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800 E. NW Hwy., suite 612
Palatine, Illinois 60074
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Greetings! 
Where have the first two months of 2011 gone? It seems like last night I was just making plans for 2011. A few exciting projects are in the works though. I'm not quite ready to launch my refreshed website, but I'm looking forward to your feedback and comments when I do. The expanded content should better highlight the depth of my family law practice. I also had a nice meeting with the young ladies behind Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine (YHOP) to see how small businesses, like mine, in our community can best help YHOP meet its fundraising goals. Bake sales at high school sporting events prove to be a huge money maker for this group of area teens, and I'm planning on providing matching funds for an upcoming bake sale. Next week, I'm also attending a Continuing Legal Education seminar on the increasingly complex issues occurring in traffic court. The seminar includes case law updates; recording equipment in police vehicles; Monitoring Device Drive Permits; Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlocking Devices; Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring devices; forensic drug testing in DUI cases; reckless driving; vehicular event data recorders; and Illinois State Police rules and regulations. These seminars have proven helpful in keeping up to date on recent changes and in giving me different perspectives to best represent my clients' needs. As always, thank you for your continued support. I hope we see our last snow fall soon. Nick Richardson    |
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Spotlight On: the Newlyweds
A marriage also imposes certain legal responsibilities as well since marriage is a legal contract. Tasks like changing beneficiaries on investments and changing your name are two examples of the possible to do's that come along with marriage. Another important document to draft is a will. While some avoid doing so because it seems rather macabre, the reality is that without a will the decision on how to distribute your property goes to the state. You'll also want a will if you have any children.
As stated by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), our state law provides that if you die without a will, one portion of your estate goes to your spouse and the remaining portions to your children or other descendants. The surviving spouse or some other person would have to be appointed guardian of the estate of minor children. The guardian, in most cases, must be bonded by the state. The cost of the bond depends on the amount of the estate.
By having a will drawn, you decide how your property is to be distributed, not the state. Second, if husband and wife should die simultaneously, guardianship of their children must be designated. You may designate a guardian in your will. Otherwise, the court must select a guardian. For more information, please call my office at 847.221.3620. |
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Q: Can one spouse obtain a divorce over another's objection?
A: Yes. This is known as a contested divorce. A party must prove "grounds" or legal-based reasons for a judge to grant the divorce. Sometimes, one spouse does not wish for the divorce and wants to remain married, and as such, the spouse seeking the divorce must prove fault-based grounds. In other instances, in a contested divorce, both parties may want to divorce but can't agree on certain issues. In short, a spouse cannot prevent a divorce from occurring but can certainly prolong the process. For more FAQs, click here. |
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Available
Scholarship
The Northwest Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA) Foundation is the charitable arm of the NWSBA and supports a scholarship program and the annual mock trial event. Scholarship applications are now available for the Honorable Timothy C. Evans Scholarship.
Applicants must be eligible law school students who reside in the Northern District of IL, Eastern Division, and who have expressed a commitment to high scholastic standards.
Factors that are considered when awarding scholarships include: Scholastic Achievement, Leadership Skills, Involvement in School Activities, Involvement in community service, Extra Curricular Activities and Financial Need.
Applications must be received on or before Friday, March 25, 2011. For the application, click here. |
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