Recent Blog Posts

Regaining Your Driving Privileges in Illinois

 Posted on May 11, 2020 in DUI

IL defense lawyerIn the state of Illinois, law enforcement officers work diligently to keep travelers safe. With safety at the forefront of all traffic regulations, violations can come with serious consequences including license suspension and revocation. Choosing to drive while your license is suspended or revoked, can come with serious legal ramifications. Below we will examine some of the violations that can compromise your driving privileges and the steps you can take to reinstate your license.

Losing Your License

While DUI convictions are the most notable cause of a license suspension, with over 90% of all eligible drivers losing their driving privileges after a conviction, there are a number of reasons why a person can temporarily lose their license in Illinois. If a person has accumulated a number of traffic violations within a year, they could lose their driving privileges based on the notion that they are a danger to other travelers. Drivers can also lose their driving privileges due to failure to pay tickets for traffic or parking violations, failure to appear in court, and failure to pay child support payments.

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Seeking an Attorney for Post-Judgment Assistance

 Posted on May 08, 2020 in Family Law

IL family lawyerWhen a judgment is made in a couple’s divorce, many people feel a level of relief as they move toward a life of independence. Unfortunately, a number of issues can arise post-divorce that can lead to complications with your former-spouse. Whether your former spouse is failing to pay child support payments in full or on time or one party is seeking a post-judgment modification to the child custody or support agreement, you need to take the situation seriously. If you are facing post-divorce complications, speak with a compassionate and experienced divorce attorney regarding your options.

Post-Divorce Issues Pertaining to Children

When it comes to parenting time and responsibilities, it is not uncommon for a parent to violate the court-ordered agreement. The most common violations include consistently running late to drop off or pick up children, preventing a non-custodial parent from visiting the child during agreed-upon visitation times, and overstepping legal custody agreements by making unilateral decisions on the child’s schooling or extra-curricular engagements. If you begin to notice a trend of violations, begin documenting the details surrounding the violations. If the violations continue, it is time to speak with your attorney. In serious cases, your attorney may pursue a modification to the original custody agreement.

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Winning Custody as a Single Father

 Posted on April 24, 2020 in Child Custody

IL divorce lawyerEvery year thousands of Americans make the difficult decision to pursue a divorce. For fathers navigating the divorce process, the chances of winning significant custodial privileges can seem less than favorable. In all reality, there are a number of steps one can take to ensure that you are awarded parental responsibilities. Below we will discuss some of the steps you can take as a single father to ensure that you can maintain a significant relationship with your child, after your divorce. If you are looking to secure child custody, it is time to seek out the help of a qualified attorney.

Steps You Can Take

Despite the narrative that fathers have more difficulty securing child custody than mothers, thousands of fathers are granted significant parental responsibilities, each and every year. That being said, there are a couple of simple steps you can take to increase the likelihood of securing significant custodial privileges through the divorce process.

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Reacting to a Hostile Spouse During the Divorce Process

 Posted on April 17, 2020 in Divorce

IL divorce lawyerDespite the fact that thousands of Americans make the decision to pursue a divorce each and every year, the divorce process is rarely emotionally easy. The emotions of a divorce can be amplified when a spouse begins acting in an erratic or hostile manner. It is important to understand the steps you should take when a spouse begins behaving in this way, and the simple mistakes you can avoid throughout the divorce. The first step you can take as you begin the divorce process is hiring a qualified and skilled divorce attorney.

Steps You Can Take in a Hostile Divorce

It is important to understand the fact that the divorce process can be challenging for both parties, and you should be prepared to react to unpredictable and unprecedented behavior from your spouse. Below are a few steps you can take if your spouse begins acting hostile throughout your divorce:

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Mistakes People Make in the Divorce Process

 Posted on April 11, 2020 in Divorce

IL divorce lawyerWhen you and your spouse come to the difficult conclusion that you need to consider a divorce, it is entirely common to experience a wide array of emotions. While the divorce process can be emotionally turbulent, your ability to remain calm and composed throughout the entirety of the process can be monumentally important to you and your future. Below we will explore some of the simple mistakes that can cost you during the divorce process. If you and your spouse are considering pursuing a divorce, it is time to speak with a qualified divorce attorney.

Mistakes That Can Cost You

At J. Aldrich Law, P.C., we fully recognize the fact that a divorce can be complicated and emotionally trying. We have also witnessed dozens of people make mistakes through the divorce process that cost them greatly in the long-term.

