I write on the issue of judges having litigants or lawyers who appear before them as friends on Facebook. Rule 62 of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules is part of Canon of Judicial Ethics. “A judge should not allow the judge’s family, social or other relationships to influence the judge’s judicial conduct or judgement.” That…Read More
Articles & Information
Firm founder Gary L. Schlesinger is a frequent speaker and writer on various family law topics. Many of his articles are included here. We have also posted a variety of summaries and information regarding Illinois family laws.
File Your Taxes, Even if You Can’t Pay – Tax Penalty Review
The following article, published on the Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section, by Alan Stumpf, Stumpf & Gutknecht, P.C. Last week the WSJ warned taxpayers about the duty to file an income tax return, and the roadmap of what happens after the filing delinquency, in the article, “The IRS is the most powerful creditor…Read More
Gary Schlesinger’s Letter to the Editor
Gary Schlesinger’s, Letter to the Editor, published by the Lake County Bar Association, Docket, Titled, Withdrawing an Appearance as the Attorney of Record.
Smoking in Cars with Minors Now Prohibited
Among the new laws taking effect in Illinois this month is one that outlaws smoking in a vehicle with children present. Public Act 101-0468 makes it a petty offense to “inhale, exhale, burn or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, weed, plant, regulated narcotic or other combustible substance” in a vehicle while a person under…Read More
Issue of Modifications of Child Support
This month, I am tackling the issue of modifications of child support and recent rulings by the Illinois Appellate Courts regarding this. I am specifically speaking of In re Marriage of Salvatore, 2019 IL App (2d) 180425, In re Marriage of Wengielnik, 2020 IL App (3d) 180533, and In re Marriage of Connelly, 2020 IL…Read More
Withdrawing an Appearance as the Attorney of Record
I write on the concept of withdrawing an Appearance as the attorney of record for a client in the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois. The procedure that the Judges wish to follow is that unless and until either the green card from return receipt certified mail may be presented in…Read More
May a Guardian Ad Litem Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act File Pleadings?
By GARY L SCHLESINGER 750 ILCS 5/506 is entitled representation of child. Subparagraph (a) is titled “Duties.” Three different positions are listed. One is attorney for the child who owes “the same duty of undivided loyalty, confidentially, competent representation as are due to an adult client.” The second is the child representative who “shall have…Read More
Schlesinger & Strauss Attorneys’ ISBA Appointments 2019-2020
Attorney Gary Schlesinger has been appointed to serve as a Member of the ISBA Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council 2019-2020. Attorney Michael Strauss has been appointed to serve as Chair of the ISBA Family Law Section Council for the same period. Attorney Deanna Hoyt has been appointed to the ISBA Women & the Law…Read More
Promoting Access to Justice Among Self-Represented Litigants
In 2015, 93 of Illinois’ 102 counties reported that more than 50% of civil cases involved a self-represented litigant on at least one side. Self-represented litigants face many challenges such as unfamiliarity with civil law and procedure. As a result of the growing number of self-represented litigants, the Illinois Supreme Court created The Illinois Supreme…Read More
Motions for Substitution of Judge
Every litigation attorney is all too familiar with having to tell their clients, “Shut your mouth when you are in front of the Judge.” Try as you might, there is always that one client who thinks he or she knows more than you and Judge and has to get in the last word. In the…Read More
