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Abear Law Offices Welcomes Prominent Litigation Attorney Patrick J. Crimmins to its Legal Team
Abear Law Offices, a leading law firm in Illinois, is pleased to announce the addition of Attorney Patrick J. Crimmins to its team of lawyers. Attorney Crimmins brings with him over 35 years of complex litigation experience.
With an impressive track record of trial successes and litigation expertise, Pat Crimmins brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Abear Law Offices. Well-known for his exceptional legal skills, ability to wield complex legal matters, and his unwavering commitment to client advocacy, Attorney Crimmins now becomes an invaluable asset to the Abear Law firm and to their clients.
Patrick J. Crimmins has a litigation reputation that precedes him. He has successfully tried numerous murder cases, felony gang cases, aggravated battery cases, attempted murder cases, as well as felony sex abuse cases, and he has likewise achieved great success in complex civil litigation cases including personal injury, medical malpractice, and workman’s compensation cases. With his wide scope of experience and trial litigation experience, he joins a litigation team that already enjoys a reputation of aggressive courtroom advocacy.
Crimmins was a Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney for approximately thirteen years, and as part of which he was assigned as the Director of the Gang Prosecution Unit. While at the state’s attorney’s office he was promoted to the position as the Executive Director of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center where he oversaw the entire center and also personally prosecuted sex abuse cases.
After he left the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office Pat worked at the law firm of Brady & Jensen, in Elgin, for sixteen years. He started there first as an associate and then, because of his abilities and litigation successes, thereafter as a Partner/Owner. In 2017 Crimmins opened his own firm in Geneva prior to joining Abear Law Offices.
Pat Crimmins focuses his practice in cases involving litigation-wrongful death, personal injury, medical malpractice, workmen’s compensation, complex financial civil litigation, general litigation, criminal defense, and family law.
Abear Law Offices is elated to have Pat Crimmins join their litigation team. “We are thrilled to welcome Pat to our firm,” said Founder Tony Abear. “His impressive legal background and litigation experience, his passion for justice, and dedication to client service align perfectly with our firm’s values. We are confident that Pat will be an invaluable asset in representing our clients and providing exceptional legal analysis and solutions.”
Pat is likewise excited to be at the firm. “I am excited to work with the team at Abear Law. I have known Tony Abear for years as we worked together in Kane County. He has constructed a wonderful law firm of dedicated lawyers and staff.”
To learn more about Patrick J. Crimmins and the comprehensive legal services offered by Abear Law Offices, please visit www.abearlaw.com.
Abear Law Offices is a team of highly skilled litigation attorneys. The firm provides comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the unique needs of the individual.
4 Ways You Can Speed Up Your Divorce Proceedings
Ending a marriage can be traumatic, not just for the couple but also for their family and especially for their children. However, when a relationship has come to a point of no return, divorce may be the best solution.
There is no set time for how long a divorce case can take. Some cases drag on for months while others are finalized within a matter of weeks. If both parties are certain that divorce is the best solution, it may be in their best interests to speed up the divorce case. Speeding up your divorce will help to reduce the legal costs involved. It will also help both parties begin the process of picking up the pieces and learning to live life without their partner.
Tips to speed up your divorce case
Maintain open communication
This can be tough, especially for a couple going through a divorce. Many problems in marriage that result in divorce often start with communication breakdown. In cases where the divorce is the decision of one spouse or the result of the actions of one spouse, the other spouse may be feeling hurt, anger, shock or grief. Communication may seem impossible in these situations.
Couples that keep the lines of communication open are able to discuss important issues and agree on how to move ahead. This makes it easy to come to a consensus on issues such as child custody and splitting assets. If you’re having difficulty communicating, consider seeing a therapist as a couple or individually.
Use a mediator
A great way of coming to an agreement on issues such as dividing assets is by seeking mediation. Mediation brings in a neutral third party to negotiate for a fair settlement. Mediators are trained professionals. They are especially helpful when couples can’t agree but do not want to have a long, drawn-out court battle.
