Source: https://kirshfamilylaw.com/2000/03/01/the-use-of-the-fifth-amendment-privilege-against-self-incrimination-in-domestic-relations-cases/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 20:06:04+00:00

Document:
In the everyday practice of matrimonial law, constitutional considerations are often the furthest thing from a practitioner’s mind. Except for perhaps relying on that old law school favorite International Shoe in the course of a jurisdictional dispute, weighty constitutional questions simply do not often present themselves. However, the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution as extended to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment and Article I, section 10 of the Illinois Constitution provides a testimonial privilege which can be quite useful or frustrating, depending on which side of the privilege claim you fall. This article will not attempt to analyze the privilege against self-incrimination in all of its intricacies, but will hopefully provide a basic overview of when the invocation of the privilege is appropriate.
The privilege against self-incrimination applies to testimony in civil proceedings as well as criminal proceedings. Gabriel v. Columbia National Bank of Chicago 228 Ill.App.3d 240, 592 N.E.2d 556, 170 Ill.Dec. 120 (1st Dist. 1992) The privilege is not limited to testimony in court but also applies to discovery depositions, 10-Dix Building Corp. V. McDannell 134 Ill.App.3d 664, 480 N.E.2d 1212, 89 Ill.Dec. 469 (1st Dist. 1985) and subpoenas duces tecum. Zisook v. Brody 88 Ill.2d 321, 430 N.E.2d 1037, 58 Ill.Dec. 786 (1981) Additionally, the privilege extends to non-party witnesses in civil proceedings. Orlove v. Novick 78 Ill.App.3d 1141, 398 N.E.2d 170, 34 Ill.Dec. 495 (1st Dist. 1979).
pending and the risk of criminal prosecution is remote. Gabriel v. Columbia National Bank The privilege extends not only to answers that would in themselves support a conviction, but also to answers that might furnish a link in a chain of evidence needed to prosecute the witness for a crime. People v. Wiesneske, 234 Ill.App.3d 29, 599 N.E. 2d 1266, 175 Ill.Dec. 252 (1st Dist. 1992).
to appear for the deposition or hearing, but must appear and assert the privilege as to each document.
The privilege can be waived, although not easily. In order to constitute a waiver, a sworn statement in a pleading must amount to an admission of guilt or furnish clear proof of a crime. 10-Dix. Also, the invocation of the privilege in a response to a pleading is not tantamount to an admission. In Gabriel, the appellate court held that the trial court erred in granting the plaintiff judgment on the pleadings based upon the defendant invoking the privilege and refusing to answer allegations of forgery.

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