Recent Blog Posts
Stepparent Rights Before and After a Divorce
Becoming a step-parent can be an overwhelming life change, whether you have biological children of your own or not. Approximately 40 percent of American families are blended families, making stepparenting a common occurrence. It can be a challenge to balance the desire to befriend your spouse’s child and earn their affection with the need to parent them when the time comes. Many stepparents form strong bonds with their stepchildren, and they should be sure to understand their rights and legal obligations both during their marriage and if divorce ever enters the picture.
Throughout the Marriage
- Discipline: Many stepparents leave discipline to their spouse, especially when they first join the family, but as time goes on, more and more responsibility can get placed in their hands. It is important to have a conversation with your spouse about parenting expectations. Though it may not feel like it, you must remember that discipline is intended to benefit the child, and as a parent, the child’s safety should be your first priority.
The Dangers of Dying Without an Estate Plan in Place
According to several recent surveys, about 55 percent of American adults do not have a will. Of those, approximately 60 percent say it is simply because they have not had the chance to create one, but human nature suggests that there may be another motive. Many people are simply unwilling to consider their own mortality and to face the reality of death. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious consequences, even for those who do not have particularly large estates. Unfortunately, dying without a will or other estate planning tools can lead to some unpleasant consequences.
Depreciation of Assets
There are a number of reasons that assets may depreciate after death. It could be due to the red tape and time it takes to go through the Illinois probate system. Alternatively, valuable funds may need to be spent on tracking down family members that you might not have even had planned to inherit (or may very well be deceased). Taxes, which often end up being higher in the absence of a will, can also affect the value of the estate. Regardless of the reason, the absence of a will makes depreciation almost unavoidable.
Pets and Divorce: Including the Puppy in the Prenup
For many people, pets are a part of the family. You get them when they are young and you take care of them as they grow older, much like parents do with their children. Whether the pet is a dog, cat, bird, or reptile, many pet owners view their pets as children as well.
Divorce means the division of assets between two spouses, but also a decision on who gets the pet after the divorce papers are signed. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are a way to make these decisions while a couple's relationship is in a good place, instead of during the often contentious divorce process if they reach that unfortunate conclusion. Much of the negative perception regarding these agreements has faded in the public consciousness because couples now see the value of expecting the best but planning for the worst.
Pets in the Eyes of the Court
In most states, pets are solely regarded as property and are treated as such. Illinois is one of the few states that has made progress in the pet department. In 2017, Illinois and Alaska passed bills that allow judges to consider the well-being of an animal when making these decisions, and California recently followed suit. This bill also allows judges to grant joint custody of the pet if they believe it is the best option for the animal. Though many divorce cases do not end up going through full litigation, custody of children and pets often brings emotions to an all-time high.
Estate Planning Is Not Just About Wills
Most people know that estate planning chiefly deals with the distribution of assets and personal wealth after a person passes away. A last will and testament or trust can enable an individual to decide how his or her hard-earned assets are divided among heirs. While having a will is a critical part of making sure your final wishes are fulfilled and your family is provided for, wills do not address what will happen if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury. This “incapacity planning” is often disregarded as unnecessary or too emotionally burdensome to manage, but planning for potential incapacitation is critical to having a comprehensive estate plan.
Do Not Burden Your Family with Making Health Care Decisions on Your Behalf
Have you ever considered what would happen if you became unable to make decisions about medical care or financial affairs because of a serious illness? Often, when people fall ill and are near death, their family members have to make excruciating decisions about death-delaying procedures. Deciding when and if procedures like mechanical ventilation, surgery, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), dialysis, antibiotics, or transfusions should be used can be a tremendously burdensome task for family members. However, those who have incapacitation plans in place save their family members from being forced to make blind decisions about financial matters and medical procedures.
Blended Families: How to Adjust After Remarrying
The term “blended family” refers to families that come together with a relationship that follows a previous marriage or marriages. This often means connecting children who are unrelated to form a new, larger family. Every situation is unique. Some spouses both have children from their previous relationship while others do not. Both families are accustomed to “how things used to be” and it can be a difficult transition for parents and children alike.
There are many different strategies that can help families come together, even if it does not feel natural at first. Listed below are various ways to strengthen your family as it begins to form:
Set Boundaries
Begin by having a conversation with your new spouse about parental expectations. It is not always best to try and become your stepchildren’s new disciplinarian. By discussing and planning your boundaries and expectations with your spouse, you ensure that you both will hold similar roles for any stepchildren while maintaining respect for their biological parent.
