Posts Tagged - Property

New Years Resolutions (yours and the states)

Posted on January 7, 2009 by John Steele

I like the new year because it is a great time to take stock of the past 12 months, and make the pro forma attempt at the new resolutions that may or may not make it past Jan. 15th.  Based on historical evidence, people in strained relationships often include breaking up/divorcing as one of their new years resolutions.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Short Term or Long Term

Posted on September 3, 2008 by John Steele

Oftentimes, clients get frustrated with childish, mean, or inappropriate behavior on the part of people they are divorcing.  I find myself giving some advice repeatedly to clients about this problem. And here it is: Read the rest of this entry »

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Your spouse’s Ex Can Get Your Assets!

Posted on July 20, 2008 by John Steele

If your spouse is paying child support or maintenance to their previous spouse, your assets are in danger. That is what the Illinois Appellate Court recently explained in IRMO Takata and Hafley. Read the rest of this entry »

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Time, Time, Time, is on our side . . .

Posted on May 15, 2008 by John Steele

Some Clients are really surprised at how long things can take in family law cases.  They ask, “Why is that?”  Well, first, government is not well set up to resolve personal, intensely sensitive problems involving relationships, love, anger, parenting, etc.  Second, people tend to get emotionally involved, and Read the rest of this entry »

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Divorce law is part psychology, part common sense

Posted on November 20, 2007 by John Steele

80% of divorces are unilateral, as opposed to something both parties want. If this statistic is correct, then four out of five divorces are unwanted by one of the spouses. If you are the one who wants out, you’ll have the power to decide when and how to best to approach the split. Read the rest of this entry »

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Engagement Ring Fight

Posted on October 23, 2007 by John Steele

I read an article today about a NY couple who is going to court over a $48,000 engagement ring. Quite a bit of law about this, ironically. Rings are the only gift that are legally fairly easy for the man to get back. Most other gifts “in anticipation of marriage” usually stay with the woman. Read the rest of this entry »

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Property Division

Posted on September 8, 2007 by John Steele

Property Division

Illinois is an “equitable distribution” state. Each spouse retains the non-marital (separate) property that he or she owned prior to the marriage and any property acquired by gift or inheritance during the marriage. Read the rest of this entry »

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