Posted on September 07, 2021 in Immigration

To become naturalized U.S. citizens, immigrants must fulfill many different criteria, including first achieving lawful permanent resident status, maintaining continuous residence in the U.S., and demonstrating good moral character. One of the final steps in becoming a U.S. citizen is passing a civics test, and this can be a source of apprehension for those who are unsure of what to expect. However, it is possible to study and prepare so that you can go into the test with greater confidence.

Which Version of the Civics Test Will I Take?

In 2020, the Trump administration introduced a revised civics test that doubled the number of questions asked and the number of correct responses required to pass. However, in early 2021, this new test was canceled. As of April 19, 2021, almost all immigrants pursuing naturalized citizenship will take the version of the test that was established in 2008.

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 Posted on August 30, 2021 in Personal Injury

When a person is injured in a car accident, filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party is often the best way to recover financial compensation for medical expenses and other damages. Most Illinois drivers have liability coverage included in their car insurance policy, which can provide substantial compensation to injury victims when the driver is responsible for an accident.

Unfortunately, however, it is not always possible to recover compensation through the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. When this is the case, injury victims may instead need to seek financial relief through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

Do I Have Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

In order to file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, you first must determine whether you have an insurance policy that provides you with this coverage. If you have a car insurance policy for your own vehicle, there is a good chance that you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injury, as this coverage is automatically included in policies issued in Illinois. If you do not have a policy of your own, you still may be covered under a policy held by your spouse, parent, or another member of your household.

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 Posted on August 24, 2021 in Family Law

When a child is born outside of marriage, the parents often have questions about what will happen next to them and their child. One common question is whether it is truly necessary to go through the legal process of establishing paternity. Some parents are intimidated by the prospect of interacting with the Illinois court system in any way, while others may not see the benefits of making paternity official. For example, if you get along with the other parent, you may assume that your own personal arrangements for raising the child are sufficient. On the other hand, if you do not want the child’s father to be involved, you may feel that establishing paternity would only make things worse.

Though it is understandable to have concerns about establishing paternity, it is important not to fall victim to common misconceptions about what it entails. In many cases, establishing paternity is in your child’s best interests as well as your own, and doing so may not be as intimidating as you expect.

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 Posted on August 17, 2021 in Immigration

In our last blog, we looked at recently passed Illinois legislation that provides new protections for immigrants, including by making it more difficult for ICE to detain immigrants in Illinois jails. Since then, the Biden administration has issued new guidance to ICE with the intention of reducing the detention of immigrants throughout the U.S. Specifically, the new directive aims to protect immigrants who have been victims of crimes.

Protection for Crime Victims

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers several options for immigrant crime victims to apply for protection and lawful status. These include:

• U Visas - The U nonimmigrant status is available to victims of crimes related to mental and physical abuse who are willing to help law enforcement with the prosecution of the crimes.

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 Posted on August 10, 2021 in Personal Injury

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence in Illinois, you may be entitled to compensation for a variety of damages. This can include economic damages for your medical bills and lost wages, providing you with much-needed financial relief. However, not all of the effects of serious injuries are financial, and Illinois recognizes this by allowing injury victims to recover certain non-economic damages as well. One form of non-economic damages that may apply in your case is compensation for physical scarring or disfigurement.

Injuries That May Result in Disfigurement

A number of situations could cause injuries that result in permanent scarring or disfigurement. Some of the most common include:

• Motor vehicle accidents - In a car, truck, or motorcycle crash, lacerations from broken glass and road rash can cause visible scarring. A collision can also cause dismemberment or complications that require the amputation of a limb.

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 Posted on August 09, 2021 in Family Law

In a typical Illinois divorce, marital property is distributed equitably between spouses through a property division agreement or order. This means that any assets that the spouses previously owned together will become the sole property of one or the other. However, there are possible exceptions to this outcome. If you and your spouse can reach an agreement, you may be able to continue to jointly own certain properties and assets even after your divorce is complete.

What Kinds of Property Are Amenable to Joint Ownership?

In theory, divorcing spouses could agree to maintain joint ownership of a wide variety of assets, but this is rarely realistic in practice. Though giving up some of your assets can be difficult, it is typically much less complicated to completely disentangle your financial interests from your spouse’s.

That said, there are some types of property for which it may be desirable to remain joint owners, at least for a time. This can include:

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 Posted on August 03, 2021 in Immigration

On Monday of this week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed four bills into law and issued an executive order, all of which focus on improving the circumstances of immigrants throughout the state. These new developments may improve opportunities and quality of life for immigrants in Illinois, and, perhaps most notably, protect them from detention in removal and deportation cases. As a non-citizen or a family member of a non-citizen, these changes may have a positive impact on your situation in the near future.

Ending ICE Contracts

Of the four bills signed by Governor Pritzker, the measure that may provide the greatest relief for immigrants is Senate Bill 667, the Illinois Way Forward Act. This bill prohibits new or renewed contracts between the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) and local Illinois governments that would allow immigrants to be detained in public jails while they wait for their removal hearings. The bill also terminates any active contracts as of January 2022, providing relief for immigrants currently detained under contracts of this nature in McHenry County, Kankakee County, and Pulaski County.

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 Posted on July 26, 2021 in Personal Injury

When a person chooses to drive drunk, everyone around them is at risk of serious injury or death, including the driver themself, their passengers, and the occupants of other nearby vehicles. If you are injured in a collision with another driver who was drunk, you may pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.

However, according to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a significant portion of serious drunk driving accidents are single-vehicle crashes. If you are injured in a single-vehicle accident while riding with a drunk driver, can you still recover compensation? In many cases, the answer is yes.

Serious Injuries in Single-Vehicle Drunk Driving Crashes

Drunk drivers can cause serious accidents whether or not there are other vehicles around. Alcohol impairment can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and veer off the road, which may cause a rollover. In other cases, a drunk driver may collide with a tree, utility pole, barricade, or another stationary object at high speed. Depending on the severity of the accident, the driver and passengers can suffer severe trauma to the head, spinal cord, limbs, and internal organs.

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 Posted on July 23, 2021 in Immigration

The United States has a complicated history with undocumented immigrants or those who come to the U.S. without lawful immigration status. Many undocumented immigrants are at risk of removal or deportation, but in recent years, the Obama and Biden administrations have attempted to provide protections for some, including through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, a recent ruling from a federal judge in Texas has called the future of this program into question.

What is the DACA Program?

The DACA program, established by an executive directive from President Obama in 2012, allows certain undocumented immigrants to apply for the deferment of removal proceedings that may be initiated against them. Since the start of the program, applicants have been required to demonstrate that they meet certain criteria. For example:

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 Posted on July 15, 2021 in Family Law

Spousal maintenance is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Illinois divorce process. While the division of marital assets is a part of all divorces, and child support is a part of all divorces involving minor children, spousal support is much more situational. You may be able to secure spousal support through a prenuptial agreement or a divorce settlement agreement with your spouse. However, if you cannot reach such an agreement, you will have to demonstrate to the court that maintenance is warranted in your case.

Temporary Maintenance During the Divorce Process

Your need for financial support may begin as soon as you and your spouse separate and the divorce is filed. This is especially true if you do not have easy access to your marital assets. You can pursue temporary maintenance by filing a petition with the court that has jurisdiction over your divorce.

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