Choosing the Right Family Lawyer.

Choosing the proper family attorney to represent your side of a divorce proceeding is an extremely important decision.  We know that you have dozens of choices throughout Chicagoland.  Let us introduce you to Vincent C. Ruggiero.  He has been licensed to practice in the state of Illinois for more than 30 years.

Attorney Ruggiero does not “dabble” in family law as one of his practice areas.  He devotes his full time and attention to its pursuit.  He has had litigation training at the highest level, and his personal life experiences make him uniquely qualified to handle any case ranging from custody and financial battles to simple divorces where both parties agree on the eventual outcome.

Vincent Ruggiero is also a Certified Divorce Mediator, a registered Certified Public Accountant, and a member of the DuPage County Bar Association Family Law Subcommittee.  You do not need to be mean to be tough, so when you make the decision to hire an aggressive yet sensible divorce attorney in DuPage, Will, Kane, or Cook counties, call the office of Vincent C. Ruggiero at (630) 654-0044.

Changes in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act beginning in 2016.

In the state of Illinois the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act was originally enacted more than 35 years ago.  There have been many changes in family dynamics over those three and a half decades.  Not the least of which is same-sex marriage, embryo preservation, and rights.  Parenting and adoption in general have also changed.

The Illinois legislature has been grappling with this for years.  They have been pushing for a revised version of the 1979 Act.  Finally it has arrived.  Effective January 1, 2016, there will be several significant updates in the ways that divorces and other related issues will be addressed in the future in the Land of Lincoln.  This law will apply to all new AND pending cases.  For example, there will be no more “sole” or “joint” custody; rather, an allocation of certain specified parental responsibilities.  The term “visitation” is also done away with, and each parent must submit within 120 days of the start of the case a written parenting plan for the court to consider.

When you need a great family attorney in Chicagoland to navigate through these new changes, contact the office of Vincent Ruggiero serving Kane, DuPage, Will, and Cook Counties.  From his office in Lisle, Illinois, he will assist you through the stressful process of the dissolution of marriage anytime of the year.  Call Attorney Ruggiero for serious and compassionate advice at (630) 654-0044.

Changes in Illinois Alimony Law.

August 15, 2014 was an important day in the history of Illinois spousal support law. On that day, Governor Quinn signed into law new spousal maintenance rules that dramatically change how maintenance (formerly known as alimony) is determined in the Land of Lincoln.

The new law changes the determination of maintenance and becomes more or less a mathematical formula. A formulaic approach has been used for years in determining child support, but not for determining maintenance.  You may have a myriad of questions concerning the relatively new law, both positive and negative.

Up until the beginning of 2015, a judge hearing a divorce case has determined whether a spouse is entitled to maintenance based on the statutory factors detailed in Section 504(a) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.  Those factors include both incomes; the property that both parties have in their possession; the needs of both parties; the ability of both parties to earn a living, both now and in the future; the length of the union; the current health of both parties; and the standard of living established during the marriage.

As mentioned above, you may have numerous questions about how this law affects your dissolution of marriage.  The right person to answer those questions is Lisle, Illinois attorney Vincent Ruggiero.  From his office he serves family law clients in Kane, DuPage, Will, and Cook Counties.  Please call his office today to make an appointment at (630) 654-0044.

What Property is Marital and Non-marital?

A divorce court (in Illinois) must determine which property is considered marital and non-marital (some states refer to this distinction as community or separate property) in order to distribute it properly and equitably.  Generally, property obtained by either spouse during the marriage is presumed marital property (unless a gift or inheritance by one spouse is received).  Obviously then, it would follow that property acquired before the marriage will be considered non-marital, assuming the name of the other spouse is not added as a joint owner.

Remember…just because property is listed in only one person's name does not necessarily make it non-marital property.  In some instances the way property is obtained and titled can make a big difference.  A perfect example would be if one spouse owns a home prior to the marriage, then later that home is refinanced in both spouse's names.  The home could now be considered marital property.

Needless to say, determining the difference between marital and non-marital is complicated at best.  You need the consult of a Divorce Lawyer serving Chicagoland.  Vincent Ruggiero of Ruggiero Family Law will guide you down this slippery slope and handle your divorce proceedings from start to finish.  His office is located in Lisle and serves Kane, DuPage, Will, and Cook Counties.  Call Attorney Vincent Ruggiero today at (630) 654-0044 for sound legal advice.

Initial Consultation with a Family Lawyer

The initial consultation is what is referred to as your first meeting with any family attorney.  You may be consulting with a divorce lawyer either to gather facts or with the idea of moving forward with the divorce process.  The divorce process may stop at any time, so Chicagoland family attorney Vincent Ruggiero charges a reduced rate of $225 for an initial consultation.

