- DivorceBeginning in 2018, Illinois law both authorizes and facilitates collaborative divorce. “Collaborative divorce” is an alternative dispute resolution option that keeps costs down and equitably ends a marriage without destroying the family in the process. During the process, spouses and their attorneys work together cooperatively to negotiate equitable settlements without going to court. The focus is on constructive problem-solving and shared values rather than on adversarial bargaining and court-imposed solutions.
- Child SupportIn July 2017 the child support laws in Illinois were completely overhauled. Both parents’ incomes are now utilized to determine the proper amount of child support. In some cases, the amount of parenting time allocated between the parties also affects child support. Childcare, extracurricular activities, education, and healthcare expenses, as well as the child dependency exemption for income tax purposes, may be shared between the parents. We will assist you in taking into account the numerous financial considerations relating to child support, and work diligently to maximize the amount of money in your pocket.
- Child Custody and VisitationMediation is an alternative dispute resolution option where the parties are assisted by a neutral party to reach agreements on their legal issues. In Illinois, parents are generally required to mediate their child custody disputes before the Court can decide the issues. However, mediation is also a great option for divorcing couples without children. H. Wayne Statham is a certified mediator for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Illinois.
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Premarital AgreementPrenuptial and postnuptial agreements help couples make important decisions about their relationships, particularly relating to their finances, in the event of divorce or other issues. Prenuptial agreements are drafted prior to the marriage, while postnuptial agreements are drafted during the marriage. Such agreements can protect separate property, support estate planning, and establish procedures and ground rules for deciding future matters.
- GuardianshipGuardianship may be an option for a child who is without a parent that is willing or able to care for him or her. Sometimes a parent becomes incapacitated with a mental or physical illness or struggles with an addiction that affects his or her ability to care for his or her children. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child’s person and estate in such cases, a guardian may be appointed by the court. A guardian then becomes responsible for the child’s healthcare, education, and finances.
- Spousal SupportDivorce proceedings involve numerous issues, including ascertaining and dividing marital and non-marital assets and debts, maintenance (also known as alimony or spousal support), child support, and child custody. We understand that going through a divorce is difficult on everyone: you, your spouse, your respective families, and especially your children. With that in mind, we take an individualized approach to all of our divorce cases. We carefully navigate our clients through the process, explaining legal rights and obligations in a way the individual client can understand and process. We will also address and guide you on other important matters which may be implicated by your divorce, such as income taxes, medical insurance, bankruptcy, and estate planning.
- Legal SeparationLegal Separations are different than divorces and are fairly uncommon. A legal separation may be appropriate if you have unique circumstances where you and/or your spouse benefit by remaining legally married, but you otherwise become physically and financially separated from one another. Such unique circumstances may be related to religion, taxes, retirement benefits, or medical insurance.
- AnnulmentIn certain, rare circumstances, a party may be able to seek an annulment rather than a divorce. If a marriage is annulled, it’s as if the marriage never occurred. Examples of grounds for an annulment include fraudulent inducement, incapacity, and duress.
- Criminal DefenseThe term "criminal defense" is used to describe the legal protections provided by attorneys to persons accused of committing a crime. To ensure that your constitutional rights are protected, it is important that you have an attorney representing you through all aspects of the criminal court system, including arraignments, pretrial hearings, settlement conferences, trials and sentencing hearings. Our attorneys at …
- DUI/DWI
- Wrongful Death
- Traffic ViolationsA petty offense in Illinois is any offense for which the maximum fine may not exceed $1,000. It is not possible to receive a jail sentence for a petty offense. A common example of a petty offense is speeding or failing to wear a seat belt.
- BurglaryFelonies in Illinois generally fall into five categories: Class X, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4. A Class X felony is punishable by 6-30 years in the department of corrections; a Class 1 felony is punishable by 4-15 years in the department of corrections; a Class 2 felony is punishable by 3-7 years in the department of corrections; a Class 3 felony is punishable by 2-5 years in the department of corrections; and, a Class 4 felony is punishable by 1-3 years in the department of corrections. All of these felonies may include a maximum fine of $25,000. Please note that sentences for murder convictions differ from other felony classifications. A common example of a felony is burglary or arson.
