Posted on February 11, 2026 in Family Law

When parents disagree about parental responsibilities or parenting time, the court sometimes needs help deciding what is best for the child. In these cases, a guardian ad litem may be helpful.

When parents cannot agree on custody terms, or when there are concerns that one parent may be improperly awarded custody, a party may seek the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL). Understanding the role of a GAL, the circumstances under which a court may appoint one, and how that appointment can affect a custody case can help parties better anticipate the process and prepare as the case proceeds. If you have questions about your parenting case in 2026, a St. Charles custody attorney can explain your options.

What Does a Guardian ad Litem Do in an Illinois Parenting Case?

A Guardian ad Litem, (GAL), is a neutral, professional person chosen by the court to represent a child's best interests during the case. Illinois requires GALs to be licensed attorneys. A GAL will investigate the child's situation and make recommendations to the court. The GAL does not represent either parent.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 11, 2026 in Sexual Harassment

While sexual harassment has been officially illegal since the 1980s, it has remained an issue in workplaces. In recent years, sexual harassment has led to worker strikes and outside reviews of companies. Everyone from celebrities to ordinary workers have become advocates against it. About 10 years ago, there was a surge of sexual harassment reform, started largely by the #MeToo movement.

Many companies have responded with updated policies. The question now is: Are things better in 2026? Have the statistics on workplace sexual harassment improved?

Even if the answer is "yes," that doesn’t mean it has stopped altogether. If you are currently experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, a DuPage County harassment attorney can help you understand your rights and legal options.

Have Sexual Harassment Reports Decreased?

There is evidence that reports of sexual harassment have dropped. Different sources give somewhat different pictures of the situation. The Clayman Institute for Gender Research says that reports in federal workplaces declined by more than 50 percent between 1987 and 2016. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that in the two years after #MeToo kicked off, reporting increased.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 23, 2026 in Family Law

Sometimes a parent cannot care for their child due to substance abuse, incarceration, or financial hardship. Other times, a parent may want their child to grow up with family members who can give them a better life with more opportunities.

Illinois allows adoption by other family members. The process can actually be easier than other types of adoption, but you will still want to understand the ins and outs. If you’re thinking about adopting your sibling's child or other family member, our DuPage County family law attorneys can guide you through each step of the process.

How Does Relative Adoption Work in Illinois?

Relative adoption, also called "kinship adoption," is when a family member legally adopts a child related to them. In Illinois, relatives who can adopt include grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and step-parents. The state generally wants to keep children with family if possible. According to the American Bar Association, kinship adoption reduces trauma for children, improves their wellbeing, and improves behavioral and mental health.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 23, 2026 in Family Law

When a family member cannot make important decisions on their own due to a disability, you may want – or need – to become their legal guardian. "Guardianship" is a big responsibility that gives you legal authority to make decisions for someone who cannot make them alone.

In 2026, many Illinois families are caring for disabled adults. These family members need help managing their finances, healthcare, and daily living. If you are considering guardianship for a disabled adult, our Kane County guardianship attorneys can help you understand the process.

What is Guardianship for a Disabled Adult?

"Guardianship" is where a court gives one person the authority to make decisions for another person who cannot make those decisions themselves. The person who needs help is called the "ward," and the person making decisions is the "guardian."

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 23, 2026 in Sexual Harassment

Having coworkers who are dating can be complicated, to say the least. It’s not uncommon to hear about coworkers who are dating and whose unprofessional behavior makes everyone around them uncomfortable. Especially for those higher up the chain of command, it can be hard to know what to call this behavior or how to address it. 

If you have coworkers or employees creating an unpleasant environment in 2026, our Wheaton sexual harassment attorneys can help you understand what the situation is and if you have legal grounds to address it.

What Qualifies as Sexual Harassment Under Illinois Law?

Sexual harassment at work happens when unwelcome sexual conduct interferes with your ability to do your job or creates a difficult work environment. Under the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/2-102), sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 08, 2026 in Family Law

Life keeps moving after divorce. You might switch jobs, one parent may need to move to a new city, and no matter what, your children continue to grow and change.

