Following the holidays, many more spouses tend to file for divorce, perhaps postponing their plans to allow children or other family members to enjoy the festivities before starting divorce proceedings. As the new year approaches, those considering divorce may wonder if there are any obstacles to getting a divorce during the pandemic and what unique…Read More
Dividing Employee Compensation Plans in a Divorce
Today many companies short on cash offer employees “incentive compensation plans” including stock options and restricted stock. In a divorce, these types of compensation can be overlooked – perhaps intentionally on the part of the employee spouse – when negotiating a divorce settlement. After all, stock options and restricted stock do not show up on…Read More
Michael & Deanna Approved as Lake County Court System Mediators 2020-2022
Attorneys Michael Strauss and Deanna Hoyt are on the approved list of mediators for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Lake County Family Mediation Program 2020-2022.
Child Support Debt and Bankruptcy
Parents who have accumulated child support debt often wonder if they have options under bankruptcy to discharge the child support arrears. Although it may be disheartening for parents struggling with significant delinquency to hear, the answer is no because child support is a priority debt and child support and arrears must be paid. However, bankruptcy…Read More
Divorce Mediation Protects Privacy
For many clients considering divorce, discretion and privacy is of the utmost importance. They are concerned about their private affairs or financial information becoming public through a court file. A pre suit mediation is a process for resolving many of the issues in a divorce before the divorce action is filed in the courts. If…Read More
November 2020 Firm News
Michael Strauss elected as the Chair of the ISBA Assembly Agenda & Program Committee for 2020-2021.
October 2020 Firm News
Busy time at Schlesinger & Strauss. On October, 21st, Gary Schlesinger presented a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar, titled, Ethics in Lawyer Marketing, a discussion of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. Gary discussed how and what lawyers may communicate to prospective clients, judges, and other lawyers to the Lake County Illinois Bar Association Family…Read More
Shining a Spotlight on Domestic Violence in October
The YWCA’s “Week Without Violence” wrapped up over the weekend, a global movement to end violence against women and children. Every year in October, a week is set aside to acknowledge victims of violence by sharing events, information and personal stories while reaching out to local, state and federal agencies with the common goal of…Read More
How to Prepare for a Deposition in a Family Law Case
A deposition is a legal process to obtain sworn testimony outside the courtroom. In a family law matter, a party to a lawsuit, expert witnesses, family, friends or others may deposed if they have knowledge or information relevant to a case. The deposition provides an opportunity for counsel to glean the scope of a party’s…Read More
Deanna Hoyt ISBA Leadership Academy Graduation
Schlesinger & Strauss is proud to announce that on September 24, 2020, attorney Deanna Hoyt graduated as part of the ISBA Leadership Academy’s Inaugural Class. The ISBA Leadership program is designed to train the next generation of professionals to become effective leaders in the Illinois legal community. Congratulations Deanna!