On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Friday, December 7, 2012. While the U.S. has been enlarging and protecting the rights of the millions of citizens with disabilities, particularly since 1990, when Congressional legislation formalized many regulations to level the playing field, there remain biases and barriers facing disabled parents. The examples of this unfairness abound. Finding examples of these inequities is not difficult. A blind couple loses child custody of their newborn to the state. A Chicago quadriplegic mom had to fight an 18-month courtroom battle toContinue reading
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Hiding assets in divorce leads to expensive consequences
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, November 28, 2012. It is not unusual for people to feel strongly about the money they make, especially when they are in the middle of a divorce. For example, a Chicago husband may feel that he works hard, and that his wife is not entitled to his money. In order to try and assure that he keeps what’s his, he may overstate debts, report higher expenses or lower income than what he actually earns. While this scenario may seemContinue reading
With child custody, it matters where you live
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Monday, November 26, 2012. The world often seems smaller than it used to be. Various career or life changes can lead someone to want to make a big move. But when Halle Berry wanted to move to France to be with her fiancée, but the child custody arrangement she has led a judge to rule that her 4 year old daughter needs to stay closer to her father in Los Angeles. Berry believed her move should be allowed because it wouldContinue reading
Child support arrest warrants reflect child support delinquency
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Support on Friday, November 23, 2012. Deadbeat dads and moms are increasing in Cook County, as county sheriffs are serving more arrest warrants. Neglecting child support payments in Chicago isn’t the only reason for these warrants, as when parents don’t show up for required DNA samples or “forgetting” to notify authorities of compensation increases. During the first week of November, 2012 alone child support arrest warrants were issued in Oak Forest, Homewood-Flossmoor, and two in Chicago Heights. These warrants represent over $180,000 inContinue reading
Pizza box pictures used to catch deadbeat dads
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Support on Friday, November 16, 2012. In Chicago, it can sometimes be a challenge to get non-custodial parents to make their child support payments. Recently, lawmakers in Russia came up with an idea to track down those who don’t pay to support their children after a divorce. Print their picture on a pizza box. The idea actually comes from the U.S. One woman thought of the idea after realizing that ordering pizza was something the typical “deadbeat dad” might do, ratherContinue reading
First holidays after divorce offer challenges for parents
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. Divorce is difficult for any Chicago family, but when the holidays come around it can be especially challenging. No matter what the circumstances were leading to the couple’s breakup it’s important to try and come together long enough to figure out how to help the kids make the best of the situation. In the best circumstances, newly divorced parents manage to still spend a holiday or two together for the sake of the kids. If youContinue reading
Divorces involving spouses in foreign countries often complicated
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. Most Chicago area residents who have been through a divorce with a spouse residing in the area would agree that it is rarely an easy venture. Imagine then, just how complicated things can be when one of the spouses is a citizen of, and lives in, another country. When the marriage has not produced any children, the split is usually fairly straightforward. When children are involved however, by far, the most contentious issue for couplesContinue reading
Illinois guardians can now initiate divorce for mentally disabled
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Friday, October 19, 2012. Illinois residents with mental disabilities received a new freedom recently. Until earlier this month, people with mental disabilities who have a guardian could not file for divorce. The only way a person in this situation could get a divorce is if the spouse filed for the divorce. The new law will likely benefit many people, who until now, may have been trapped in abusive marriages. For instance, say a couple gets married and then later on oneContinue reading
Modern divorce going electronic with spy gear
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Some participants in divorce actions may be increasing the already-high trauma level by employing high tech spying devices. Divorce and high tech are not necessarily a perfect match in Chicago or anywhere else. Using electronic spy gear to collect “evidence” of an affair or similar transgression is not legal in many jurisdictions. Take the case of a Minnesota man, who installed spy apps on his spouse’s cell phone and computer, while also attaching a GPS deviceContinue reading
Prenuptial agreements may or may not be enforceable
On behalf of The Walters Law Group, Ltd. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. Each year, countless numbers of couples throughout the Chicago area decide to marry. In some of these situations, to safeguard assets and property brought to the marriage, couples decide to sign prenuptial agreements. This is particularly true when the ensuing marriage is considered to be one of high-net-worth. Prenuptial agreements are designed to outline the division of assets should the marriage being entered into, fail. In some cases alimony and child support are addressed as well.Continue reading