When these life changes happen, you may find that your parenting plan no longer fits your family's needs. If you are wondering if you can adjust your parenting arrangement in 2026, a DuPage County child custody lawyer can help you understand Illinois modification laws and help you plan your next steps.

What Parts of a Parenting Plan Can Be Changed?

Illinois law divides parenting plans into two main parts:

• The "allocation of parental responsibilities" covers who makes important decisions about your child's education, health care, religion, and other activities. Before, this was called "legal custody." 

• "Parenting time" is the schedule when your child stays with each parent. This used to be called "visitation." 

  Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 08, 2026 in Sexual Harassment

If you are dealing with sexual harassment at work in DuPage County, new changes to Illinois law offer you stronger protections. On January 1, 2026, important updates to the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act took effect. These changes make it harder for employers to silence you if you speak up about harassment.

Understanding these new protections can help you feel more confident about reporting what is happening to you. Whether you are facing unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, or other forms of harassment, you now have more tools to protect yourself.

Our DuPage County sexual harassment attorneys take time to listen to our clients’ cases. When our clients are ready, we work to ensure cases of serious workplace harassment are brought to justice. Call us today for a private consultation.

What is the Workplace Transparency Act, and What Does It Do?

The Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (820 ILCS 96) is a law, first created about five years ago, that is meant to stop employers from trying to force you to stay quiet about workplace harassment and discrimination. Some employers used to make workers sign non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality clauses that prevented them from talking about harassment that happened at work. This made it difficult for victims to get help or warn others about dangerous situations.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 08, 2026 in Family Law

Separation and divorce can be very difficult for children. The way parents treat one another can make a huge difference in how a child processes the parents' separation. If negative feelings between parents continue after a divorce, some parents may do something called "parental undue influence."

If you have recently gotten divorced and are worried that your child’s other parent is influencing them against you, contact our Kane County family law attorneys right away.

What is Parental Undue Influence?

In some divorces, one parent may try to manipulate a child's thoughts and feelings about the other parent in negative ways. The parent might speak badly about the other parent, tell lies about them, or pressure the child to take sides. This is called "parental undue influence." It is closely related to "parental alienation," and it can cause serious psychological damage to children.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 28, 2025 in Family Law

A parent may be called "unfit" in Illinois when a court believes the parent’s behavior puts a child at serious risk of harm. This can involve safety concerns, emotional harm, or failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It can come up during the allocation of parental responsibilities or later.

A finding of unfitness is serious, but it is not automatic. It also does not always last forever. If this issue is part of your case, our Wheaton, IL parental responsibilities lawyers can help you understand how Illinois courts make these decisions.

How Do Illinois Courts Decide Whether a Parent Is Unfit?

As of 2025, Illinois courts do not use a single test to decide whether a parent is unfit. Instead, judges focus on the best interests of the child. Judges look at the child’s safety, stability, and overall well-being.

Under 750 ILCS 5/602.5, judges decide how parental responsibilities should be allocated, including who makes major decisions about education, health care, and religion. When evaluating fitness, courts look for patterns of behavior over time, not one isolated mistake.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 28, 2025 in Family Law

In Illinois child custody cases, a guardian ad litem (GAL) may be appointed to make a recommendation to the Court as to what is in a child’s best interests. A GAL is typically an attorney who is tasked with investigating the child’s home life to make recommendations regarding allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, and other issues related to the child's welfare. If you have questions about an ongoing GAL investigation, reach out to a Kane County, IL family law attorney today.

Understanding the role of GAL in Illinois child custody cases is essential for parents who are going through a divorce or custody dispute. At Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC, we have over 100 years of combined attorney experience, giving us deep insights into practicing family law.

What is a Guardian ad Litem?

An article published in ScienceDirect claims that over a million children are affected by the stresses of parental divorce in the U.S. every year. A GAL is a person the court appoints to help represent the child's best interests in a custody case. The GAL is not a party to the case but rather an independent third party that is directed to investigate and make recommendations regarding what is best for the child.

Continue Reading ››