Need some legal advice on what can be done by family members when one family member becomes an alcoholic (state of IL). A little bit of background….
We have a family member who recently received his 3rd DUI. His court date is coming up soon and everyone is at a loss as to what to do. Given that courts are getting involved, can family members (his spouse) go to the courts and ask for some kind of court ordered intervention or rehab program? He drinks around the clock, drinking booze straight from the bottle like it's water regardless if it's the crack of dawn or not. Not just one sip (shot), but chug chug chug like it's literally water. He lays passed out on the recliner, sometimes for as long as a week straight, in a drunken coma… doesn't even shower or change clothes. He's a danger to himself, and unless his wife takes the car keys he continues to drive out to get more booze. He works construction, and when they've called with an assignment for him, he's too unconscious to even answer the phone, so he hasn't even been working.
His wife doesn't want to call the cops on him when he goes out to drive, because of course she's going to be the one paying court fees or bailing him out of jail. But like I said, since a court date is coming up, if his wife & kids go to court and present the severity of this case to the judge, would that do any good?
I realize you can't help someone who doesn't WANT to be helped, or someone that won't admit they have a problem in the first place. However, I know that she has asked him to get clean or leave, and his response was that it was as much his house as hers. I truly believe she doesn't necessarily want out, and she'd rather he gets clean. She also has her mother that she takes after, who also lives with them. It would be difficult for the wife to pack up, take her mother and the pets and find somewhere else to live. The mortgage wouldn't get paid, as he probably doesn't know HOW to pay the bills, and her credit would get ruined, house repossessed, etc…
What legal options are there, given that this is his 3rd DUI, to force him to get clean? His previous 2 DUI's were 10-15 years ago. If he refuses to get clean, would his wife be able to order him out of the house if she files for divorce? Or would she have to be the one to pack up and leave and risk losing the house and many of the assets? What other alternatives are there? And has anyone ever heard of similar cases, such as this? Any info would be greatly appreciated! The whole family is at a loss, and noone knows what to do anymore.
Also, if we were to consult any attorneys at this point, what type of attorney would have knowledge in this area? If anyone has contacts in the N/W Chicago suburbs, that would be appreciated as well. Or is there another forum category where you think I might be able to get further advice? Family law? What sub-category would apply to alchol issues?
We have a family member who recently received his 3rd DUI. His court date is coming up soon and everyone is at a loss as to what to do. Given that courts are getting involved, can family members (his spouse) go to the courts and ask for some kind of court ordered intervention or rehab program? He drinks around the clock, drinking booze straight from the bottle like it's water regardless if it's the crack of dawn or not. Not just one sip (shot), but chug chug chug like it's literally water. He lays passed out on the recliner, sometimes for as long as a week straight, in a drunken coma… doesn't even shower or change clothes. He's a danger to himself, and unless his wife takes the car keys he continues to drive out to get more booze. He works construction, and when they've called with an assignment for him, he's too unconscious to even answer the phone, so he hasn't even been working.
His wife doesn't want to call the cops on him when he goes out to drive, because of course she's going to be the one paying court fees or bailing him out of jail. But like I said, since a court date is coming up, if his wife & kids go to court and present the severity of this case to the judge, would that do any good?
I realize you can't help someone who doesn't WANT to be helped, or someone that won't admit they have a problem in the first place. However, I know that she has asked him to get clean or leave, and his response was that it was as much his house as hers. I truly believe she doesn't necessarily want out, and she'd rather he gets clean. She also has her mother that she takes after, who also lives with them. It would be difficult for the wife to pack up, take her mother and the pets and find somewhere else to live. The mortgage wouldn't get paid, as he probably doesn't know HOW to pay the bills, and her credit would get ruined, house repossessed, etc…
What legal options are there, given that this is his 3rd DUI, to force him to get clean? His previous 2 DUI's were 10-15 years ago. If he refuses to get clean, would his wife be able to order him out of the house if she files for divorce? Or would she have to be the one to pack up and leave and risk losing the house and many of the assets? What other alternatives are there? And has anyone ever heard of similar cases, such as this? Any info would be greatly appreciated! The whole family is at a loss, and noone knows what to do anymore.
Also, if we were to consult any attorneys at this point, what type of attorney would have knowledge in this area? If anyone has contacts in the N/W Chicago suburbs, that would be appreciated as well. Or is there another forum category where you think I might be able to get further advice? Family law? What sub-category would apply to alchol issues?
