Posted on May 15, 2022 in Immigration

When you have a family member or dear friend who is undocumented, finding out that they have been taken into ICE custody can be terrifying. Trying to get someone out of an ICE detention center is nothing at all like trying to bail someone out of the county jail after a run-of-the-mill arrest. Helping an undocumented immigrant who is in ICE custody can be complicated. It is a much more involved process than posting bail. Finding a way to help your loved one remain in the country legally can require a lot of effort. The process may be long and complex. In many cases, you will need to enlist an experienced immigration attorney to help get your loved one out of ICE detention. Any legal mistakes could be deeply problematic, so you should avoid trying to do this without skilled legal assistance.

Steps to Take When Your Loved One is in ICE Custody

Helping someone who has been taken into custody by immigration enforcement can be an exercise in patience. COVID-related backlogs may mean that it takes quite some time before you can make meaningful progress towards rescuing your loved one. Steps that may help include:

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 Posted on May 11, 2022 in Family Law

Most spouses going through a divorce are able to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation through the use of methods like mediation, attorney-facilitated negotiation, or collaborative divorce. Alternative dispute resolution tends to work very well when the divorce is amicable, but it can also work for spouses who are not getting along. It is possible for spouses to settle their divorce out of court without even needing to be in the same room. These alternative routes to divorce have become popular because they can speed up the divorce process, save both parties money, and lessen the impact of any conflict for children of the marriage. However, there are times when these types of methods simply do not work. If you have any concerns about whether litigation might be necessary in your case, let your attorney know so they can plan accordingly.

3 Reasons Alternative Divorce Might Not Work for You

A lot of people are initially leery about whether an alternative path to divorce will work for them. These methods require both spouses to participate in good faith. You will need to consider whether your spouse is truly the type of person who cannot be reasoned with, or whether you are simply in conflict with them at this time. Even if there are a lot of hurt feelings involved, mediation or negotiation may still be workable options. However, your attorney may suggest that you not even attempt these methods in cases like:

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 Posted on May 10, 2022 in Immigration

People from other countries have multiple different avenues for immigrating to the United States. However, the immigration process can be long and complex, and even if a person follows all of the correct procedures, they and their families may face issues that affect their legal status and their ability to stay in the United States. While many lawmakers and immigration officials have recognized that immigrant children who have grown up in the U.S. deserve protections that will allow them to avoid deportation, the options for many of these “dreamers” are limited. People in these situations can consult with an experienced immigration attorney to determine the steps they can take to continue living in the United States.

Problems Facing “Documented Dreamers”

There are many situations where immigrants come to the United States as children, and when this is the only country they have ever known, forcing them to leave the U.S. and resettle elsewhere may cause extreme hardship for them and their families. Congress has attempted to address this issue through the proposed Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would provide qualifying minors with a path to citizenship. While the DREAM Act has not been passed, other programs, such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), have attempted to address this issue.

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 Posted on April 30, 2022 in Personal Injury

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of our transportation system. Any accident involving a pedestrian has a higher likelihood of injury. Sadly, pedestrian accidents have been on the rise in recent years, reversing a trend of steadily improving pedestrian safety. Many factors can cause pedestrian accidents, including driver behavior, unsafe infrastructure, and pedestrian behavior. If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, it is important to be represented by lawyers who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Factors that Contribute to Pedestrian Accidents

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest contributing factors of pedestrian accidents. These include but are not limited to:

• Alcohol – Alcohol-impaired drivers and pedestrians account for almost half of fatal crashes involving a car and a pedestrian. Alcohol can impair the judgment of both drivers and pedestrians and lead to severe collisions.

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 Posted on April 30, 2022 in Immigration

Forced marriage means that one or both people have been forced into a marriage that is against their will. The United States considers forced marriage to be a serious human rights abuse and is working domestically and abroad to end the practice. Those who have been or are being forced into marriage are victims. As such, they have not broken any laws of the United States and may be eligible for immigration relief.

