McLean County Divorce -- Bloomington Law Group LLC: April 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Personal Assessment: Going to Trial

Is a trial really needed to resolve these issues? Is there nothing left to give in on? If so, then I have prepared myself thoroughly by orchestrating the best evidence, and the fullest documentation, in my power. Click here for an article on what to do 100 days before your trial. Have I selected the most appropriate witnesses for my case? Are they people who are interested in helping me or my children because they believe in me, rather than because they are friendly with me? I have found people whose opinions are based on experience with me and/or my spouse, and who do not have an axe of their own to grind.

Am I being as truthful and straightforward as possible? If my spouse is not, how am I dealing with it? I hope I am not becoming consumed with revenge or proving the truth. I am keeping my eye on the big picture, and I am taking steps to end my spouse's ability to distort facts about me by separating our lives in as civilized way as possible.

Am I being motivated by fear? How is it affecting my behavior, in and out of court? I am taking the time to understand my fears, and to put them into proper perspective. I am acting out of a position of strength, not fear. Click here for an article on overcoming the fears of divorce.

Excerpted from Your Divorce Advisor: A Lawyer and a Psychologist Guide You Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce (Simon & Schuster/Fireside 2001). For more information:http://www.yourdivorceadvisor.com/.

For more information contact McLean County Divorce www.McLeanCountyDivorce.com.

Bloomington Illinois Divorce Attorney -- Jon D. McLaughlin

I grew up in Provo, Utah, but moved to Oklahoma in order to finish my bachelor’s degree in philosophy and ancient greek at Oklahoma State University. I then attended law school at the University of Illinois. While in law school, I was an Associate Editor of a journal published by the university. Also during this time, I worked for law firms in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Indianapolis, Indiana, and for the Honorable Joe McDade (a Federal Judge, sitting in Peoria).

While still in law school, the Illinois Supreme Court allowed me to practice law and represent clients under Rule 711. This allowed me to gain valuable experience, early on, that has served me well in my subsequent practice.

After law school, I moved to Bloomington, Illinois, and have been practicing law here since that time. While I have handled business transactions and litigation in the past, some involving more than $10,000,000, I now limit my practice to family law matters. I handle divorce, custody, child support, visitation, and other matters that require the court’s attention. I have had much success in getting my clients promising results because of my firm and aggressive approach.

I am a Guardian ad Litem, which means that the courts appoint me to investigate child custody, visitation, and other matters. These appointments have helped me become a better advocate for children and to toughen my position in fighting for my clients.

I am a Mediator, approved by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois, to conduct court-ordered Custody Mediation for parties who are in the midst of custody and/or visitation disputes in the Bloomington-Normal area. In addition to being certified to mediate custody and visitation issues, I am also certified to mediate financial issues in divorce and family law cases in McLean County. These issues include Child Support, Maintenance (Alimony), the assets and debts of the parties, and other matters relating to the financial side of family law cases. I am also a member of the Mediation Council of Illinois. Due to my experience in the area, I am able to advise my clients as to how they can achieve the best results in mediation. In the Eleventh Circuit, mediation is mandatory in visitation and custody disputes. Therefore, it is important to be well-advised when participating in mediation and negotiating a possible resolution to your case.

The majority of my cases are tried in McLean County; however, I also practice in other surrounding counties.

Associations and Memberships: McLean County Bar Association (Treasurer, 2009-2010); ABC Counseling (Board of Directors, 2009-Present); Illinois State Bar Association.

Publications: Mandatory Arbitration Clauses in Employee Manuals, 44 Lab. & Emp. L. (Ill. Bar Assoc., Springfield, Illinois), December 2006; Extinguishing Pension Plans by Partial Termination & Aggregation, U. Ill. J. Bus. L. Soc’y (Feb. 1, 2007); What Relevance Does The ADA Have To HIPAA-Regulated “Bona Fide Wellness Programs”?, U. Ill. J. Bus. L. Soc’y (Feb. 10, 2007); Damages in Delayed Construction Claims, 36 Colo. Law. 17 (March 2007); Disciplining Attorneys and Other FSLA-Exempt Employees for Attendance Problems, Ill. Bar J. (Nov. 2007); Using Altman's Z-Score to Synchronize the Watches of Courts, Directors, Creditors, and Shareholders, 31 Hamline L. Rev (August 2008). Asked and Answered: Will I Lose my Stepchildren?, Ill. Bar J. (Jan. 2009).

Presentations: Surviving Divorce: Financial Implications, Money Smart Week (Illinois) (Bloomington, Illinois, April 8 and 9, 2008); Will Your Loved Ones Be Left Out, Financial and Legal Challenges Faced by the LGBT Community (Bloomington, Illinois, September 25 and 27, 2008).

I am married and have two energetic and beautiful daughters.