Family law addresses legal matters involved with divorce – and much more. Because family law concerns families, it’s a primary and challenging area of the law. If you are facing a family law issue, don’t delay reaching out to an experienced family law lawyer in Palatine.
While family law is a broad area of the law, some primary family law matters include:
Parenting issues in the State of Illinois involve parenting time and parental responsibilities. Parenting time determines when the children are with you and when they are with their other parent. If one parent is awarded the majority of overnights, he or she becomes the primary custodial parent. Otherwise, your children will split their overnights between both of you more equally. If you’re able to devise a schedule that works for both of you, the court will very likely OK it. If not, however, you can expect one of the court’s standard parenting time schedules.Â
Parental responsibilities involve how you and your children’s other parent make major parenting decisions – such as those related to your children’s schooling, their health care needs, their extracurricular activities, and their religious education. One of you may be assigned the sole responsibility, or you may be required to reach a consensus together. Additionally, one of you may be given tie-breaking authority, or the responsibility may be split between the two of you according to the kind of decision that is being made.
Those assets that you come to own while you are married are considered marital property, and upon divorce, they must be divided in a manner that is considered fair – given the wide range of circumstances involved. While those properties that belonged to either of you prior to marriage are considered separate property, their separate nature can be lost if they become entangled with your marital assets over the course of your marriage (which is exceptionally common).Â
State calculation guidelines determine who will pay child support – and how much. Child support is intended to balance the financial responsibility for your children’s support between both of you, and the higher earner between you will likely have the child support obligation.Â
Alimony is a factor only in those divorces in which one spouse is left unable to support himself or herself financially and in which the other spouse has the financial ability to help. This is often a contentious issue in a divorce and one that might often go to trial.
The compassionate family law lawyers at SAM LAW OFFICE, LLC – proudly serving Palatine, Illinois, recognize the importance of your legal concern and are committed to skillfully advocating for your rights – and for your case’s favorable resolution. To learn more, please don’t wait to contact us today.