The Law Offices of Robert F. Kramer, Ltd. Illinois Legal Blog
Can I start dating before I’m legally divorced?
By the time your marriage officially folded, you’d long mentally and emotionally moved on. Now that you’re no longer living with your spouse, you’d like to re-enter the dating scene – or maybe you’ve already found a new love interest. Dating before your divorce is...
How to tell family members you’re filing for divorce
Reaching the point where you realize that you want a divorce can be difficult. When you do finally realize that divorce is likely the only solution for your family, you then have to start thinking about the future. The first stages of divorce planning will occur...
How to tell your family about your divorce
The decision to get divorced is rarely easy. Neither is finding out from your spouse that your marriage is over. But whether you initiated the divorce or not, sooner or later you will have to tell your relatives what is going on. Your children, parents and other loved...
Will an appraisal gap derail your homebuying efforts?
It can be hard to make a competitive offer when you find the home of your dreams. Whether you are a first-time home buyer looking for a starter space for your family or you are ready to upgrade now that you have children in your home, it may take weeks to find a...
5 mistakes drivers make after a car accident
After getting into an auto accident, there are several mistakes that some drivers make. To protect yourself and the right to a personal injury claim, it’s important that you don’t make these errors that could lead to you harming your case. Below are five common...
What are the advantages of a discretionary trust?
There Is a lot to consider when you're doing your estate planning, and you may be thinking about using a trust. You know that a trust is a way to set money aside for one of your heirs, but it doesn't require you to directly give them that money the same way that you...
Getting divorced? You need to update your estate plan ASAP
Your spouse is arguably the most important person in your life. They provide emotional and financial support. They help you start or raise a family. They are with you every day and have access to almost every aspect of your life. It is natural for spouses to...
What you should know about stepparent adoptions
In Illinois, it is possible for stepparents to adopt their stepchildren under some circumstances. Doing so may be beneficial because it provides familial stability and makes sure that the stepchildren will remain with the stepparent in the case of their biological...
I’m broke, so why do I need a will?
When you think about estate planning, do you imagine people with wealth distributing their property? You might think that it’s only those who are well-off who need to plan for their incapacitation or death, but the reality is that everyone 18 and older, regardless of...
Set Up a Will or Trust From Home
While courts in Illinois remain closed for most matters, Illinois has permitted remote notarization via video-conference. This means wills, trusts and other essential estate planning documents can now be completed entirely from home, without the need for in-person...