After you have spent an hour with attorney Vincent Ruggiero, you may or may not decide to proceed, but either way you will gain a clear understanding of the issues and the process.  If you decide to move forward, there is a written Legal Engagement Agreement to sign and then a retainer is typically paid.  This agreement gives both the client and the attorney the right to cancel their professional relationship at any time.

Ruggiero and Associates, P.C., located in Lisle, Illinois, wants you to feel at ease during this less-than-comfortable time of your life.  The more you know, the more powerful your position will be in the divorce proceedings.  You may visit their website at www.ruggierofamilylaw.com or call them for an initial consultation at (630) 654-0044. 

Establishing Paternity

Children born out-of-wedlock are on the rise, and often it may be essential to establish paternity.  This issue is pressing and has long-term ramifications.  Chicago area attorney Vincent Ruggiero has represented mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children in more than 100 paternity cases.  It is important to know that because this issue is too important to trust to a novice.

Cases may be contested or uncontested, but they are all governed by the Illinois Paternity Act, which is currently being overhauled by our Legislature.  There are many things to consider such as custody, support, day care, visitation, and removal to another state.  The lives of several people will be effected by the outcome of the proceedings. 

If and when you are faced with this life-altering issue, you need to hire an attorney who will aggressively and swiftly proceed and persevere your rights.  When the stakes are this high the right choice is to call Chicagoland Family Attorney Vincent Ruggiero at 630-654-0044, who serves Kane, Will, DuPage, and Cook County.

Separation as Opposed to Divorce.

Sometimes divorce is NOT the answer.  Have you considered a legal separation?  In the State of Illinois it is often used when couples are not ready to concede that their marriage is over.  At this point they may agree to separate their finances and their residences.  For example, a spouse may want to divide the couple’s assets, but their religious conviction does not permit a divorce.

There are many cases where a disabled spouse needs to remain married for health insurance reasons.  What if one spouse is being sued and the other is putting the cumulative wealth of both spouses at risk because the other spouse has jeopardized his or her own assets?

There are many good reasons to consider a separation instead of a divorce.  An attorney to consult is Vincent Ruggiero of Ruggiero Family Law.  Call Attorney Ruggiero today at (630) 654-0044 to discuss your options and to work out the best scenario for you and your spouse.  He serves Cook, Kane, DuPage, and Will Counties in Chicagoland.

Divorce Proceedings with a Family Lawyer.

In your initial consultation with a divorce lawyer your job is to gather information while discussing your situation with the attorney.  The divorce process may be halted at any time, so you are not bound by the initial meeting.  It is good to know that if you are contemplating a divorce, Ruggiero and Associates charges a reduced rate of just $225 for that nearly 1-hour consultation.  At the conclusion you may not decide to proceed with your divorce, or you may even move forward with different counsel, but your time with Mr. Ruggiero will be learning-full and well worth your time and money.

If you do decide to proceed with Attorney Vincent Ruggiero, a retainer is typically paid at that time, or shortly thereafter.  The agreement should allow either party to discontinue the relationship at any time.   The retainer remains the client's money even after it is initially tendered to the attorney and is kept in a segregated client trust fund until such time as those fees are earned by the actual services provided by the attorney. 

Hourly rates differ among divorce attorneys, and even between attorneys in the same firm. Rates obviously differ due to the skill and experience of the attorney. Mr. Ruggiero's hourly rate for both office and court time is $330.00.  To find a list of what functions are included in Attorney Vincent Ruggiero’s hourly rate, go to his website at www.ruggierofamilylaw.com.  For any family law matters in Cook, Kane, DuPage, or Will counties call today at (630) 654-0044.

Child Support in the State of Illinois.

Who pays child support and how much needs to be paid are critical issues in a divorce proceeding.

In the Land of Lincoln, the state legislature has decided that child support for one child is calculated at 20% of one’s net income from all sources of revenue that they may receive.   "Net income" is generally defined as total gross income less maintenance/alimony, income taxes, health insurance premiums and a few other allowable deductions.

Now here is the important part…with each additional child the percentage of support payments does not double, but rather goes up by a certain percentage.  Sometimes daycare is added to that figure and a special needs child may require further support.

As you can easily see this is a rather slippery slope and a knowledgeable divorce attorney is a must to sort out what is and is NOT fair compensation.  Vince Ruggiero has practiced family law in DuPage, Will, Kane, and Cook County for decades.  He knows from experience the questions you will have and the answers that you need.  Call Attorney Ruggiero today at (630) 654-0044.