Peoria Legal Blog

How cryptocurrencies are putting a new spin on divorce

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

Many Illinois residents have seen firsthand how challenging it can be to divide assets during the divorce proceedings. Cryptocurrencies, which were first introduced to the public in the late 2000s with the likes of Bitcoin, have only recently started to have an impact on divorce proceedings. Part of this impact has to do with an increased public awareness about the value that cryptocurrency could have. Now, family law firms are dealing with individuals who have high net worth in cryptocurrencies. They are struggling to figure out how to deal with this currency.

Part of the difficulty comes from the simple fact that many family law attorneys do not truly understand what cryptocurrency is, how it is valued and whether it can be distributed among divorcing parties. As a result, divorces where cryptocurrencies need to be valuated are taking longer and costing more.

Steps to take before filing for divorce

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Monday, March 11, 2019.

Spouses who are approaching divorce in Illinois can take steps to make the process as smooth as possible. Divorce is almost never easy; it creates stress of several varieties, including emotional and financial worries. Taking the time to get organized prior to divorce can prepare a person for what is to come, relieve stress and make favorable outcomes more likely.

Among the first steps before filing for divorce is to take inventory of assets, debts, accounts and all financial-related documentation. It's a good idea to gather together investment and bank account statements, real estate documents, mortgages, credit card bills, wills and other estate planning documents, insurance policies and personal statements of finances. Having these documents can save time during divorce proceedings and prepare a person for separation early in the divorce process.

The link between daylight savings and drowsy driving

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in personal injury on Monday, March 11, 2019.

Those who are going to be driving on Illinois roads or others throughout the country after the clocks change should make sure to get enough sleep prior to doing so. According to AAA, adults should get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Sleeping for only five or six hours in a 24-hour period could double a driver's risk of an accident. In fact, it could cause impairment similar to driving after consuming too much alcohol.

If an individual has slept for less than two hours in a given day, they are considered not fit to drive by the National Sleep Foundation. However, it seems as if many people are driving while tired despite the risks of doing so. In a AAA survey, roughly 30 percent of respondents said that they had gotten behind the wheel even when they were struggling to keep their eyes open.

Preventing dehydration in nursing homes

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

Out of all the potential nursing home injuries that come from a neglectful staff, few are as prominent as dehydration. Studies show that nursing home residents are more likely to be dehydrated than those living outside of these facilities in Illinois. A lack of proper fluid intake can drastically increase the risk of contracting a deadly disease at their age.

Your parents deserve the best care they can get at such a fragile point in their lives. Dehydration can affect them quickly, so it is important to recognize potential warning signs that they aren’t getting enough fluids and what can be done to help them.

Keeping track of the facts after a car crash

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in personal injury on Monday, March 4, 2019.

When people in Illinois have a car accident, they may be upset, injured and unsure of their next steps. However, by being prepared for a collision before it occurs, people may be prepared to gather helpful information that could help them to compile the facts of their case for an insurance company or potentially even in court. People can keep better records and improve their recollection of the facts by remaining calm after a crash, even though it can be challenging.

By staying collected, people can help to record all of the facts about the accident, including the circumstances that led up to the collision. By keeping clear about the circumstances, accident victims may be able to present the situation more clearly to their insurance agent. This is particularly important when the car accident was caused by another driver's negligence. However, before people begin documenting a crash, the first and most important priority is to address any emergencies. Injured people who need emergency help should receive it immediately, and people should not hesitate to call 911. In some cases, it may be necessary to move the cars out of the way, as they could cause a dangerous situation on the roadway.

Common causes of car accidents and sources of fault

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in personal injury on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

After medical attention is provided following a car accident in Illinois, the next step is to identify likely contributing factors and causes. It's usually the police and insurance company claims adjusters who take the steps necessary to complete this process. In turn, it's determining the cause of an accident often leads to the identification of parties who may have been at fault, which ultimately establishes legal liability.

Human error is one of the most common causes of car accidents that result in some type of personal injury. Distracted driving is a type of human error that usually involves actions like applying makeup, eating, talking to passengers or using various electronic devices while behind the wheel. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or certain prescription medications is also a form of human error that's generally the result of poor judgment.

Tips to protect a business if divorce happens

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Monday, February 25, 2019.

People who are starting a company or getting married generally do not want to think about getting a divorce. However, business owners in Illinois may want to take steps to protect their company if their marriages end. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements do not mean a couple is planning to get a divorce or that one person wants to take financial advantage of the other. Instead, such an agreement provides the opportunity to talk about financial matters and how property should be divided outside of the emotionally fraught atmosphere of divorce proceedings.

If both spouses own the business, they might want to continue doing so even if the marriage ends. On the other hand, one person may agree to sell to the other if this happens. If just one spouse is the business owner, that individual may want to establish that the business is separate property. This would mean that what can be an expensive valuation process can be avoided during a divorce. In other situations, the owner may want his or her spouse to be able to claim a part of the company's value, which also can be specified in the agreement.

Planning for divorce

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

In many cases, the last thing married couples in Illinois may want to think about is divorce. However, they should know that the rate for divorce in the United States is almost 50 percent, with nearly 2 million divorces occurring every year. The subject can be intimidating, but understanding the process and having an idea of what to expect can make it easier to handle and can lessen stress. Planning that is done before, during and after a divorce is also helpful.

Couples who get divorced will have to submit the necessary paperwork to the courts, conduct research on the financial background of both parties and proceed to trial in some cases. For couples who want to avoid going to court, they can consider many other options. For example, a collaborative divorce or going through mediation may be suitable options, while in other cases the couple can negotiate a settlement on their own.

Single vehicle crash in Illinois kills driver and passenger

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in personal injury on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Excessive speed was likely the cause of a fatal one-car accident during the early morning hours of Feb. 10 according to police in Illinois. The 29-year-old driver of the car and his 25-year-old male front-seat passenger lost their lives in the crash, which took place on Sheridan Road in Central Peoria at approximately 4:15 a.m. A second passenger was taken by paramedics to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center with what media accounts described as life-threatening injuries. A Peoria Police Department representative said that toxicology tests were being performed on a blood sample taken from the deceased driver.

According to a PPD report, the man lost control of his car as he was proceeding northbound on Sheridan Road at a high rate of speed. The car struck and damaged a utility pole at Eleanor Place before coming to a rest in the front yard of a nearby house. Firefighter's officers arriving at the scene say the car sustained severe damage on its driver's side.

Illinois nursing homes ranked among the worst

On behalf of Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law posted in nursing home neglect on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

When people have elderly loved ones who need nursing home care, finding a facility that provides high-quality care can be difficult. The nursing home facilities in Illinois have been found to be among the worst in the nation in terms of the care that they provide.

Care.com conducted an analysis of nursing home facilities in states across the U.S. by examining data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The facilities that were located in Illinois were ranked at 42 out of 50. More than 900 people were surveyed about the care in nursing homes and the pain that they experienced.