Hearsay Evidence

 Hearsay is one of the most used rules of evidence. ... Hearsay is any statement that was made out of court, that is now repeated in court by anyone other than the person who made the statement, to prove the truth of the matter asserted. If a statement is considered hearsay, then it cannot be used in court. #hearsayevidence,

Aggravated Speeding

Drivers who are charged with high rate speeding offenses are often surprised to learn that they can face up to a year in jail under current Illinois law. These offenses are commonly known as aggravated speeding offenses and Illinois has increased the potential consequences for drivers who plead guilty or are found guilty of these charges.

Unfortunately, most drivers are not familiar with these changes to our speeding laws. After receiving a speeding ticket, many drivers are only concerned with the inconvenience of appearing in traffic court or the prospect of increased insurance rates. However, these Illinois speeding laws have substantially changed over the years.

Current Illinois law groups speeding offenses into two primary categories – petty and misdemeanor offenses. Speeding 26 or more over the posted limit is charged as a misdemeanor offense, which qualifies as a crime under Illinois law.

Misdemeanor speeding offenses are most often referred to as “Excessive Speeding” or “Aggravated Speeding”. Aggravated/Excessive Speeding is further divided into two categories based on the speed – Class B Misdemeanors (26-34 mph over the limit) and Class A Misdemeanors (35+ mph over the limit).

Aggravated speeding is charged under Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5. The penalties range from court supervision and a fine to more severe penalties such as jail time and a criminal conviction on your public record. #aggravatedspeeding,

Earnest Money Deposit

When you find a home and enter into a purchase contract, the seller may withdraw the house from the market. Earnest money, or good faith deposit, is a sum of money you put down to demonstrate your seriousness about buying a home.

In most cases, earnest money acts as a deposit on the property you're looking to buy. You deliver the amount when signing the purchase agreement or the sales contract. It can also be part of the offer. The seller and buyer sign a contract that defines the conditions of refunding earnest money.

In most cases sellers will ask for a good faith deposit. It safeguards the interests of the seller and the buyer.  It shows the seller you’re serious about buying the home, which can be reassuring to them if they agree to take the house off of the market while awaiting the appraisal and inspection results,

When buying a property with high demand, a considerable deposit can compel the seller to select your offer over others. You may also get more favorable contract terms.

Parties in a home sale can agree to apply earnest money to the buyer's down payment or closing costs. In such a case, you're putting up some amount for the home in advance. #earnestmoney

Living Will

If you decide to create a living will, you should do it as soon as you can. That way, your doctor, and family know your wishes about end-of-life medical care in case you get a terminal condition. It is sometimes called an advance directive. Your living will is only used if you can't tell your doctor that you do not want medical care which will only make you live longer but won't heal you. For example, you might be in a coma, and there is no medical care that will wake you up, or keep you from dying. Your living will tells your doctors not to give you any medical care that only lets you live longer before you die.

Examples of medical care that might not heal you include:

• Chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for cancer,
• Electroconvulsive therapy,
• Cardiac resuscitation,
• Blood transfusions,
• Artificial maintenance of metabolic rates,
• Respirators,
• Artificial kidney treatments,
• Amputation, and 
• Artificial maintenance of blood pressure.

End-of-life medical care is the care a person receives when they have a terminal illness or terminal injury. Terminally ill or injured means no medical care will keep you from dying. Your doctor can give you care that would keep you comfortable, such as pain medication. Also, your doctor can't withhold food and water if that would cause your death by itself. #livingwill,

Crime Victim Compensation

A new Illinois law provides that a victim's criminal history or felony status shall not automatically prevent compensation to that victim or the victim's family. Extends the applicant's period for submitting requested information to 45 days from 30 days and provides that a final award shall not exceed $45,000, up from $27,000, for a crime committed on or after August 7, 2022. #crimevictim'scompensation,

Eviction Moratorium

Groups representing landlords in two states asked the Supreme Court to block President Biden’s extension of a moratorium on residential evictions on Friday after a federal appeals court allowed the controversial order to stand.The National Association of Realtors’ Alabama and Georgia chapters asked the Supreme Court to lift the moratorium just hours after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia voted unanimously to reject their request to allow evictions to proceed. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments on the legality of the extension. #evictionmoratorium,

Illinois Will Not Suspend Driver's License Over Tickets Or Fines

Illinois will no longer suspend or hold driver’s licenses for drivers who cannot pay tickets or fines.

Effective July 1, a criminal justice reform bill from the Illinois Black Caucus (House Bill 3653) eliminates license suspension for those who were unable to pay traffic tickets, automated red light and speed camera tickets, and parking tickets.

The state will also reinstate driving privileges for those who have had their driver’s license suspended for not paying those tickets. #suspendeddriver'slicense,

Background Checks For All Gun Sales In Illinois

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a plan August 16, 2021 requiring background checks for all gun sales in the state by 2024.The measure also provides funding for mental health programs in communities most impacted by gun violence and creates a stolen gun database.Pritzker, a first-term Democrat seeking re-election, called it “the most comprehensive reform to our state firearms laws in over a generation,” according to a statement.The plan also modernizes the Firearm Owners Identification card system, by allowing Illinois State Police to create electronic records and streamlining licenses. Pritzker says the system hasn’t been updated in decades. The law takes effect next year.The Illinois State Rifle Association, a gun owners’ rights organization, did not take a position on the plan.The number of Illinois residents with FOID cards has almost doubled, from 1.2 million in 2010 to 2.2 million currently. #gunsales, #backgroundcheckgunsales,

Divorce and Covid

The coronavirus crisis has inspired what seems to be a surge of divorces in the United States, a pattern also seen in China, Britain and Sweden. There are the expected reasons, such as increased domestic pressures and upended routines that may have once masked marriage problems. And there are the less obvious ones, like the bread-winning spouse who toyed with the idea of divorce now moving forward because it makes financial sense. (He or she has suffered a loss in income, and so the settlement will be less.) #coronavirus, 

Juvenile Court

 In Illinois no statute specifies the youngest age at which a youth can be adjudicated delinquent. Juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed prior to a youth's 18th birthday; after age 18, the youth is charged in adult court.   Anyone 17 years old or under is a child according to Illinois law, but not every child charged with a crime goes to juvenile court. In very serious crimes, youths over 15 can be tried in adult criminal court. It is frightening and stressful when your child is involved in the juvenile justice system.#juvenilelaw, #juvenile

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Eviction Moratorium

According to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the statewide ban on evictions will be phased out by the end of August, 2021. Governor Pritzker announced the expiration date during a press conference on July 14, 2021. "On July 23, the Governor will issue an Executive Order that allows eviction filings against covered persons to begin on August 1," Pritzker's office said. "The current prohibition on enforcement of eviction orders entered against covered persons will remain in place until August 31. Enforcement of eviction orders entered against covered persons will be allowed after August 31." #evictions, #evictionmoratorium,