Roman Seckel just ended his year as the Chair of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Roman served as director on the Chamber of Commerce Board before he began his stint as Chairman in August of 2017. Roman was in the enviable position of taking the helm of a very vibrant and growing…
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Estate planning is something that is very easy to put off. Most of us do it, sometimes for a very long time. Some of us until it is too late. Estate planning is also something that keeps us awake at night with questions like: What will happen to my children if I die? That question…
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Carolyn Jansons will be putting her municipal law experience to use as a member of the Plan Commission for the Village of Elburn. Carolyn was appointed by Village President, Jeff Walter, to the Elburn Village Plan Commission at the Elburn Village Board Meeting on Monday, June 18, 2018, and the appointment was confirmed with the…
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Beginning January 1, 2018, Illinois Judges have the authority to consider the well-being of pets in a divorce action. In the past, pets and companion animals, unlike service animals, were treated as property in a divorce (like furniture for instance), and rules for dividing property were applied to pets. Pet owners, however, often view their…
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We recently published an article addressing the proposed legislation contained in House Bill 4113. HB 4113 would impose a starting presumption of 50/50 parenting time when it comes to child custody. “Child custody”, of course, is no longer a relevant term in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA)…
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Human trafficking is a term that does not sit easily in our respectable, suburban view of life. It conjures up third-world thoughts that seem as distant as they are foreign. The idea of human trafficking exists largely outside of our conscious, social awareness but for once a year. Around the time of the Super Bowl,…
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In a previous article, Carolyn Jansons discussed the roll of a Guardian Ad Litem in a custody case. In this article, I will provide some advice regarding how to work with a Guardian ad Litem in your custody case. As discussed in the previous article, a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) is an integral component of…
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The process of determining custody of minor children in a divorce or a paternity situation often involves a Guardian ad Litem. What in the world is a Guardian ad Litem, and why is one needed, is the topic of this blog piece. Begin armed with information and understanding is essential to be able to navigate…
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One of the most common questions that people ask about lawyers is: How do I find the best lawyer? If you need a lawyer, for whatever reason, that is the right question to start your search. Choosing a lawyer should involve as much thought as buying a car. Lawyers are not cheap; people don’t choose…
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A Power of Attorney is a document by which one person (the principal) can appoint another person (the agent) to act on the principal’s behalf in regard to financial and property matters (Property Power of Attorney) and health care and personal matters (Health Care power of Attorney). In other words, one person (the principal) can…
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