Articles From Don C. Hammer

Victim-offender mediation: An alternative By Don C. Hammer Child Law, September 2010 During Victim-offender mediation, the victim has an opportunity to confront the offender and explain to the offender the effect of the crime on the victim’s life. The offender gets to see first-hand the effect of his actions on another person and to take responsibility for what he has done.
Putative Father Registry—A primer By Christina Schneider & Don C. Hammer Child Law, March 2010 The Putative Father Registry (“PFR”) was established by the Illinois Legislature as part of broad changes that were made to the Illinois Adoption Act in 1994.
“Safe haven” adoptions By Don C. Hammer Child Law, March 2009 If the practitioner receives a call from prospective adoptive parents, or from an agency, informing the practitioner that a baby had been abandoned pursuant to the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act, what should the practitioner know and do?
Mediation of financial issues in divorce By Don C. Hammer Family Law, July 2005 The Illinois Supreme Court, on January 26, 2005, approved a program in the Eleventh Circuit for the mediation of financial and property issues in divorce cases (both pre-decree and post-decree) and family (paternity) cases.
Mediation of financial issues in divorce By Don C. Hammer Alternative Dispute Resolution, June 2005 The Illinois Supreme Court, on January 26, 2005, approved a program in the Eleventh Circuit for the mediation of financial and property issues in divorce cases (both pre-decree and post-decree) and family (paternity) cases.
Adoption: “Due and diligent” inquiry By Don C. Hammer Family Law, September 2003 Your client wants to adopt his new wife's child. The wife says she has not heard from the child's father for many years and she doesn't know where he is
Subchapter S corporation earnings: “income” for child support purposes? By Don C. Hammer Family Law, June 2001 If a child support payor receives income from a subchapter S corporation, the income shown on his tax return may be greater than the amount of cash that he actually receives from the corporation.
Case law update By Don C. Hammer Family Law, March 2001 In Re Adoption of D. (2-99-1245) Mother, and Mother's new husband, sought to adopt Mother's child. Petitioners sought to terminate the parental rights of the presumed father for willful desertion and/or abandonment.
Confidentiality in adopt-related proceedings By Don C. Hammer Family Law, March 2001 Most aspects of adoption proceedings are confidential (see section 18 of the Adoption Act), and courts have consistently held that "confidentiality protects the interests of biological parents, adopting parents, and adopted minors."
Case law update By Don C. Hammer Family Law, February 2001 In re Adoption of K.L.P. (316 Ill. App. 3d 110; 735 N.E. 2d 1071) The adoption petition alleged that the biological mother was an unfit parent. Mother appeared and informed the court that she could not afford to hire an attorney and requested a public defender.
Editor’s note By Don C. Hammer Family Law, February 2001 The year 2000 was a significant year for adoption practitioners in Illinois. This issue, and the following issue, of the Family Law newsletter will focus on adoption.
Chair’s Column By Don C. Hammer Alternative Dispute Resolution, October 2000 I am looking forward to an exciting year for the ADR Section Council
Illinois Mediator Certification Act makes the rounds By Don C. Hammer Family Law, October 2000 The Illinois Mediator Certification Act is currently being circulated by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Council.
Preparing your clients for parenting mediation: The mediator’s perspective By Don C. Hammer & Debra Sudduth Alternative Dispute Resolution, March 2000 What is mediation? Mediation is a process for solving problems and resolving disputes, during which a trained, neutral mediator facilitates communication, encourages the parties to explore options and alternatives, and helps the parties work toward agreements.
Preparing your client for financial mediation By Don C. Hammer & Debra Sudduth Alternative Dispute Resolution, February 2000 Your client may have chosen financial mediation for a variety of reasons: privacy, speed, cost, the inherently cooperative nature of mediation, etc.
Proposed draft for the ISBA Committee on Professional Conduct By Don C. Hammer Alternative Dispute Resolution, November 1999 Unauthorized practice of law. Insurance adjuster participates in mediation of personal injury claim.

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