drinking. Of course, if ridesharing or cabs are not an option, or if you find yourself in a situation that you did not plan for, the best course of action is to wait it out and sober up.
Stress of Divorce Can Lead to Health Complications - Protect Yourself with Stress-Busting Tips
Divorce can be emotionally stressful and potentially traumatizing for some. In fact, the experience is so traumatizing that around 60 percent of all divorcees experience physical symptoms, such as depression, muscle aches, fatigue, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Women are also at a higher risk for heart complications after divorce. Thankfully, there are ways that you can protect yourself, and your health, during divorce. The following information explains further.
Reach Out and Ask for Help
Probably one of the biggest mistakes that divorcees make is they try to take on the divorce and its grief all on their own. Rather than ask for support or help, they muddle through the grief and pretend that all is fine. Some may not even tell family or friends until long after proceedings have started. Do not make this same mistake! Let those that love you support you during this time. Ask for help if you need it – from friends, family, or even professionals. Whatever you do, do not try to deal with it alone.
Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Sex Offender Registry Laws as Constitutional
While most people are aware that sex offenders must register, few really know what this means. They do not realize that it goes beyond simply having your name on a website that anyone can view. Several other restrictions are imposed. A sex offender cannot go within 500 feet of a school/daycare building or property, or near public parks. They must also report their internet activity and are banned from social media during parole, probation, and mandatory supervised releases.
Unconstitutional or a Necessary Evil?
Some might say such impositions are necessary to protect the public. Others believe the restrictions go too far and, in some cases, may be unconstitutional. For now, the law upholds all aspects of the sex offender laws as constitutional, including the mandatory reporting of all internet activity. Yet, as outlined in the following points, there are reasons to believe that both offenders and the public might benefit greatly from a more personalized criminal justice system.
Divorce Basics: Do You Really Need an Attorney?
There is really no way around it – divorce costs money, which includes more than just the divorce itself. You and your spouse will likely be splitting assets, and you may even be on the hook for child support or alimony. Some couples turn to do-it-yourself options to manage their costs, but are they really saving money in the long run, or are they potentially making a critical mistake? More importantly, do you really need an attorney to successfully divorce? The following can help to answer these questions.
The DIY Divorce Explosion
From online “divorce packages” to sites that instruct you on how to file all the way to divorce “apps,” there is no limit to the information offered on divorce. Some are complete packages that “guarantee” acceptance of your paperwork. Others are a little more obscure and difficult to understand. However, all pose a potential risk. Some may not be specifically tailored to fit divorce in Illinois, which is going to be different than, say, California. Further, you may be facing extenuating circumstances (domestic abuse, high asset divorce, business valuation, etc.) that are not covered in these online sources.
Potential Consequences of a Domestic Battery Conviction in Illinois
Considered a serious crime in the state of Illinois, domestic battery can lead to severe and long-lasting penalties for the accused. In fact, a single accusation can completely turn your life upside down, potentially putting your livelihood, reputation, and even your family at risk. If you are facing a domestic violence charge in Illinois, learn what the potential consequences could be, and how you can best protect yourself from the possible consequences of a conviction.
What Constitutes Domestic Battery in Illinois
Defined as intentionally causing physical harm to a family member, intimate partner, or former family member/intimate partner, domestic battery charges can arise out of either actual physical violence, or verbal threats and provocative body language that causes the victim to believe they are at an immediate risk for harm. Examples of actions that can be considered domestic battery may include (but is not limited to):
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