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsMisdemeanors in Illinois fall into three categories: Class A, Class B, and Class C. The most serious misdemeanor is a Class A, which is one step under a felony offense. The maximum possible penalty for a Class A misdemeanor is up to 364 days in jail and/or a maximum fine of $2,500. A common example of a misdemeanor is driving under the influence or theft (under $500).
- Murder
- HomicideWith over 30 years of experience in the field of criminal law, Mr. Statham is available to represent clients with criminal charges pending in either state or federal court. His trial experience includes serving as lead counsel in three homicide trials.
- Arson
- Corporate LawMr. Long is a founding member of the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of business and corporate law, estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and appellate practice.
- Business DisputesBusiness law includes both transactional matters, such as acquisitions, and commercial litigation. Our attorneys at Statham & Long, LLC, routinely assist businesses and business owners with choice of business entity, preparation, review, and negotiation of business contracts, and compliance with a variety of corporate and business requirements. Our attorneys represent businesses as both plaintiffs or defendants in a broad range of commercial disputes, from breach of contract to business torts.
- Business TransactionsMr. Statham’s real estate practice encompasses both residential and commercial transactions. The practice includes advising clients involved in the purchase, sale and lease of all types of real estate, including residential, farm and commercial properties. Mr. Statham is a top-issuing member agent for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.; and, he is a member of the American Land Title Association.
- Real Estate TransactionsOur real estate practice includes both residential and commercial real estate transactions, including contracts for deed, drafting of purchase agreements, title insurance, purchases, sales, deed preparation, and every other step along the way to consummating a real estate transaction. Our attorneys at Statham & Long, LLC, can assist you in selling your home or helping you realize your dream of home ownership.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Property Damage
- Personal InjuryMr. Robertson concentrates his practice in the areas of civil litigation, commercial litigation, insurance coverage, personal injury and commercial transactions.
- Medical MalpracticeThe term "personal injury" refers to any situation in which a person’s body or mind are injured, usually due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness. Common examples of personal injury cases are wrongful death, consumer product liability, car accidents, "slip and fall" injuries, medical malpractice, and dog bites. Personal injury cases sometimes include claims for property damage, such as in …
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesThe term "personal injury" refers to any situation in which a person’s body or mind are injured, usually due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness. Common examples of personal injury cases are wrongful death, consumer product liability, car accidents, "slip and fall" injuries, medical malpractice, and dog bites. Personal injury cases sometimes include claims for property damage, such as in the case of a car accident. Our attorneys at Statham & Long, LLC, have more than 30 years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury cases, and handle cases ranging from a few hundred dollars to several million dollars.
- Estate PlanningAs it is the simplest device for planning the distribution of an estate after death, wills are the most common estate planning document. Simply put, a will directs how your property is to be distributed after your death, and nominates a person, called an executor, to supervise the process. Most jurisdictions have specific requirements for the execution of a will, and you should consult with an attorney regarding the formal requirements.
- WillsThese documents direct what will happen to a person's estate and in relation to their personal care if the person becomes legally incapacitated. A health care power of attorney nominates an agent to make health care decisions for you, while a property power of attorney nominates an agent to handle your financial affairs. Other common documents include living wills and guardian designations.
- Power of AttorneyEstate planning generally describes the process of planning for the management and disposal of a person's assets during and at or after death, including planning for incapacity. It most commonly includes the drafting of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, but may also include guardianships for disabled adults, transferring title to assets, making gifts, and other efforts to eliminate uncertainty while maximizing the value of a person's estate. The actions taken by an attorney are driven by the client's specific goals, and may be as simple or as comlex as the client's needs dictate.
- Probate
- Bankruptcy
- ForeclosureThe collections practice includes commercial collections, foreclosure, replevin and creditors’ rights in bankruptcy. Mr. Statham’s clients include financial institutions, healthcare providers, small businesses and landlords. He is also available to serve as local counsel in all phases of the collection process.
- Tax LawCivil practice is a broad category that includes essentially any legal matter that is not criminal in nature. Since our attorneys at Statham & Long, LLC, have a wide range of experience in the legal field, the term is used here to generally refer to those practice areas which have not been discussed elsewhere. Additional civil practice areas include representing municipal governments, tax law, collections, and insurance law. With multiple attorneys and many years of experience, rest assured we can assist you with nearly any legal issue.