Family Law Attorney By Me

Family law encompasses a wide array of laws and rules regarding the legal aspects of a family relationship. Whether your matter involves divorce, child custody issues, or drafting a premarital agreement, it is critical to have the advice of an experienced family law attorney to ensure that your interests are protected.

Areas of Representation

At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, we represent Illinois residents in a variety of family law matters, including:

• Divorce;
• Child custody matters;
• Child support and maintenance;
• Property division;
• Paternity;
• Civil unions;
• Post-decree modifications; and
• Post-judgment enforcement.

Family law matters are often emotional and stressful, especially if a couple has children. Having the advice of an experienced attorney can make all the difference in resolving these types of issues quickly and efficiently.

Divorce

Divorces can either be contested or uncontested. When spouses agree on division of property issues and a child custody arrangement, they are often able to avoid some of the more arduous aspects of divorce, which can require multiple court appearances. However, the couple will still be required to submit certain documentation to the court, including a parenting agreement that meets certain guidelines. Unfortunately, some couples are unable to come to an agreement on child support, parenting time, or alimony payments. In these cases, it is still possible to solve the issues through negotiation, although it may be necessary to litigate the matters in family court.

Parental Responsibility

Issues related to parental responsibility and parenting time are some of the most time-consuming and difficult to resolve. To this end, our firm focuses on finding workable child custody and parenting time agreements that serve the interests of all parties. As part of this process, we help couples divide time with their children, but also parental responsibility regarding the child’s:

• Education;
• Healthcare;
• Religion;
• Extracurricular activities;
• Household duties; and
• Discipline.

Drafting a plan that clearly delineates these responsibilities can help ensure a smooth transition for children.

Child Support

In July, a new law that modifies the guidelines used to calculate child support will go into effect. Currently, courts award child support based on percentages of the non-custodial parent’s income and do not consider the income of the custodial parent. However, under the new law, courts will begin using an income shares model, which means that they will be required to refer to economic tables issued by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services before making a child support determination. These tables will reflect the percentages of combined income that couples living in the same household typically spend on a child in the state of Illinois. The courts will then reference these charts while taking into account:

• The family’s combined income;
• The cost of living; and
• The number of children in the household.

Each parent will then be considered responsible for his or her share of child support based on income. However, judges are permitted to deviate from this standard in certain cases, making it especially important for those who are seeking child support to contact an experienced attorney who can represent their interests.

Contact us Today to Speak With an Experienced Child Custody Attorney

To speak with experienced Palatine family law attorney, Susan A. Marks, please contact SAM LAW OFFICE LLC by calling 847-255-9925 to schedule a free consultation.