Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Family Law

Interest on Past-Due Maintenance and Child Support: the New Calculus By David B. Yavitz February 2006 Article, Page 76 A new law imposes interest on overdue support and changes the formula for calculating interest.
Illinois: An International Magnet for Surrogacy? By H. Joseph Gitlin January 2006 Column, Page 48 By removing the cloud over surrogacy in Illinois, the Gestational Surrogracy Act promises to make the procedure more popular with would-be parents.
Correspondence from Our Readers November 2005 Column, Page 554 Poor lawyer image - incivility not the culprit? Mediator as peacemaker.
Mediation of Financial Issues – Proceed with Caution By H. Joseph Gitlin October 2005 Column, Page 538 Financial mediators, more than custody mediators, must know the fine points of the law.
Section of the Adoption Act violates Equal Protection October 2005 Illinois Law Update, Page 506 On August 1, 2005, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, reversed the decision of the Circuit Court of Cook County, terminating the parental rights of the defendant. 
This diamond ring By Helen W. Gunnarsson October 2005 Lawpulse, Page 498 Does an engagement ring belong to the donor or the recipient if the wedding is called off?
Contempt Proceedings in Divorce By H. Joseph Gitlin July 2005 Column, Page 368 A thumbnail sketch of contempt proceedings in Illinois.
Section 1(D)(q) of the Adoption Act violates equal protection June 2005 Illinois Law Update, Page 280 On March 24, 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court held that section 1(D)(q) of the Adoption Act, 750 ILCS 50/1(D)(q), is unconstitutional because it violates equal protection.
Child's Representative Statute Held Unconstitutional By H. Joseph Gitlin April 2005 Column, Page 212 The implications of In re Marriage of Bates.
The ABCs of QDROs By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2005 Article, Page 18 QDROs are an increasingly painful – and important – part of practice. And ignoring them won't make the pain go away.
Removal: the Still-Evolving Standard By H. Joseph Gitlin January 2005 Column, Page 46 The Illinois Appellate Court takes yet another tack.
The New, Narrower Illinois Grandparent Visitation Statute By Michael K. Goldberg November 2004 Article, Page 578 The legislature takes another crack at grandparent visitation.
Relocation: the Evolving Standard By H. Joseph Gitlin October 2004 Column, Page 546 Illinois courts are fine tuning the standard for determining when to permit a custodial parent to move out of state.
Grandparent visitation, take 2 By Helen W. Gunnarsson September 2004 Lawpulse, Page 450 The legislature passes a new grandparent visitation law, which is designed to cure the defects of its unconstitutional predecessor.
Legislators consider the Gestational Surrogacy Act By Helen W. Gunnarsson June 2004 Lawpulse, Page 286 What happens when a pregnant surrogate changes her mind? When the intended parents divorce during the pregnancy? HB 4962 would address those questions and others.
2003 Illinois Supreme Court Civil Cases: Fees and Family Law, "No" to Immunity, and More By Nancy J. Arnold and Tim Eaton April 2004 Article, Page 180 A look at last year's leading supreme court civil cases.
Attorney fees, family law and In re Marriage of King By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2004 Lawpulse, Page 118 The Illinois Supreme Court has given divorce lawyers one more reason to get as much of their fee up front as possible.
Actions for intentional infliction of emotional distress based upon conduct occurring in the martial setting will be recognized December 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 600 On September 18, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the fifth district appellate court, which held that the plaintiff could maintain a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress caused by her ex-husband's pattern of abusive treatment during their marriage.
Calculating interest on child support; are you doing what the law requires? By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2003 Lawpulse, Page 594 There's nothing interesting about calculating interest on overdue child support. But like it or not, you'd best not neglect it, which is what too many lawyers do.
Can a parent inherit from a stillborn child? By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2003 Lawpulse, Page 594 A fascinating, if perplexing, Illinois Supreme Court opinion seems to say that a fetus can have an estate for inheritance purposes.
Noncustodial parent is entitled to actual notice of a petition to change child's name December 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 600 On September 4, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, vacated the order of the Circuit Court of DuPage County, granting the petitioner's petition to change her son's name. 
Counseling gay couples By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2003 Lawpulse, Page 544 While the issues that arise in gay relationships are familiar, the legal framework is different. It's a difference that family practitioners and estate planners should learn to navigate.
Correspondence from Our Readers October 2003 Column, Page 482 A brand-new dissipation ruling
The "Prodigious Spouse": Equitable Distribution and Wealthy Wage Earner By Debra DiMaggio September 2003 Article, Page 460 Should the wealthy wage-earning spouse be awarded a disproportionate share of marital assets generated through his or her efforts?
Apportioning Stock Options at Divorce: A Detailed Guide By Michael W. Kalcheim September 2003 Article, Page 454 Companies still use stock options; here's how to apportion them.
Dissipation of Marital Assets in Illinois: A Review By Richard W. Zuckerman September 2003 Article, Page 440 Find out what constitutes impermissible spending of marital assets by a spouse in a failing marriage.
Visitation Abuse v Unlawful Visitation Interference; Is There Comfort for Noncustodial Parents? By Celia Guzaldo Gamrath September 2003 Article, Page 450 A comparison of the civil visitation abuse statute and criminal visitation interference law.
In petitions for removal, custodial parents do not have to show that child will reap "direct" benefit from move; custodial parents only have to show that the disruption caused by move will be outweighed by benefits resulting from move August 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 384 On May 22, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court held that when considering the best interest of children in petitions by custodial parents for removal from Illinois.
Child custody: Easing the way for out-of-state removal By Helen W. Gunnarsson July 2003 Lawpulse, Page 326 The supreme court rules that a divorced parent can move a child outside of Illinois without showing a direct benefit to the child from the relocation.
DCFS to make good faith effort to place adopted siblings together; P.A 92-0666 June 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 280 The Children and Family Services Act was recently amended to include a provision regarding the placement of siblings of adopted children.
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