ESP, KREUZER, CORES & MCLAUGHLIN, LLP

VIRTUAL VISITATION

In today’s society, people are increasingly mobile.  They move from town to town, state to state or even country to country.  They travel for work.  Their children are involved in more activities, which leaves less time for families to spend together.  This time is even more limited when parents get divorced.  Recognizing this changing society, the Illinois Legislature has modified the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act to incorporate virtual visitation.  This virtual visitation allows a parent to spend time with their children when the child is not in that parent’s actual physical presence through communication tools including telephone, electronic mail, instant messaging, or video conferencing.  This new development in the law will allow a dad who has to travel for work to still see his son or daughter for their regularly scheduled weeknight visitation even though they are miles away.  But perhaps more importantly, with a webcam, a child can see both parents every day.  A child can log onto his or her computer and ask mom or dad for help with homework.  They can login to just drop in and say hello.  Suddenly, regular contact is available for both parents.  The question then becomes “Is Virtual Visitation Right for your Family?” This is an option you need to discuss with your attorney when discussing custody and visitation. ESP, KREUZER, CORES & MCLAUGHLIN, LLP handles these and all other divorce and family issues. Attorneys Andrew Cores, Matthew Grob, Wendy Musielak and Julie Hoffman routinely handle matters like these.

ESP, KREUZER, CORES & MCLAUGHLIN, LLP APPELLATE SUCCESS

Appellate Court affirms $9,700 per month Maintenance Award

Recently, Andrew P. Cores and the attorneys at Esp, Kreuzer, Cores & McLaughlin, LLP were affirmed by the Second District Appellate Court when the Court ruled that the maintenance award of $9,700 was appropriate.  Mr. Cores represented the wife, who had been a stay at home mom during the parties’ twenty year marriage, while her husband became a successful executive.  During the course of the marriage, the wife had moved from state to state to support her husband.  At the time of the trial, the husband’s base pay with annual bonus was $271,949.00, while the wife earned no income.   Mr. Cores successfully proved to the Trial Court that based on the parties’ standard of living during the marriage and the husband’s income that a substantial maintenance award was required.  The court ordered the husband to pay $4,100 per month in child support and $9,700 per month in maintenance.  The Husband appealed.  After written and oral arguments, the Appellate Court affirmed the Trial Court’s decision finding that the award was not an abuse of discretion despite the husband’s argument that the support award was 100% of his base pay and 70% of his total base and bonus income.

Contact an attorney at ESP, KREUZER, CORES & MCLAUGHLIN, LLP to discuss your divorce case.  ESP, KREUZER, CORES & MCLAUGHLIN, LLP handles all divorce and family issues. Attorneys Andrew Cores, Matthew Grob, Wendy Musielak and Julie Hoffman routinely handle matters like these.