Understanding “Undue Influence” in Estate Planning
Sadly, as long as there are vulnerable people in the world, unscrupulous individuals will attempt to exploit that vulnerability. This is especially a concern for those with elderly or disabled relatives. When someone exerts “undue influence” on an elderly or otherwise incapacitated person, they try to convince that person to make a different decision than he or she planned to make. This often occurs with financial and inheritance concerns. If you believe that your relative was under undue influence when he or she created a will or other estate planning document, you may be able to bring these suspicions to probate court.
Elderly Individuals and Those with Dementia Can Be Taken Advantage Of
Probate is the verification process which every will goes through in order for inheritance directions to be carried out after an individual dies. If you have recently lost a loved one and you suspect that his or her will does not actually reflect his or her final wishes, you may petition the court to have the will invalidated. This is called contesting the will. In order to prove your relative was under undue influence, you will need to show that:
Is Adultery Illegal, and How Does it Affect Divorce Cases?
Throughout the history of marriage, adultery has been socially frowned upon as a betrayal of trust, and it often leads to divorce. Public opinion and religious beliefs are often believed to be the driving factor behind these negative views, but the laws regarding marriage also play a role. However, many people do not understand how these laws may affect them.
The Legality of Adultery
As is common with most laws, the way adultery is defined and handled varies from state to state. What many fail to realize about adultery is that in Illinois, it is considered against the law and can result in legal repercussions. Illinois is one of 18 states that have made adultery a crime. Illinois law defines the act of adultery as voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse, if:
- The person is married and knows the other person involved in such intercourse is not his spouse; or
Review and Update Your Estate Plans Every December to Ensure Accuracy
It seems like just recently that we ventured into the year 2018, but soon this calendar year will come to a close. As you ready yourself for the new year, take some time to evaluate your estate plans. Although it may seem like a chore, scheduling regular estate plan “maintenance” is critical to ensuring that your estate plans reflect your actual wishes. Keeping estate plans up-to-date can take some time and energy, but the peace of mind you will feel knowing that your estate plans are current, accurate, and legally-binding is well worth the effort.
You Give Up Control Over Inheritance Decisions Without an Estate Plan
A comprehensive estate plan allows you to make decisions for your future which would otherwise be decided by others. Not only can estate planning tools like a will or trust help you decide how your property is divided after you pass, it also protects your financial interests and rights while you are living. When no valid estate plan exists and an individual dies, his or her wealth and property is distributed to heirs according to Illinois state law.
Estate Planning: The Importance of Customizing Your Plans
If you have recently decided that it is time to create an estate plan, congratulations! You are one vital step closer to preserving the financial future of your family. However, it is important to understand that, when it comes to estate plans, one size does not always fit all. In fact, using so-called “boilerplate” forms or documents could lead to devastating oversights, as there are many different situations that could require special consideration.
Special Needs Children and Adult Dependents
Children who have special needs are often entitled to government benefits to help ensure that their medical and daily care needs are met. In many cases, these benefits continue well into adulthood. Unfortunately, when parents, siblings, or other family members leave behind an improperly planned inheritance, the benefits available to a special needs individual could be placed at risk. Then, rather than enhancing their lives, the inheritance ends up being spent on their daily needs.
Understanding the Role of the Executor
One of the most important decisions in the estate planning process is who will be named as executor of the estate. The executor is the person who is responsible for overseeing and protecting the assets of the deceased person. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the wishes of the decedent are carried out, as well as maintaining any property of the estate until disbursement, settling the debts of the estate, and paying any taxes owed. It is critical for the person who is appointed executor to understand how to manage the estate. If they mismanage estate assets that add up to a loss to the beneficiaries of the estate, they can be held liable for those losses.
Short-Term Responsibilities
Unless arrangements have been made before the person’s death, it is typically the executor’s responsibility to handle the financial arrangements for the deceased’s funeral and burial expenses. The funeral parlor also provides copies of the death certificate to the executor. It is important to obtain several copies of the death certificate since a copy will be necessary in order to access financial accounts and canceling government benefit checks (i.e. Social Security). A copy is also required to be filed with the final federal tax return of the estate.
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