ILLINOIS FELONY FACT SHEET Felony Defined: A serious crime that has a possible prison term of 1 year or more. Some felonies carry terms of up to 60 years. Murder is a felony, but has special rules of its own, including life in prison or execution. THE FELONY PROCESS IN ILLINOIS The Arrest: When the police […]
ILLINOIS DOMESTIC BATTERY FACT SHEET
ILLINOIS DOMESTIC BATTERY FACT SHEET Domestic Battery: A case of battery involving family members. Family members include people related by blood or marriage, that share a home, that have or had a dating relationship, or that have a child in common. Domestic Battery is a Class A misdemeanor. The possible penalties are up to a year […]
The Border “Crisis”: It’s About Child Protection, Not Family Separation
Across the United States there are courts established that deal on a daily basis with the nearly 438,000 American children in foster care. These children have been “separated” from their families for a myriad of reasons. The children have been the victims of abuse and neglect, sometimes inflicted by their parents or caretakers that the […]
Funds to Compensate Victims of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Cancers
There are tremendous numbers of ads from mesothelioma lawyer and attorneys across all media publicizing compensation for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos related cancers and diseases. There have been over 50 funds established for people who have become ill as a result of long ago asbestos exposure. Hence companies such as SERS and many […]
Illinois Requirements for a Valid Last Will and Testament
The Constitution’s Tenth Amendment notes that any power not given to the federal government is reserved to the states or the people. The Constitution does not give the federal government power over the disposition of property upon someone’s death.[1] This is a power reserved to the states, and the law in this area varies from […]
Considerations in Appointing a Child’s Guardian in a Will
There are many reasons to create a Last Will and Testament, but for parents with a minor child, appointment of a child’s guardian is among the best. Doing so may be a parent’s best chance at choosing a child’s guardian angel. Estate planning has many facets including property titles, trust documents and more, but none […]
Federal Restrictions on Gun Ownership by Convicted Felons
Federal law provides significant penalties for felons in possession of weapons, unless the felon has his rights restored by the convicting state. Anyone who has been convicted of a felony is banned by federal law from ever possessing “any firearm or ammunition.” Specifically a person “convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment […]
A Will Alone Does Not Avoid Probate, A Living Trust Can Help
There are many reasons to have a will, but avoiding probate is not among them. Other tools such as a living trust can help achieve that goal. There are legal documents and procedures beyond having a valid Last Will & Testament that constitute “estate planning”. A person’s “estate” is his/her “net worth” at any moment. […]
The Exclusionary Rule in US Criminal Trials
Part of the Bill of Rights, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits government searches or seizures without a warrant issued by a disinterested magistrate. The Fourth Amendment protects the right to have government stay out of a person’s home and property without prior approval by a judge. If the judge has found […]
Expunging & Sealing Florida Criminal Records
It is difficult to get a job in today’s economy, especially for an individual with a criminal record. For those with a criminal history in Florida[1] there is a process for some individuals to clean their records. For eligible individuals there are 2 potential outcomes for clearing a Florida criminal history. One is for the […]