Belleville Legal Issues Blog

Should you go to court to fight a speeding ticket?

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson on Monday, September 3, 2018.

Speeding, or intentionally driving faster than the posted speed limit, is likely one of the most ubiquitous crimes. Almost everyone speeds at some time or another. Whether you are a habitual offender or were just late to work one day, getting caught while speeding can turn a mildly unsafe practice into a major headache.

Many people who wind up with a speeding ticket just bite the proverbial bullet and pay the ticket. They may not understand that they do have the right to defend against a traffic citation in court. Even if they know that, they may not think that fighting against a simple ticket is worth their time or effort. For many people, however, pushing back against a speeding ticket is a smart decision.

Important things to remember about a parenting agreement

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson on Thursday, August 2, 2018.

Going through the divorce process is never easy. In addition to your personal well-being, you must make decisions that protect your child or children as well.

A parenting agreement can go a long way in making life easier on you, your ex-spouse and your children.

Could hidden assets have an impact on your pending divorce?

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson on Thursday, July 5, 2018.

If you are considering filing for divorce or have filed and are preparing to head to court, you should not ignore the potential for hidden assets. Hidden assets can actually take more than one form in the average divorce, and they can have an impact on the outcome of the asset division process.

Most people imagine that hidden assets are items or finances one spouse intentionally hides from the other and the courts. While this certainly does happen, this is not the only situation that can lead to hidden assets. You could simply overlook items of significant value while preparing your financial records for divorce. Understanding more about the asset division process in Illinois can help protect you from an unfair outcome to your divorce.

Take action to protect your teen from juvenile DUI charges

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson on Sunday, June 3, 2018.

The teenage years are a time of experimentation and learning through mistakes. Even the best teenagers rebel during high school and college, trying drugs and breaking rules to see what they can get away with. For most teenagers, this rebellious period is uneventful and tapers off into adult responsibilities in time. For an unfortunate few, however, the consequences of teenage mistakes can haunt them for years and impact their future.

Alcohol is a common source of criminal issues for young adults. Those under the age of 21 are not allowed to drink, possess or purchase alcohol. Quite a few still try it, and some get caught in the process. Others get caught in an even worse situation, like trying to drive home after a party. If your child got arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), you need to take action as soon as possible.

Succeed as a father with these co-parenting tips

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson on Sunday, May 6, 2018.

As a father going through the divorce process, you'll probably have some major concerns about your future relationship with your child or children.

Your success as a father is important to you, so there's no better time than now to learn more about co-parenting. Even if your ex-spouse has physical custody of your child, there are things you can do to maintain a healthy and strong relationship.

What is a property division checklist?

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson posted in blog on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

What are your primary concerns regarding the divorce process? Are you worried about child custody and child support? Have you turned your attention to property division, perhaps because you don't have any children together?

While every aspect of divorce deserves your attention, you'll likely soon find yourself focusing a lot of time and energy on matters of property division. Here's why: You want to receive your fair share of assets. Easy enough, right?

Choosing divorce mediation can help make it easier for your kids

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson posted in blog on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

Divorce is a difficult time for everyone in your family. You and your spouse will deal with the sorrow, anger and grief that come from a failed marriage. Your children will also experience a host of negative emotions, from anger and sorrow to confusion and guilt. While these reactions are normal and processing these emotions is healthy, there are still things you can do to reduce the impact of your divorce on your children.

Mediation is one way to make high-asset divorce easier for your children and your family as a whole. Instead of a contentious, protracted court battle for every asset and hour of parenting time, you and your spouse can focus on amicable resolutions for the outstanding issues from your marriage. Not only will this result in a faster and more affordable divorce, it can also shield your children from the fallout of a divorce trial.

3 things to remember during a DUI stop

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson posted in blog on Monday, February 5, 2018.

Imagine driving home on Friday night after spending time at your favorite Belleville hangout. With only a few more blocks to go, you suddenly see red and blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror. You have been pulled over before for various minor traffic violations such as speeding or maybe not stopping long enough at a stop sign. The difference this time is that you had a few drinks and the officer might suspect as much.

If a police officer pulls you over on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), there is a possibility that you could end up in the back of a squad car and on your way to jail. In other words, things could go very differently than what you have previously experienced during a minor traffic stop. If a law enforcement officer stops you for a DUI, take the following actions.

Even high asset divorces benefit from mediation

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson posted in blog on Thursday, January 4, 2018.

Divorce mediation allows couples who want to face divorce with civility and respect an alternative to traditionally mediated divorce. Even in cases where couples find it difficult to communicate without conflict, mediation can offer an effective process each party can use to reach fair agreements about every area of divorce.

Mediation can be exceptionally useful to divorcing couples with children, because it often allows parents to work out divorce terms in a fair, responsible way that can be less harmful to children than a winner-take-all approach. However, even couples without children may find mediation useful, especially when it comes to dividing property.

The requirements for a simplified joint dissolution of marriage

On behalf of Law Offices of Susan Parnell Wilson posted in blog on Tuesday, December 5, 2017.

Divorcing Illinois spouses often have two big questions on their mind: How much is this going to cost? And, how long is this going to take? Cost and timing vary based on the specific details of a divorce. However, there are some things that generally may be able to help point a divorce towards being cheaper, faster and less stressful.

One possible such option is settling a divorce via the Illinois simplified joint dissolution process, which is available to select spouses.