2020 Articles

An Analysis of Sharpe v. Westmoreland By Emily Rapp November 2020 Partners to a civil union now have standing to petition for parenting time as a result of the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling in Sharpe v. Westmoreland.

Can I Date Without Losing My Maintenance? By Jordan Rosenberg, Shana Vitek, & James Quigley June 2020 The meaning of "cohabitation" under section 510 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act is not defined and, as a result, the concept has been frequently litigated and continues to change as the caselaw evolves.

Chair’s Column By Sally K. Kolb December 2020 A note from the chair, Sally K. Kolb.

Chair’s Column By Sally K. Kolb November 2020 A note from the chair, Sally K. Kolb

Chair’s Column By Sally K. Kolb October 2020 A note from the chair, Sally K. Kolb.

Chair’s Column By Sally K. Kolb September 2020 A note from the chair, Sally K. Kolb.

Chair’s Column By Michael Strauss June 2020 A note from the outgoing chair, Michael Strauss.

1 comment (Most recent June 17, 2020)

Chair’s Column By Michael Strauss May 2020 A note from the chair, Michael Strauss.

Chair’s Column By Michael Strauss April 2020 A note from the chair, Michael Strauss.

Chair’s Column By Michael Strauss March 2020 A note from the chair, Michael Strauss.

Chair’s Column By Michael Strauss February 2020 A note from the chair, Michael Strauss.

Chair’s Column By Michael Strauss January 2020 A note from the chair, Michael Strauss.

Chair’s Column: Back to School Time? By Sally K. Kolb August 2020 A note from the chair, Sally K. Kolb.

Chair’s Column: Mental Health Impacts of COVID 19 on the New Normal for Family Law By Sally K. Kolb July 2020 A note from the chair, Sally K. Kolb.

COVID-19 Shutdowns Cause ‘Horrifying Surge’ in Domestic Violence, According to the United Nations By Masah S. SamForay May 2020 As stay-at-home and shelter-in-place became our new normal, alarming reports of a worldwide surge in domestic violence surfaced.

1 comment (Most recent May 21, 2020)

Dating Without Losing Maintenance: A Counterpoint By Justin Haber & Michael Haber August 2020 A look at the doctrine of cohabitation and maintenance.

Dating Without Losing Maintenance: A Counterpoint By Justin Haber & Michael Haber July 2020 A look at the doctrine of cohabitation and maintenance.

1 comment (Most recent July 15, 2020)

Diversity and Inclusion: Professionalism at Work in the Law By Marcus Dominguez & Judge Debra B. Walker August 2020 On February 25, 2020, Judge Debra B. Walker and Judge Diane M. Shelley led an open discussion with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers centered around diversity and inclusion in the legal workplace.

Diversity and Inclusion: Professionalism at Work in the Law By Marcus Dominguez & Judge Debra B. Walker June 2020 On February 25, 2020, as representatives of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Judge Debra B. Walker and Judge Diane M. Shelley led an open discussion with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers centered around diversity and inclusion in the legal workplace.

Do I Really Have to Pay for That?: Yakich v. Aulds and the Constitutionality of Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act By Max Bungert January 2020 A summary of Yakich v. Aulds, which looked at whether compelling divorced and unmarried parents to contribute to the educational expenses of their non-minor children is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

Fairness and Child Support in Illinois: Incompatible Goals or Unreasonable Expectations? By Nancy Chausow Shafer January 2020 A look at the income shares method of computing child support guidelines.

Guardian Ad Litem/Child’s Representative Fees: You Got Appointed, Now How Do You Get Paid? By Lisa M. Nyuli September 2020 In the last few years, the legislature and courts have made an effort to ensure that guardians ad litem and child representatives are paid.

1 comment (Most recent September 23, 2020)

The Illinois Bar Foundation Needs Your Help By Rory T. Weiler November 2020 The Illinois Bar Foundation, which assists fellow lawyers who have fallen upon hard times, has acted quickly to address the economic crisis that has resulted from COVID-19.

Income Is Income: A Brief Look at In re Marriage of Solecki and Parties’ Ability to Contract By Michael J. Levy October 2020 A recent appellate case, In re the Marriage of Solecki, addressed the issue of whether parties have the authority to contract and create their own definition of net income.

Lawyers in a Pandemic Ask: What Is Essential? By Theresa Beran Kulat, J.D. April 2020 A new way to look at your career as a family lawyer as you inevitably confront new situations.

A Little Bit of Everything: The Case of In re Marriage of Hamilton By Stephanie L. Tang October 2020 A summary of the vast array of family law issues discussed by the appellate court in In re the Marriage of Hamilton.

The Major Pitfalls of Remote Hearings Involving Allocation of Parenting Time and Parental Responsibilities By Wesley A. Gozia December 2020 Although remote hearings have many benefits, there are indeed some situations in which they are less practical.

No DNA for You! By Jessica Patchik March 2020 If a father has signed a voluntary acknowledgement, the Parentage Act does not give the court authority to order DNA testing after the fact.

Parenting in a Pandemic By Rachael Toft August 2020 A look at how COVID-19 has affected parenting issues for separated parents.

Post-Pandemic Practice (Or PPP) By Matthew A. Kirsh July 2020 A look at what we have learned about the practice of law during COVID-19.