Aldrich & Siedlarz Law, P.C.

Illinois Shoplifting and Retail Theft Charges

Posted on December 10, 2020

IL criminal lawyer The penalties faced by a person who has been accused of retail theft in Illinois are some of the most severe in the U.S. For instance, defendants convicted of shoplifting items worth $300 or more face up to five years in prison and fines of $25,000. To ensure that you are not unfairly convicted of retail theft or a similar crime, please reach out to our experienced Lombard, IL retail theft lawyers today.

Defining Retail Theft

Retail theft is defined under Illinois law as the taking of merchandise without paying for its full value. Because it is so broadly defined, a number of different activities fall under this category. For instance, a person can be charged with retail theft if he or she has been accused of leasing property and failing to return it to the owner on time. Other forms of retail theft include:

Posted in Criminal Defense

Domestic Battery Charges in Illinois

Posted on November 27, 2020

IL defense lawyer Those who have been charged with domestic battery face serious penalties, including jail time, making it especially important for those who have been accused of this offense, to speak with an experienced Lombard, IL domestic battery attorney as soon as possible about their defense strategy.

What Is Domestic Battery?

Under Illinois law, a person commits domestic battery if he or she:

Posted in Criminal Defense

Options for Clearing Your Criminal Record in Illinois

Posted on November 17, 2020

IL defense attorney Many people who are arrested or charged with a crime are surprised to learn that even if they are found not guilty, or their charges are dropped, they will still have a criminal record. These records can be accessed by the public, which can have significant repercussions for a person’s ability to find employment or secure housing. While it is possible to have one’s criminal record erased or sealed, doing so can be difficult, so if you were arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime in Illinois, you should speak with an experienced Lombard, IL expungement lawyer who can walk you through your options for clearing your criminal record.

How to Clear Your Criminal Record

There are actually three ways to clear one’s criminal record, the first of which is expungement. Expungement proceedings completely erase a person’s record of arrest or court supervision. Sealing, on the other hand, allows a person to hide his or her criminal record from most members of the public. Some individuals and entities will still have access to sealed records, including law enforcement agencies. Similarly, employers that are required by law to conduct background checks will be able to see sealed felony convictions, although they will not be able to see any misdemeanor convictions or cases that did not result in a conviction. Those who do not qualify for expungement or sealing could apply for a pardon from the Governor. This method does not, however, erase or hide a conviction. Instead, those who have received a pardon will have the option of applying for expungement.

Posted in Criminal Defense

How do Courts Determine What Is in a Child’s Best Interests?

Posted on November 13, 2020

IL custody lawyer When allocating parenting time between two parents who have decided to separate, Illinois courts are specifically directed to make their determination based on what would be in a child’s best interests. Although this may seem like a vague standard, Illinois law actually establishes what factors are important in determining a child’s best interests. Applying these factors to a particular case can, however, be a complicated process, so if you share a child with a former partner and need help coming up with a parenting plan that reflects what is best for your family, it is critical to consult with an experienced Lombard, IL child custody and parental responsibilities lawyer before proceeding with your case.

The Best Interests of the Child Standard

Like most other states, Illinois lawmakers adopted a series of factors that courts must consider in evaluating what is in a child’s best interests, including:

Posted in Child Custody

Can I Modify My Divorce Decree?

Posted on October 26, 2020

IL divorce lawyer It is important, when going through the divorce process, to be as thorough as possible when addressing things like property division, alimony, and child custody, which includes considering one’s future needs. Unfortunately, even parties who use the greatest care could end up overlooking an important matter. In other cases, one of the parties could undergo a significant life change that makes their current divorce agreement unworkable. In these cases, the party in question can seek a post-judgment modification, although doing so can be a complicated and time-consuming process, so if you have questions about changing a parenting plan, alimony agreement, or property settlement, you should speak with a DuPage County, IL divorce attorney who is well-versed in post-decree modifications and enforcement.

Modification Options

Divorce decrees are legally binding orders, so courts are generally wary of modifying their terms. In fact, in some cases, it just isn’t possible to change a decree at all. Illinois judges do, however, recognize that some things are out of our control, or that a person’s circumstances could change after a certain amount of time has passed. A child support arrangement that made sense even a few years ago, for instance, may become obsolete or unworkable, in which case, a court may be willing to review and change the terms of the agreement. In any case, there are really only two ways to modify the terms of divorce-related agreements: by agreement or court order.

Posted in Divorce