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The current lawmakers in Washington DC have been historically slow in creating new laws. There has been too much conflict between the liberals and conservatives on the hill. But a new law that has been proposed looks to unite both sides of the aisle with an issue that is beyond politics. That bill is called the Children in Families First or CHIFF Act. The bill was introduced by State Representatives Kay Granger(R-TX) and Karen Bass (D-CA). Granger said that “every child deserves a family. Parents looking to adopt internationally are already at the mercy of complicated adoption bureaucracies abroad. They shouldn’t have to deal with similar costs and delays here at home. Without increasing spending, the Children in Families First Act helps loving families navigate the adoption process and welcome new additions to their homes.” Overall, foreign adoptions have declined over the years. Almost 23,000 children were adopted internationally in 2004. That decreased steadily to below 9,000 in 2012. There are certain reasons for the decrease as some countries do not allow children to be adopted by Americans. In other countries, the rate of domestic adoptions has increased which also means that fewer children are able to be adopted by Americans. One of the proposed results of this bill is the creation of a new bureau in the State Department whose would work with other countries to place children with families. This would be accomplished with adoption, or family reunification or kinship care. Instead of allowing children to languish without the love of a family, CHIFF hopes to support an increase in international adoptions. There are plenty of children that need loving families. If you have decided that your family is prepared to love a child in need, then you should contact a family law professional who has experience in this process. Contact a knowledgeable family law attorney in DuPage County who can help you add more love to your family.
Divorce can be an emotional and heartbreaking experience for a family or individual. However, a new study, published in the Journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, suggests that individuals who have endured hardships, like divorce, are more appreciative of the good things in life. The authors of the study note, “The worst experiences in life may come with an eventual upside, by promoting the ability to appreciate life’s small pleasures.” Conducted by Alyssa Croft, Elizabeth W. Dunn and Jordi Quoidbach, their research reveals how “individuals who had dealt with more adversity in the past reported an elevated capacity for savoring.” However, of the 14,986 adult participants, those who were in the midst of a crisis reported a decrease in tendency to savor positive events. While it is natural to feel down when going through a crisis, this study confirms that an appreciation for life is built through these experiences, and that there is hope for moving on. For those struggling to heal and move on, Terry Gasbard, a licensed clinical social worker and college instructor, offers six suggestions. Gasbard’s analysis begins with assuring divorcees that it is normal to be affected by emotional reactions caused by the ending of a relationship, and that despite the divorce, those individuals are still worthwhile and do not have to allow the end of their love relationship to define their self-worth. She states, “No person can complete you.” She also suggests allowing proper time for healing and staying open to “new experiences, hobbies, or interests” that could not pursued prior to divorce. Finally, she suggests forming supportive relationships. Gasbard says, “Being with people who accept and support you can help ease feeling of rejection. Get energized by the possibilities ahead for you.” If you are struggling with divorce in Illinois, please know you do not have to go through it alone. Contact an experienced DuPage Family Law Attorney who will compassionately guide you through the legal process.
Illinois family law 750 ILCS 5/607 allows a stepparent visitation rights with their stepchildren in cases where the court determines it is in the best interest of the child. A petition for stepparent visitation rights may be filed if:
Here in Illinois, there are only four grounds for the annulment of a marriage. They are as follows:
Divorce is a fact of life for many Illinois residents. What many do not consider is that while the spouses have chosen to end their marriages, the children of these marriages do not have a choice in what goes on. Yet divorce still affects children just as much as adults. Perhaps more so because they lack the experience and knowledge to fully comprehend the situation.
Because of this, Illinois law has a provision that allows for someone to represent the child in the divorce proceedings. Upon motion by either party to the divorce, or upon motion of the court, either an attorney for the child, a child representative, or a guardian ad litem will be assigned to the child or children in the case. Each position is subtly different, but the goals are the same: to protect the best interests of the child.
The Washington Post reported that, on November 5, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 5170 which, if signed by Governor Pat Quinn, will create the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. Under this Act, all Illinois state laws that apply to marriage will apply equally to marriages between two people of the same sex as to marriages between two people of different sexes. According to the Post, an aide to Governor Quinn stated that he would sign the bill within the month.
Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act
Before June 2011, same-sex couples were not entitled to the same marital rights as different-sex married couples. Under the law, married couples in Illinois received all protections that come to mind when imagining marriage: visitation rights in hospitals, survivor benefits in jointly-held property, and parental rights in children. Same-sex couples, on the other hand, were not merely prevented from obtaining these rights through marriage, they were expressly forbidden. The current Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act prohibits “a marriage between [two] individuals of the same sex.” The current Act even goes so far as to outright declare that “[a] marriage between [two] individuals of the same sex is contrary to the public policy of” Illinois.
Many people like to believe that if someone close to them like a family member is being abused, they will know and can help, but that is not always the case. The comforts about domestic violence that we often tell ourselves are infrequently true. DomesticViolence.org explains the faults in many of these myths and family law tips as follows: 1. If the abuse is really bad, the victim would leave. Leaving an abuser physically or emotionally will not stop him from going after his victim. Trying to get away could also anger the abuser and worsen the abuse. According to the United States Department of Justice, the most dangerous time for a victim is when she tries to leave. 2. There is no domestic violence in my community. In one year alone, the state police of Michigan concluded that a woman was killed about once a week by a partner or former partner. 3. Only women of color and poor women are victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence has no filter. Victims range in age, religion, culture, class, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender. Although it is less frequent, men are victims of domestic violence too, along with white and rich women. 4. Domestic violence is caused by mental illness, drug abuse, alcohol, and stress. Mental illness and drug abuse are often used as excuses rather than being actual causes of domestic violence. 5. What happens between a husband and wife is a private and personal matter. Domestic violence commonly affects more than just the abuser and the first partner/victim. The American Psychological Association reported that 40 percent to 60 percent of men who abuse women also abuse children. Sometimes the abuse becomes more serious and the victim is killed through the abuse, 30 percent of female murder victims in 1996 were killed by husbands and boyfriends according to the FBI. This abuse happens all around us without anyone knowing until it is much too late for the victims. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or you know a victim, contact a family law attorney for assistance to get safely out of the relationship. Illinois family lawyers at the Davi Law Group can help a victim file charges against his or her abuser and safely stay away for good. We have locations in Warrenville and Wheaton, Illinois.
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