Family Law Lawyer Near Me

Family law covers a wide range of legal matters that directly affect families, which makes it a very important area of the law. If you are facing a divorce, need to modify one of your divorce terms after the fact, or have paternity concerns, you shouldn’t wait to reach out to an experienced family law lawyer near you. 

The Terms of Divorce

The terms of divorce are commonly addressed by family law, and while every divorce includes its own unique circumstances, the terms that must be resolved remain the same across all divorces (as applicable). Consider the following:

• Child custody arrangements (addressed as Parental responsibilities and parenting time)
• The division of marital assets
• Child support
• Alimony

Each of these – other than the division of marital assets – can also be addressed in terms of post-divorce modifications, and both child custody and child support can be addressed outside of marriage and divorce altogether. Regardless of how straightforward or complex your divorce is, a savvy family law lawyer can help, including in all the following situations:

• Highly contested divorces 
• Collaborative divorces
• Same-sex divorces
• Divorces involving high assets
• Divorces involving business ownership

Because protecting your parental and financial rights is of the utmost importance, family law is a critical branch of the law. 

Paternity

If the mother and father of a child are not married at the time of his or her birth, the father must be designated through the establishment of paternity. Any children who are born to a married couple are presumed by the State of Illinois to be the husband’s. If this isn’t the case, however, one of the following is required to determine a child’s paternity:

• Both the mother and the father agree on the issue of paternity and attest to this agreement in a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP). 
• The court establishes paternity
• The court orders DNA testing to establish paternity

Establishing paternity can benefit the mother, father, and child involved in a number of important ways, including:

• The father and child have the opportunity to build a strong, loving relationship.
• The child’s health history is more complete.
• The child is eligible to inherit according to Illinois laws.
• The child is afforded the advantage of being financially supported by both parents.
• The mother benefits from the father’s financial contributions and the break afforded by the father’s parenting time. 
• The child can benefit from advantages such as health care coverage through the father’s employment and benefits related to the father’s social security or military service.

When a child’s father is recognized by the law, the benefits can be profound. 

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Family Law Lawyer Near You

The accomplished family law lawyers at SAM LAW OFFICE, LLC, take great pride in their impressive track record of guiding cases like yours toward advantageous outcomes that support our client’s financial and parental rights. Your case is important, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information today.