When a parent seeks “Removal,” they are seeking to take the minor child from the State of Illinois on a permanent basis. This does not include time for temporary visits out of the state, such as vacations. A parent must first ask the court’s permission, before removing the child from Illinois. The court will allow
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Filing Motions in Cook County Court
When clients request a motion to be filed on their behalf, they often expect their motion to be heard by the Court immediately. However, in Cook County, the process takes a little time. First, the party filing the motion must schedule the motion to be presented to the Court. If you already have a
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Jewish Divorce: Getting a Get
As the Jewish community celebrates Hanukah, I am reminded of some of the characteristics of divorce unique to Jewish culture. In some tight-knit Orthodox Jewish communities, in addition to the civil divorce obtained in the local court, a Jewish divorcing couple may also, depending upon how strictly they observe Judaism, need to obtain a “get”
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Holiday Visitation Schedules
Under both the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984, visitation (which is also sometimes called “parenting time”) is allowed between a non-residential or non-custodial parent and their minor children. Many parties that have already been to court and have obtained a custody judgment or parenting agreement already
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What is a Prove up Hearing?
Obtaining a judgment for dissolution of marriage can be overwhelming, even if the parties are in complete agreement. Negotiating and executing a marital settlement agreement can take months depending on the complexity of the parties’ assets and the issues of the case. After taking the time and effort to execute a settlement agreement, parties
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Broken Engagement
Diamonds are forever. Sometimes engagements are not. If the banquet hall was booked, the invitations are in the mail, and the rings are sized, the bride or groom-to-be wants more than his or her dignity back. Fortunately, when a storybook romance doesn’t result in a happy ending, Illinois law provides a chapter–the Breach of Promises
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Same Sex Marriage
You obtained a civil union with your partner and now that marriage between same-sex couples is legal in Illinois, you would rather be married. What are our options? The new Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act was recently signed into law and is scheduled to be effective as of June 1, 2014. The new Act provides that
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