According to the State’s Attorney’s Office, 2016 statistics reveal that Lake county Illinois has the fourth highest rate of drunk driving arrests in Illinois, with repeat drunk drivers accounting for a third of those arrested. In response, the state has launched a program known as SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring, that will monitor repeat drunk drivers… Read More »
Stay At Home Parent in a Divorce
In marriages where one spouse has a career while the other takes care of things at home, thinking about a divorce can raise a lot of concerns for a spouse that has been out of the job market. The spouse who may have given up a career to stay home, perhaps to raise children, may… Read More »
TOP 100 ATTORNEYS
Ronald L.Bell AMERICA’S TOP 100 ATTORNEYS® LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT SELECTION Announcing the Lifetime Achievement selection of Ronald L. Bell among America’s Top 100 Attorneys. Lifetime Achievement selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional attorneys whose accomplishments and impact on the legal profession merit a… Read More »
Uncovering Hidden Assets in a Divorce
In a divorce both spouses are required by law to disclose all of their financial information. However, it is not unheard of for a resentful, soon-to-be ex-spouse to hide assets from the other hoping to deprive them of any advantages post-divorce. Afraid your spouse has been squirrelling away money prior to asking for a divorce?… Read More »
Dividing Stock Options in a Marital Property Division Settlement
Many companies offer stock options or restricted stock as incentives to their higher-level employees. Stock options basically gives the employee an option to purchase company stock at rock bottom prices and cash it out later at the stock’s fair market value sometime in the future. If everything goes as planned, the employee will make a… Read More »
Cohabitation Ends Alimony
Under Illinois law spousal maintenance ends upon the death of either party, the remarriage of the recipient, or if the party receiving maintenance cohabits with another person. Cohabitation Terminates Alimony – But What is It? What “cohabiting with another person” means is not exactly straight forward, but the courts generally look a the following factors… Read More »
Keeping the Family Home in a Divorce
The single biggest asset for most couples is the family home and when couples divorce, they must make a decision on what to do with the house. While many couples decide to sell their home and simply split the profit, one of them may want to keep the home, especially if children are present. If… Read More »
Awarding Interim Attorney Fees When One Spouse Holds the Purse Strings
Petitions for interim attorney fees typically arise when one spouse has control of the marital money and the other spouse is left with few resources to pay for legal representation in a divorce. The purpose of interim attorney fee awards is to level the playing field so to speak, so an economically disadvantaged spouse can… Read More »
2017 – 2018 Best Family Law Firm for Client Satisfaction Award
We are very pleased to announce that the Libertyville, Illinois family law offices of Ronald L. Bell & Associates has been recognized as 2017 – 2018 Best Family Law Firm for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. Attorneys selected to the “10 Best” move through a rigorous selection process, which is… Read More »
Illinois Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time
The new law regarding Illinois allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, previously referred to as child custody, requires parents to file a parenting plan with the court within 120 days of filing for divorce. The parenting plan can be prepared and filed together or, each party may file a plan separately. A parenting plan will… Read More »
