Articles on Family Law

Family law bytes By Roza Gossage Family Law, January 2001 The technology committee of the Family Law Section, in its efforts to make you actually use your computer and the Internet, will be providing sites that may be of help in your family law cases as well as suggestions for programs you may want to explore.
The judge’s corner Family Law, January 2001 From a general standpoint, family law and divorce encompasses many big picture issues involving the relationship of the parties and their children after the entry of a final judgment.
Recent cases By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, January 2001 In re Estate of Alex J. Sarron, August 25, 2000, 3rd District, No. 3-99-1010; Appeal from the Circuit Court of Peoria County as a result of a Florida divorce.
The Richman report By Bruce L. Richman Family Law, January 2001 Beware! The transfer of a nonqualified stock option incident to a divorce may be taxable.
Smithberg v. The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund et all By William J. Scott, Jr. Family Law, January 2001 In an opinion filed August 10, 2000 the Illinois Supreme Court reached a familiar conclusion, this time with respect to death benefits payable by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).
Injunctions in parentage cases By Gilda Hudson-Winfield General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, November 2000 On May 30, 2000, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, 2nd Division, in the case of In Re Parentage of Bremen Hall Melton, No. I-99-2463, issued a significant decision relative to the application of Section 501.1 of the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Marriage Act) (750 ILCS 5/501 et seq. (West 1996) to Paternity cases under the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 (Parentage Act) (750 ILCS 45/1 et seq. (West 1996).
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.
The judge’s corner Family Law, October 2000 Current Assignment: I have been assigned to Criminal Misdemeanors, having just completed a three-year rotation in Domestic Relations.
Parents have rights too. Illinois’ third party statutes need help to pass the Troxel test By David N. Schaffer Family Law, October 2000 On June 5, 2000, the United States Supreme Court came down with a much-anticipated opinion addressing the issue of third party (including grandparent) visitation rights.
Recent cases By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, October 2000 The issue presented to the court was whether the Parentage Act conferred on the court all powers found in the Marriage Act, which the court found that it did not.
The U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on grandparent visitation in Troxel v. Granville By Michael K. Goldberg Family Law, October 2000 This past June, the U.S. Supreme Court waded through the murky waters of family law long enough to weigh in on the constitutional issues surrounding grandparent visitation.
Changes to the innocent spouse provisions: something old, something new By Carlos A. Saavedra Family Law, June 2000 Code section 6013(d)(3) establishes joint and several liability for married taxpayers filing a joint income tax return. "Innocent Spouse" provisions refer to those Code provisions that create exceptions to this joint and several liability.
Maintenance revisited By Howard W. Feldman & David K. Harris Family Law, June 2000 The Fourth District Appellate Court in a decision dated February 9, 2000, affirmed an award of permanent maintenance to a 32-year-old wife, with a high school education, who had been married for 14 years. I
A pilot program By Susan Fayette Hutchinson Family Law, June 2000 As a former domestic relations judge in a quickly growing upstate county charged with making sure that children had safe visits with parents, I was often frustrated by the lack of resources available to the children and me.
What you need to know about grandparent visitation By Michael K. Goldberg Family Law, June 2000 The death of a spouse elicits a myriad of emotions, and the pain of losing a loved one is certainly exacerbated when there are surviving minor children.
Case law update By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, May 2000 In Re Matter of C.B.L., a Minor, A.B. Petitioner-Appellant v. H.L., Respondent-Appellee, 1st District, 4th Division, Appeal No. 1-98-2011, Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, filed December 16, 1999.
Contribution of attorney fees: A procedural analysis of 750 ILCS 5/508(a) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act By David S. Kerpel Family Law, May 2000 From start to finish, the divorce process can be an emotionally draining, physically exhausting process for both the parties involved, and for the attorneys who establish and enforce their parties' rights.
The judge’s corner Family Law, May 2000 Domestic relations is an area of the law that affects the present and future lives of the parties and their children.
American Bar Association sanctions use of e-mail for communicating with clients By David N. Schaffer Family Law, March 2000 The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Ethics recently issued an opinion (Formal Opinion No. 99-413) regarding the use of unencrypted e-mail, as it relates to compliance with Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
Availability of experts in custody disputes By Grace G. Dickler Family Law, March 2000 This writing will address the existing statutory scheme, case law, and proposed changes relative to the use of experts in custody and visitation cases.
Case law update By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, March 2000 In Re Marriage of James H. Adamson and Phyllis M. Cosner, f/k/a Phyllis M. Adamson, 2nd District, Appeal No. 2-98-1259, filed November 22, 1999.
The judge’s corner Family Law, March 2000 In general, I expect reasonable promptness; courtesy to the court, opposing counsel and parties; professional demeanor and civility.
Discovery of mental health records By Laura Hynes Ramirez Family Law, January 2000 Sooner or later most practitioners will represent a party who has either received or is receiving some sort of therapy/ counseling (or advises that his former partner has or is receiving therapy/ counseling) and issues relating to disclosure of the records may become an important aspect of the entire case.
The forgotten writ By Scott C. Colky Family Law, January 2000 Most common law writs were abolished by the enactment of the Code of Civil Procedure in 1982 (735 ILCS 5/2-1501).
The judge’s corner Family Law, January 2000 Assignment: Chief Judge of the Lake County Domestic Relations Division, 19th Judicial Circuit
Recent cases By Barry H. Greenburg & Jacalyn Birnbaum Family Law, January 2000 Appellate court reversed trial court's denial of public guardian's motion to withdraw on the basis that public guardian had failed to identify any conflict in his representation.
Family law update By John H. Maville General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, November 1999 In IRMO Mathias, 304 Ill.App.3d 326, 237 Ill.Dec.525, 709 N.E.2d 994, we are reminded that §510(a) limits retroactive modification of child support to only those installments accruing after the date of filing of the petition for modification.
In re the marriage of Grunsten By Jacqueline J. Torshen Family Law, October 1999 After over 21 years of marriage, Barbara Grunsten filed a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage against Richard Grunsten, citing irreconcilable differences.
The judge’s corner Family Law, October 1999 Assignment: Trial judge, Domestic Relations Division, Circuit Court of Cook County
Recent cases By Barry H. Greenburg Family Law, October 1999 In re Custody of K.P.L. a minor, 3rd District, Appellate No. 2-97-1107, filed April 16, 1999. This is an appeal from a decision granting custody of a child to its legal guardians pursuant to the guardian

Select a Different Subject