Family Law Attorney Near Me

Family law matters are notorious for being emotional, time-consuming, and often contentious. At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, we recognize how stressful divorces, child custody matters, and child support issues can be and so take great pains to relieve some of our clients’ burdens by aggressively representing them, whether in negotiations or in the courtroom. If you have questions about a family law matter, please do not hesitate to contact an experienced family law attorney who can address all of your concerns.

Types of Family Law Matters

At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, we represent clients in a variety of family-related legal matters, including those that involve:

• Divorce and dissolutions of civil unions;
• Child custody/parenting time;
• Child support;
• Establishing paternity;
• Spousal maintenance;
• Post-decree modifications; and
• Property division.

Even when a couple is able to come to an agreement regarding important issues, such as child support and property division, the court system still requires the parties to present a valid and complete parenting plan, which must conform to certain standards.

Property Division

Dividing a couple’s property can be extremely difficult, especially when the parties were married for a lengthy period of time. To begin the process, both parties will be required to document all sources of income as well as any expenses, such as household costs, medical expenses, and childcare costs. It is also necessary to record any debts at this time. Finally, the parties must submit a list of all of their assets, including:

• Cash;
• Investment accounts and securities;
• Real estate;
• Motor vehicles;
• Business interests;
• Valuable collectibles;
• Retirement benefits;
• Life insurance policies; and
• Income tax refunds.

The parties are then both required to sign a financial affidavit, which must be accompanied by income tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements. A party who withholds information or misleads the judge risks incurring serious penalties, including attorney’s fees, a restraining order, or a preliminary injunction, which can bar a party from transferring, concealing, or disposing of marital property.

Spousal Maintenance

When a couple is unable to decide on a spousal maintenance award, courts are often forced to step in and make the determination. If a court does decide that an award is appropriate, it will determine the duration of the payments based on one of two sets of guidelines, one of which is based on a formula and the other, on certain factors, such as each party’s income and needs, the age of the parties, and the length of the marriage.

Child Support

Parents are required to financially provide for their minor children. To ensure that this is achieved, courts require parents to comply with child support agreements, whether drafted by the parents themselves or by the court. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, a court will draft the order by using an income shares model and analyzing certain factors, such as:

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

If you have questions about child support, please contact an experienced family law attorney today.

Contact a Dedicated Family Law Attorney

Having the advice and support of an experienced family law attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of a case, so if you are considering a divorce, please contact SAM LAW OFFICE LLC by calling our Rolling Meadows office at 847-255-9925 today.