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...
Illinois Restricted Driving Permit & Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement hearings are administrative hearings conducted by the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Administrative Hearings. Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement Attorney, Erin Birt, prepares and represents clients seeki...
Illinois Collaborative Divorce is an appropriate legal method for approximately 98% of Illinois divorces or Illinois divorce related cases. Why? Approximately 98% of Illinois divorce or Illinois divorce related cases settle. If approximately 98% of cases settle, why do most Illinois divorce at...
Wheaton Illinois Divorce Firm of Erin Birt provides Uncontested Divorce Services which may also be called affordable divorce services, amicable divorce services, or even “cheap” divorce services. An Uncontested Illinois Divorce means a divorce settlement has been reached by the parties on all di...
This post will focus on the DuPage Collaborative Divorce: The Participation Agreement. DuPage collaborative divorce begins with a participation agreement. The participation agreement in collaborative divorce is a contract between the parties that generally includes the following topics and infor...
How to file a divorce in DuPage County generally involves the following steps: 1. Know your options and decide: Collaborative Divorce (also see the post “Collaborative Divorce Process,” Mediation, Litigation. 2. Know the residency requirements. See the post “When to Get a Divorce“. 3. If appr...
When to get a divorce in Illinois is an important question. There are certain legal requirements that must be considered when deciding when to get a divorce. When to Get a Divorce – Requirements Illinois has statutory residency requirements. To be safe, you should be a resident of Illinois for...
The collaborative divorce process in DuPage County begins when both parties want a collaborative divorce and have formally retained collaborative divorce lawyers. The cost of a collaborative divorce depends on the parties and the issues, however it is usually less expensive than a divorce trial. ...
As a divorce lawyer in Illinois, practicing from DuPage County, a common question is: “How is property divided?” The answer, however, should also incorporate the answer to, “How is property classified?” Therefore, this post will focus on Illinois Divorce: Property Division Case Law Update. A rec...
In Illinois, divorce and/or custody cases often include mediation. Parties will likely attend mediation to assist in the resolution of disputes involving custody, parenting time, visitation, and requests to remove the child/ren from Illinois. Parties can also attend mediation, with any qualifie...
In Illinois, cameras may soon make their appearance in Circuit Court courtrooms. Cameras would not be permitted in cases involving juveniles, adoptions, and custody cases. What about divorce cases that do not involve children? More information is needed about the pilot program. This post will...
In Illinois Divorce and Illinois Custody matters, case law is always being produced and updated by the court system. Today's post is going to focus on the Illinois Child Support Case Law Update. In re the Marriage of Rice is a recent Illinois Child Support case that addresses the issues of ch...
In an Illinois divorce case, hiding assets or failing to disclose assets during a divorce is costly. It may affect the classification and distribution of assets and it may be cause for a court to sanction a party. This post will focus on Illinois Divorce: Case Law Update. A recent Illinois A...
The Law Firm of Erin N. Birt, P.C. accepts family law clients (adoption, mediation, divorce, collaborative divorce, general family law, child support, paternity, etc.) from Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County, and Will County. Understanding that it is often difficult to write...
Individuals going through a divorce or separation during the holidays can find it difficult to cope with the added stress. This time of year is especially difficult as the holiday season is a day to day reminder of happier times or feelings of loneliness. Just because a family is in transitio...
Families in a Cook County Divorce or Cook County Paternity case may be assigned a parent coordinator. While a parent coordinator is often utilized in Cook County, it is not as frequently utilized in DuPage County Divorce or Paternity cases. This post will focus on Cook County Family Law: Paren...
La Carte Legal Services are also called “limited scope legal representation” and “unbundled legal services.” Regardless of what the service is called, it means that the client can pick and choose what services the attorney will perform during the course of representation. This post will focus o...
October or November is traditionally recognized as Mediation Month by various organizations throughout North America. The recognition helps promote and educate the public about the benefits of the alternative dispute resolution process. For those that may be unfamiliar with mediation, The Model...
Social media, such as Facebook, and other internet communication is changing the landscape of divorce settlement negotiations and divorce trials. Domestic Relations courts generally accept emails, text messages, online pictures, and Facebook posts as relevant evidence. And as businesses are g...
In Illinois, a civil union is a legal relationship that provides the couple with substantially the same obligations, protections, and benefits given to married couples. A civil union, however, is not a marriage. At one time, Illinois recognized marriage as only between a man and a woman. Not lo...
Case law provides guidance for appropriate negotiating, the preparation of settlement agreements, and if necessary, trial preparation. The following updates provide information about property classification, child support and expenses, and maintenance. Thus this post will focus on Case Law Upd...
Contribution to college expenses of children can be determined before a divorce is finalized or, in certain circumstances, after a divorce is finalized. A new case highlights some ‘timing' and ‘wording' issues for parties and family law attorneys dealing with college expenses. This post will foc...
Hurtful statements can derail and/or prolong mediation and the collaborative process. It is a common occurrence which must be addressed immediately in order to stay focused on the main goal of resolving a legal issue. This post will focus on whether to Respond to Hurtful Statements in Divorce? ...
Motivational interviewing (“MI”) is an approach used in counseling. It is a client centered method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. The relationship between counselor and patient is more like a partnership. It is non confrontational; it is ...
People get heated about finances. They become especially angry about child support and any delay in the payment of child support. Such feelings are understandable. The anger and strong emotions felt during the stressful time when no support is being paid causes many people to run to the cour...
Birt Family Law is committed to keeping the separating family out of court and working together towards a positive resolution.
Not sure where to begin? Start with a free 15-minute call to talk through your next step.
