Chicago Family Law Attorneys Near Me

While divorce, the terms of divorce, and post-divorce term modifications are common family law concerns, there is much more to this branch of the law than simply divorce. Primary matters also include the determination of paternity, adoptions, prenuptial agreements, and more. If you are experiencing a family law issue, it’s time to reach out to an experienced Chicago family law attorney near you. 

Divorce

While no two divorces are alike, the following terms do not vary (as applicable to the divorce in question):

• Parental responsibilities and parenting time (what you may think of as child custody arrangements)
• Child support
• The equitable division of marital property
• Alimony (or spousal maintenance)

Each of these (other than the equitable division of marital property) can also be addressed in terms of post-divorce modifications – if the related circumstances have changed significantly. Additionally, both child custody and child support are family law concerns that are frequently addressed outside of marriage and divorce. 

The Determination of Paternity

Paternity is the state of being a child’s father, and in Illinois, paternity must be established if the couple is not married at the time of a child’s birth. This can be accomplished in each of the following ways:

• The mother and father agree on the matter of paternity and file the appropriate paperwork with the court.
• Either the mother or father requests the court to order that paternity be established (usually through genetic testing).
• The court orders that paternity be established through genetic testing.

The establishment of paternity tends to benefit not only the child but also both parents in a variety of important ways. 

Adoptions

Adoptions afford couples (and individuals) the rights and responsibilities that accompany becoming the legal parents of a child who was born to someone else. While the adoption process is challenging, the rewards are difficult to overstate. 

Prenuptial Agreements

Although prenuptial agreements have something of a bad reputation, it is ill-founded. A prenuptial agreement is simply a legal contract that allows couples to address financial matters (that would likely come up in a divorce) prior to marriage. While prenups neither encourage nor facilitate divorce, they can help take the financial guesswork out of the equation, which can provide couples with the peace of mind they need to move forward and build strong marriages. Prenuptial agreements are created before a couple marries, but they don’t go into effect until the couple is married. In other words, the prenuptial agreement has no bearing if the couple does not go through with the marriage. 

An Experienced Chicago Family Law Attorney near You Is Standing by to Help

If your family is facing a legal concern, the accomplished Chicago family law attorneys at The Law Offices of George M. Sanders have the impressive experience and legal insight you’re looking for. Your case is important to you, which makes it important to our legal team, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about how we can help you today.