Even if you’ve opted for mediation, be sure to have an experienced divorce lawyer present with you throughout the process. Your lawyer will help protect your rights and ensure you get a fair settlement.
Be honest
Many couples end up in drawn-out court battles because of the dishonesty of one or both spouses. A party may lie about their assets in order to protect them and the other party may decide to litigate as they feel hurt and betrayed.
If you want to speed up the divorce proceedings, it is best to be open and honest throughout the process. This means full disclosure of all your assets including debts, income and expenses. Your lawyer will help you devise a strategy to safeguard your interests.
Put it all in writing
It is important to document everything that is related to the divorce. This should be done in the presence of a lawyer. This is especially important for when you reach an agreement about any contentious issues such as child custody or division of assets. If the same issue arises again, you will have a written statement to refer to.
Speeding up your divorce will help you get started on the journey to healing much earlier. Follow the tips above to help speed up your divorce case.
Unmarried Couples and “Palimony” in Illinois
In some states, it is possible for individuals in unmarried couples to be awarded alimony. Known more commonly as “palimony”, this functions like traditional alimony where one party pays support payments to another after the end of a relationship. In Illinois, palimony is not recognized. This was established in 1979 by the Illinois Supreme Court. It is worth noting, however, that this decision has recently come under question.
A recent appellate case involving two domestic partners (known as Eileen and Jane) dealt directly with the question of “palimony”. When one partner, Eileen, argued to retain the sole title of the home the couple shared prior to the dissolution of their relationship due to her years spent as a single mother during the relationship, the other, Jane, argued that this was tantamount to awarding Eileen palimony. Since palimony is not recognized in Illinois, Jane argued that this request should be denied.
The trial court initially handling the case agreed with Jane, but Eileen appealed. She argued that legislative and judicial changes in the state of Illinois have actually supported palimony claims and that her case should be more carefully considered. The appellate court ultimately agreed with Eileen, and held that the changes in public policy over the nearly four decades since the law was initially established have made it possible to uphold the idea of palimony. It then directed lower courts to consider Eileen and Jane’s claims.
Note that while this is a significant decision on the part of the appellate court, it doesn’t mean that palimony is now recognized in Illinois. The only way that happens is if the Illinois Supreme Court makes the decision to reverse their precedent or if every single appellate court in the state chooses to recognize these claims. In the meantime, it might be helpful for unmarried couples to remember that they can always enter cohabitation agreements instead of relying on palimony after a relationship ends.
A cohabitation agreement is a contract between partners that establishes the financial obligations and rights of each party should the relationship come to an end (via joint separation or death). These agreements generally include provisions guiding the division of separate and joint property, property ownership rights, household expenditures, and parental roles, if applicable. This can provide a good option for unmarried couples should their relationships end, although it should be noted that cohabitation agreements do not dictate custody arrangements. Regardless of what is stated within them, either party is able to petition the courts for custody.
If you’re in a long-term, unmarried relationship and would like to ensure that your responsibilities and rights are upheld, making the decision to enter into a cohabitation agreement is a good option. The attorneys at Abear Law Office can help! Reach out to us today for more information.
College Costs and Child Support
Despite being a topic of debate and discussion for years now, college tuition has yet to become any more reasonable. In fact, it now costs twice as much to attend college today than it did 20 years ago. This issue is an especially serious one in Illinois, where enrollment is dropping and pensions to staff and faculty are coming due.
What exactly does this information mean for you and your child support decree? Well, it means that you could end up paying at least a part of your child’s college expenses. Many divorce decrees in Illinois make use of something known as a reserve clause that states that each parent in question agrees to pay some money towards the child’s post-secondary education. If the custodial parent makes the decision to file a petition before the child turns 18 to have the noncustodial parent help pay for education expenses, chances are good that a judge will enforce the aforementioned reserve clause.
