The Law Firm of
James & Associates
Post Office Box 398
412 2nd Avenue
Forreston, Illinois 61030

Main Nos: (815) 938-3241
Fax: (815) 938-2221

Recent Cases

  1. An heir to a manufacturing fortune had been in family litigation for years. A final order had been entered. This office was retained in time to appeal the custody decision and obtained a reversal on the custody issue for re-trial in the trial court.


  2. A service person with many years of service, just prior to retirement, was allegedly "served" overseas from an Illinois trial court with a paternity action. Due to the service person's location and inability to appear a default judgment was entered which, if the order continued over the next 18 years, would cost the service person well in excess of $200,000 (not factoring in increases and college costs). This default was entered without ever establishing the service member as the biological father. This office entered a special and limited appearance, and successfully vacated the default due to a lack of personal jurisdiction and a failure to comply with the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act. As the case lacked jurisdiction it was dismissed permanently.


  3. An executive was served with an emergency order of protection and was removed from his home based on purported allegations of child abuse. This office was not retained until after the emergency order had been granted. We obtained a reservation of rights to contest the matter in order to obtain time to investigate the allegations.. Through investigation, discovery, psychological evaluation and motion practice, the allegations were eventually seen as spurious and vexatious. Joint custody was entered for both of his daughter and with the executive obtaining residential custody of his eldest daughter. This same executive was then taken back to court two more times: First, his ex-wife sought to increase child support due to a change in circumstances - this office brought up the college expenses of the eldest daughter to which the ex-spouse was not contributing as a basis to reduce child support; Second, the ex-spouse again sought to impugn the executive with yet another emergency order of protection based on salacious allegations - the executive was again cleared.


  4. A software executive, who lived out of state, was being refused visitation. The custodial spouse was exhibiting facts of parental alienation. This office was able to re-negotiate his child support to a lower rate and obtained for him more liberal visitation with his children - without a hearing. This case demonstrates that at times peace of mind can be obtained without a trial.


  5. Protective plans for private individuals have been set up off shore in order to effect the business necessities of asset protection. Please review the information in "Our Practice" about such planning.