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Regaining Your Driving Privileges After a DUI Conviction

 Posted on March 28, 2020 in DUI

IL DUI lawyerThroughout 2018, over 26,000 DUI arrests were made throughout the state of Illinois. A DUI conviction can come with serious legal ramifications, including loss of driving privileges. In the state of Illinois, a first-time DUI conviction constitutes a Class A Misdemeanor as well as a one-year license revocation period. In 2018, 90% of all drivers arrested on DUI charges, that were eligible for a suspension, lost their driving privileges. If you have been charged with a DUI, you need to seek out the help of a qualified legal professional.

Driving after a DUI

In the state of Illinois, a first-time offender can lose their driving privileges due to a DUI conviction or simply refusing to submit to chemical testing. In both instances, the driver is eligible for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP). An MDDP will allow drivers to operate their registered personal vehicles, at all times. In order to receive an MDDP, one must submit an MDDP program application. After receiving your application, the Secretary of State’s Office will review your driving record and ultimately decide whether or not you are eligible for an MDDP. Drivers with previous serious violations such as a reckless homicide charge or an aggravated DUI resulting in death will be deemed ineligible. It should be noted that drivers under the age of 18 are not eligible for MDDP consideration.

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Obtaining an Order of Protection in Illinois

 Posted on March 21, 2020 in Criminal Defense

IL defense lawyerAccording to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately 1 in 4 American women face some form of domestic abuse. Domestic violence can come in the form of verbal threats, non-consensual sexual activities, or physical violence. Regardless of the form of domestic violence, you need to get you and your family out of the violent situation before the level of physical harm escalates. Fortunately obtaining an order of protection is a fairly straight forward process in the state of Illinois, and can protect you from your violent spouse.

What Is an Order of Protection?

In short, an order of protection is a court order that protects the holder of the order from an abuser in their family. The judge can order that the abuser maintain a safe distance from the victim and other people protected on the order (primarily children), cease to contact the victim via phone call or social media, move out of a shared dwelling, and attend counseling. For families, it is important to note that an order of protection can restrict an abuser from seeing or contacting any minor child in the victim’s custody.

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Why You Should Fight a DUI Charge

 Posted on March 06, 2020 in DUI

IL defense lawyerEvery single year thousands of drivers in the state of Illinois are charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With so many annual arrests, many people assume that a DUI conviction is a fairly minor charge. In all reality, a DUI conviction can impact your life in a significant and long-term way. If you have been charged with driving under the influence, it is time to speak with a qualified legal professional.

The Consequences of a DUI Conviction

In the state of Illinois, a DUI conviction constitutes a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, an offender can face fines up to $2,500 as well as a one-year license suspension. It should be noted that there are a number of factors that can lead to a DUI being classified as an aggravated DUI charge. If your DUI is considered aggravated, the charges will be elevated to a felony. An aggravated DUI conviction can result in fines as high as $25,000 and the potential of jail time, depending on the aggravating factor. For instance, if a driver causes great bodily harm to someone while driving under the influence, they can face up to 12 years in prison, and a minimum one-year prison sentence.

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Simple Steps You Can Take to Secure Parental Responsibilities

 Posted on February 27, 2020 in Child Custody

IL family lawyerThe divorce process is a stressful time for all parties, especially when children are involved. In the state of Illinois, the court will carefully examine various criteria, including the living situations of both parents, to determine how parental responsibilities will be allocated. The revised language of Illinois’ child custody law is written in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the allocation of parental responsibilities will determine who makes decisions about the child’s enrollment in schools, engagement in extracurricular activities, and of course parenting time. In order to ensure that you maintain a significant relationship with your child, the first step you should take is hiring a skilled legal professional. Your attorney will then guide you through the steps you can take to secure the parental responsibilities you deserve.

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What You Can Do to Get Your Child Support Payments

 Posted on February 15, 2020 in Child Support

IL family lawyerThe divorce process is an emotionally trying time, but the months after a divorce can also come with challenges. For custodial parents, adjusting to a life of raising their child on their own can be a difficult transition. The financial challenges that custodial parents face are well documented, further showcasing the importance of child support. Unfortunately, many parents do not receive their child support payments in full and struggle to provide for their children. If your former spouse is failing to make their child support payments in full or on time, it is time to seek out the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney.

Securing Your Child Support Payments

According to the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.7 million single custodial parents living throughout the United States, with over half of them having some form of child support agreement with a former spouse. Unfortunately, less than half of all custodial parents with a child support agreement, receive their payments in whole. Child support can be invaluable for parents that need financial support to provide for their family, and if you are not receiving the child support you deserve, it is time to act.

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