Section 513
In the state of Illinois, the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act states in Section 513 that a judge has the ability to order the noncustodial parent to pay additional support to help cover college expenses. This includes money to help cover college tuition, various college fees, food and housing, transportation, and living expenses incurred while the child is on leave during summer and spring breaks.
With the above said, it is important to note that there is a limit to what someone can reasonably be expected to pay. Expecting parents to cover the cost of a private apartment, for example, is unreasonable. Instead, their obligation to pay housing expenses ends at the cost of a dorm room with at least one roommate and a full-time meal plan at the University of Illinois. The same can be said of things like transportation fees, which do not include a requirement to splurge for first class plane tickets or a car when a bus ticket would work just as well depending upon the child’s situation.
Finally, parents can be required to provide their child with living expenses during semester breaks even if the child is living at home. Note that there is little guidance when it comes to whether or not the child must be working and actively contributing to these costs in order to justify ordering the parent to pay.
Post-secondary Support
An Illinois judge will help calculate exactly how much money the child in question is entitled to as well as how much each parent pays. There are different factors to consider when determining the amount each parent can pay, including their respective financial resources, the child’s financial resources, and the child’s academic performance. If the child is continuously on academic probation due to failing to attend classes and there are no extenuating circumstances causing these absences, for example, then it is possible the parents of said child will either be found to have no requirement to pay or will be made to pay less.
The aforementioned factors are not exhaustive, and judges are able to consider any and all factors they believe to be relevant to their decision.
Are you facing the prospect of helping your child pay for their college education? Make sure to reach out to the experienced attorneys at Abear Law Offices at 630-904-3033 for more information!
Prenuptial Agreements on the Rise for Millennials
Forty years ago, 8 in 10 people were married by the age of 30. Last year, that same number applied to people getting married at the age of 45.
In today’s world, millennials often postpone marriage until they are financially secure. Moreover, during their marriage planning process, they are more likely to protect their assets by establishing a prenuptial agreement in the event of a divorce.
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New Child Support Calculation Model Could Further Complicate Illinois Family Court Process
Illinois made numerous changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) at the beginning of 2016. Now, with barely any time for families to adjust, lawmakers have made additional changes to a specific family court matter. This time around, it is a change to how child support is configured. Perhaps these alterations are meant to complement the numerous child-related changes made back in 2016, but what they may do is confuse families and create a potentially sticky situation for the children themselves.
Spousal Maintenance in Illinois
Spousal maintenance is an important aspect of the divorce process, and those beginning the divorce process would be wise to become familiar with the topic. You may have heard spousal maintenance referred to as alimony or spousal support, and all names refer to the same idea of payments being paid to one spouse from the other spouse after divorce.
Types of Co-Parenting Relationships
Are you stuck in an unhappy marriage but worried about the impact a divorce could have on your children? You are not alone. Many parents remain in unhappy marriages to spare their children the pain of divorce. While this may seem like a noble choice, it is often misguided. In fact, in many cases, children fare far better with separated parents compared to married parents in an unhealthy relationship. Why is this?
Pope Francis Calls for Softer Stance towards Divorced Catholics
For those practicing Catholicism, divorce can be difficult. According to the Church, marriage is an unbreakable bond, and in the eyes of God, those who divorce without receiving an annulment and then remarry are living in sin. Additionally, Catholics who divorced and remarried through a civil ceremony are not eligible to receive communion, leaving many divorced and remarried Catholics across the world feeling rejected by the Church. Catholics who do divorce and remarry commonly seek out another Christian denomination instead.
Continue reading Pope Francis Calls for Softer Stance towards Divorced Catholics
Children and Divorce: How to Help Your Child Work through Your Marital Breakup
Divorce is hard for families. Amid discussions of property division, alimony, new living arrangements, and changing relationships, children can feel like they have lost control of their lives. This can lead to feelings of anger, sadness, anxiety, and even regret and guilt for some children. During this difficult time, your children need your support more than ever. Be there for them as you and your spouse work through your divorce and move forward with your changed lives.
Continue reading Children and Divorce: How to Help Your Child Work through Your Marital Breakup