Chicago Family Law Attorneys
Family law covers a wide range of issues pertaining to families, including marriage, paternity, custody, domestic partnership, children, adoption, and divorce. Most families share strong emotional ties, for good or ill. At Nottage and Ward, our Chicago family lawyers address the specific legal needs of our clients in the context of the family while remaining aware of the client’s emotional investment in the family and the situation.
Some common issues that family law addresses include:
Marriage or partnership. Consulting with an Illinois family lawyer with experience creating pre-nuptial agreements from our firm can help you and your partner settle sensitive questions regarding property, business ownership, and child care and custody before you tie the knot. If you are in a domestic partnership, a domestic partnership agreement can help you and your partner prepare for possible emergencies and protect one another, as well as any children you have or plan to have.
Child care, custody, and adoption. Protecting and raising children is a paramount responsibility in many marriages and partnerships. Working out who will be responsible for child care and custody is a significant issue for many couples, who will discuss these issues in a divorce. Many families turn to adoption, either to complete their families, to protect a partner’s children, or to provide for another adult or a family member’s children in case of tragedy. Illinois provides many adoption avenues for families.
Divorce. Divorce involves more than ending a relationship. It is also a process of splitting up assets in an equitable manner, much like a business transaction. Couples facing divorce greatly benefit from the experience of qualified family law attorneys, who can help a divorcing spouse focus on the facts and ensure the spouse’s needs will be met even after the divorce is final.
Support issues. After a divorce, a spouse may be left with no means of supporting him or herself. Even after divorce, Illinois expects both of a child’s parents to contribute to the child’s care. Illinois family law provides guidelines for spouses, attorneys and courts to determine what types of support or maintenance are appropriate for each situation and to enforce support that is ordered by the court.
Since a marriage involves the mingling of two people’s assets and often the purchase of shared assets as well, the financial, legal and business aspects of marriage often require the assistance of experienced professionals. The skilled Nottage and Ward Illinois family law attorneys can advise you on the laws, rules and procedures applicable to your particular family law issue, as well as the options available. We will also work with the professionals necessary to help you, your partner, or your children.
The experienced family law lawyers at Nottage and Ward have spent over twenty years developing sound knowledge and practical skills in the practice of Illinois family law. We can help you make sense of your situation, inform you of your rights, and provide options that protect you and your family at all stages of life. If you believe our experience can help you, interview us. Call Nottage and Ward to schedule an initial consultation.
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