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Illinois Collaborative Law Attorneys and Collaborative Professionals continue to work hard to pass the Illinois Uniform Collaborative Law Act (“UCLA”).  The Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee will be holding hearings on 3/19/13 and 3/20/13 on the pending UCLA bi...

Is a Collaborative Divorce right for us? An Illinois Collaborative Divorce or Collaborative Family Law Services are beneficial for families with unique circumstances that do not fit a “one size fits all” approach often used by courts, families that do not want to duke it out in court, families th...

Do you plan to be divorced in Illinois by the New Year?  At the time of this post, there are approximately 12 days until the New Year.  If you and your spouse want to finalize your divorce in Illinois before January 1st, here are 12 things to consider when you want to Divorce by the New Year: ...

On December 18, 2012, DuPage County Divorce Attorney, Erin Birt, attended the DuPage County Bar Association's Family Law Committee Meeting.  The topic “Assessing Abuse & Alienation in Domestic Violence and Custody Matters” was presented by David Finn, Psy. D., of Associates in Human Development C...

Wheaton Divorce Attorney, Erin Birt, often works with families that are struggling with the effects of divorce and/or substance abuse. Parents contemplating a divorce often express concern over how the divorce will effect their children. This post will focus on Divorce: Children & Alcohol. How a...

The Illinois Uniform Collaborative Law Act was introduced December 5, 2012 in the Illinois Senate under Senate Bill (SB) #3943. Illinois is one step closer to having the UCLA passed.  Why is this important? Members of  The Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois explain, “The Uniform Collaborat...

In Illinois and DuPage County, there are several ways to divorce and save money & time.  For DuPage County Divorce 5 Ways to Divorce are presented below: 1. Pro se Divorce. Pro se means to act as your own attorney.  Often when spouses are amicable enough to have productive communication, the es...

DuPage County Mediator, Erin Birt, wants to remind couples and families that November is Mediation Month. The holidays are quickly approaching, client's that have not resolved issues relating to holiday parenting time or visitation can set an appointment with DuPage County Mediator Erin Birt duri...

An Illinois Collaborative Divorce can be utilized to help families in many ways.  It can be an opportunity to help families coping with life events that are not often handled in the best manner by  a court of law. This post will focus on Illinois Collaborative Divorce & Substance Abuse Counselor ...

Illinois Divorce: 5 tips to save on time, money, and conflict during a divorce: 1. Be proactive. Identify and locate assets and debts. Gather at least 3 years of financial documents, including but not limited to check books, pay stubs, Federal and State Tax Returns, monthly statements for bank a...

In Illinois, a new alternative approach to combative divorce is Collaborative Divorce. What makes Collaborative Divorce different? As you can guess, this post will focus on the basics of What Makes Collaborative Divorce Different. What Makes Illinois Collaborative Divorce Different: Respectful D...

In Illinois, couples have several options for divorce. One option often used in Cook County, DuPage County, and Kane County, is Collaborative Divorce. So what is Collaborative Divorce? What is a Collaborative Divorce in Illinois? Alternative Approach to Divorce from Litigation Collaborative Div...

On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Wheaton Collaborative Divorce Attorney and Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Erin Birt, presented at the 12th Annual Forum for the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals in Chicago, IL. Her educational seminar was entitled, “Alcohol/Addiction and the...

On Wednesday, September 19, 2012, DuPage County Domestic Relations Division held their mediation training for Court Approved Mediators. Erin Birt was honored to be a member of the Discussion Panel. During the discussion, the issue of mandatory reporting for child abuse was raised.  There were d...

An Illinois Collaborative Divorce is a proactive alternative dispute resolution that may include several Illinois Collaborative Team members.  This post will focus on the Illinois Collaborative Divorce: The Proactive Team. The Illinois Collaborative Team: *Illinois Collaborative Lawyer: A Illin...

A child friendly Illinois divorce option is one that minimizes the need for court involvement & litigation and utilizes child specialists when needed.  Resolving family disputes privately and efficiently is the best option for families with children.  The Law Firm of Erin N. Birt, P.C. offers sev...

In Illinois, parents that have not been able to agree upon holiday parenting time, most likely need to attend mediation prior to seeking assistance from a court.  In DuPage County, Illinois, local court rules mandate that parents attend mediation with a court approved mediator prior to seeking as...

Interested in an Illinois Collaborative Divorce? Is your spouse?  Wheaton Illinois Collaborative Divorce Lawyer, Erin Birt, recommends you talk with your spouse about the process.  Therefore, this post will focus on Proposing an Illinois Collaborative Divorce to Spouse. Proposing an Illinois Col...

The affordable divorce services provided by The Law Firm of Erin N. Birt P.C. focus on Integrity.  Integrity is an adherence to moral and ethical principles and honesty. Unfortunately such words and phrases are not commonly associated today with attorneys or divorce law firms.  The Law Firm of Er...

Illinois Collaborative Divorce is Growing! On June 9, 2012, Wheaton Illinois Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Erin Birt, represented the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois (“CLII”) at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (“AFCC”) Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.  Ms. B...