What is a Forced Marriage?

When an individual does not have a choice on who they marry or when the marriage takes place, that is a forced marriage. Forced marriages can be accompanied by threats of physical or emotional abuse, deception, or even threats to immigration status. It can happen in any culture and to people from any educational and economic background. In the United States, perpetrators of forced marriage may be charged with crimes including domestic violence, assault, kidnapping, child abuse if the victim is underage, rape, threats of violence, and other charges.

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Immigration

Once foreign students who are studying in the United States are nearing their graduation or the end of their visa time, they may start seeking the opportunity to become fully employed here. Also, if they have desirable skills, employers may seek them out and offer them employment. If you are a foreign national who would like to apply for an Adjustment of Status to your visa based on employment, there are certain requirements that must be met for the application to be approved. Our experienced legal team can help you and your potential employer navigate the process.

Requirements to Adjust Your Visa to Employment-Based Status

In order to be eligible to change from a student visa to work-related visa, there are many requirements that must be met. These include the following:

• You must be physically present here in the United States.
• You must be here on a legal visa, including a student visa or temporary H1B visa.

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Family Law

Going through a divorce can be a stressful and emotional time. In addition to the lasting impact on your family life, there can be many practical decisions about finances, property, and other assets that have to be made. However, if you have very few assets and meet other qualifying factors, you may be eligible for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage under Illinois Law. This is a quicker and less costly process, but it comes with strict requirements and neither party may seek any spousal maintenance during the process or after the divorce is finalized. An experienced divorce attorney can help determine if this approach fits your situation.

Qualifications for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage

The strict qualifications for following this process are spelled out in Illinois law:

• Both spouses must be residents of the state of Illinois.
• Your marriage must not have lasted more than eight years.

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Personal Injury

Whether it is caused by tailgating, speeding, drunk driving, or distracted driving, a rear-end collision can cause serious injuries to the occupants of the car that was struck. Since many rear-end accidents come as a surprise to the vehicle that was hit, the driver and passengers rarely have time to brace for the impact.

While speed can definitely play a factor in the severity of many injuries associated with rear-end collisions, even a seemingly minor accident can cause injuries with lasting pain, which may require medical treatment and even physical therapy. If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, our lawyers can help advocate on your behalf for compensation for your pain and suffering you may be eligible to receive.

Common Injuries to Drivers and Passengers

Here are just a few of the most common injuries that those in rear-end collisions often suffer:

• Whiplash - When your head moves quickly forward and back due to a rear-end collision, it can cause ligaments, tendons, and other neck muscles to tear, leading to ongoing pain. In serious cases, whiplash can cause blurred vision, numbness, difficulties concentrating or with memory, and even sleep disturbances and emotional issues.

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 Posted on April 05, 2022 in Family Law

If you are considering a divorce and have children, you know you will face a series of difficult choices. Decisions must be made on living arrangements, custody rights, child support payments, and other difficult decisions. If you and your spouse are willing to cooperate, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is one tool available to you which can avoid the traditional divorce litigation process and risk leaving the final decision on these matters to a court. Besides addressing the division of marital assets, ADR can be used to determine parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and spousal support payments. An experienced family law attorney will be able to guide you through this process to a successful outcome.

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 Posted on March 31, 2022 in Personal Injury

One of the many disadvantages that victims of catastrophic injuries often suffer is having to navigate the complexities of various legal and governmental systems as they try to obtain compensation and benefits that are necessary for living with a disabling condition. While personal injury attorneys are known for helping clients pursue lawsuits against the party who is directly responsible for the client’s injury, victims of these injuries may not realize that they can also get help with issues like workers’ compensation claims and Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt or killed by a car or truck accident, poor medical care, dangerous premises, or while at work on a construction site, you may need the help of an Illinois personal injury attorney in more than one area as you adjust to a new reality.

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