Posted on November 05, 2021 in Estate Planning

If you are considering meeting with an estate planning attorney for the first time, you might have some questions about what to expect during this appointment. During this first appointment, your attorney will ask a lot of questions meant to get to know you and what your goals are. You will go over what types of property you own, who you may want to leave property to, and perhaps some medical decision-making issues. You may not have all the answers when you first arrive at your new attorney’s office, and that is perfectly fine - your attorney is here to guide you.

What Questions Will My Attorney Ask? 

There are a few areas of your life your attorney is going to ask about, usually starting with your property and family. Some of these questions may be uncomfortable to answer, but remember - this meeting is completely confidential. Your attorney cannot tell anyone else what you discuss in this meeting without your permission. It is important that you are completely open and honest. Here are some things your estate planning attorney is likely to ask about: 

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce / Family Law

As technology continues to advance, "parenting time" for many Illinois families may no longer describe actual, physical presence. Children may text, video chat, or even game online with parents, making technology an integral part of the parent-child bond. Unfortunately, this new parenting dynamic can also result in conflict between parents. Who controls the child’s phone? Can one parent restrict FaceTime calls?

Is the child allowed to use technology to contact a parent even when it is not technically that parent’s parenting time? What if one parent monitors or blocks communication? Many Illinois family courts are now incorporating "digital parenting plans" into traditional plans to define how parents and children communicate online before these disputes reach a courtroom.

Illinois law (750 ILCS 5/602.7(b)) defines parenting time broadly, including "reasonable communication." Since virtual contact is now a legitimate form of parenting time, parents must have a solid framework to reference in the parenting plan should a dispute arise.  An experienced Kane County, IL family law attorney can ensure your parenting plan fully covers virtual contact and parenting time.

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