The new laws in Illinois that govern divorce and child custody cases took effect on January 1, 2016. These changes in terminology are a reflection of the goals of the court in custody and divorce case.
Federal Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law Charges
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear The Federal crime of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law is defined by 18 U.S.C. 242 as follows:
Election Misconduct in the First Degree (Voter Fraud) Charges in Iowa
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Election Misconduct in the First Degree in Iowa, sometimes informally called voter fraud, is the crime defined by Iowa Code Section 39A.2 as follows:
Bribery Charges in Iowa
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear The Iowa crime of Bribery is defined in Iowa Code Section 722.1 as follows:
CM/ECF (Electronic Filing) in the Central District of Illinois Federal Court
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear CM/ECF, which stands for Case Management/Electronic Case Files, is the system used to efile and access court documents for the Central District of Illinois Federal Court.
Federal Transmission of Wagering Information Charges
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear The Federal crime of Transmission of Wagering Information (gambling information) is defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1084 as follows:
Substantial Risk of Physical Injury / Environment Injurious to Health and Welfare in Illinois DCFS Cases
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In situations where Illinois DCFS has become involved, there may be an allegation that a child has been subjected to a Substantial Risk of Physical Injury / Environment Injurious to Health and Welfare. That allegation in Illinois (DCFS Allegation #60) is defined as follows:
Bribery in Sports Charges in Iowa
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In Iowa, the crime of Bribery in Sports is defined by Iowa Code Section 722.3 as follows:
CM/ECF (Electronic Filing) in the Northern District of Illinois Federal Court
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear CM/ECF, which stands for Case Management/Electronic Case Files, is the system used to efile and access court documents for the Northern District of Illinois Federal Court.
Sexual Abuse Accusations in Iowa DHS Cases
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear An accusation of sexual abuse of a child in Iowa will result in a DHS investigation. Iowa DHS defines child sexual abuse as follows:
Mental Injury of a Child in Iowa DHS Cases
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In Iowa, the Department of Human Services (DHS) investigates child abuse allegations based upon Mental Injury. Mental Injury is defined by Iowa DHS as follows:
Denial of Critical Care of a Child in Iowa
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In the state of Iowa, the Department of Human Services (DHS) investigates cases where a parent or other caregiver is alleged to have committed Denial of Critical Care of a child. Iowa DHS defines Denial of Critical Care as follows:
The New Irreconcilable Differences Standard for Divorce in Illinois
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Effective January 1, 2016, Illinois did away with the “grounds” system for divorce that had existed for decades. Instead, now Illinois uses “irreconcilable differences” and can be thought of a as no-fault state for divorces.
Military Divorces in Illinois
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In cases where a person or their spouse is a military service memver, there are special consideration when getting divorced in Illinois.
Military Divorces in Iowa
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear When a person or their spouse is in the military, there are special consideration for a divorce case in Iowa.
Handling Illinois Criminal Charges from Out-of-State
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Many of the people in Illinois who face a criminal or traffic charge are from out of state. Indeed, it is easy for a visit to relatives or a vacation in Illinois to result in a traffic ticket or a more serious charge. For such individuals, it is of great importance to handle the case properly.
Why No One Should Consent to Police Searches
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Police will often ask a person for permission to search their home, car, or person. It is almost never wise to give such permission, for a variety of reasons.
What to Do After Your Home is Raided in a Criminal Investigation (Search Warrant Execution)
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear When a person is suspected of a crime, the police will often raid the person’s home in search of evidence. More formally, this is referred to as the execution of a search warrant.
Matters to Discuss with a Lawyer During a Criminal Defense Consultation
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear A consultation is the first step in retaining an attorney to represent a person in a criminal case. There are many matters that should be discussed during a criminal case consultation.
A Person is Innocent Until Proven Guilty in Criminal Cases
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear One of the most basic principles in the American legal system is that a person who is accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. This principle is the bedrock of our criminal justice justice system, and should be remembered by everyone who is involved in a criminal case.