Rolling Meadows Family Law Attorney

Family law is an important area of the law that addresses not only the terms of divorce and parenting concerns outside of divorce but also matters such as paternity, the rights of unmarried parents, and prenuptial agreements. When your family is concerned, the matter is serious, and having an experienced Rolling Meadows family law attorney on your side can help considerably.  

The Terms of Divorce

Family law often addresses divorce, officially known as the dissolution of marriage. Factors involved in a typical divorce include: 

• The division of marital property (complicating factors include high assets, business ownership, entangled separate and marital assets, and more)
• Child custody arrangements, called parental responsibilities and parenting time in Illinois
• Child support
• Alimony or spousal support

Each of these, other than spousal support, can also be addressed outside of divorce in the form of post-decree modifications. However, modifications can only be made under certain circumstances. This is why it’s important to work with a knowledgeable Rolling Meadows family law attorney to craft a divorce agreement that meets your needs.

Prenuptial Agreements

Prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements are legal contracts that help guide financial matters, such as the division of marital property and alimony (called spousal maintenance in the State of Illinois), in the event the marriage ends in divorce. Prenuptial agreements can help to streamline the divorce process and can help reduce the level of contention involved, and while they can provide married couples with considerable peace of mind, they are not – contrary to popular belief – a stain on the marriage itself. 

Paternity and Unmarried Parents’ Rights

Parents who were never married also turn to family law to address parenting time and child support concerns. Paternity determines who a child’s father is, and in Illinois, paternity must be established if the parents are not married at the time of the child’s birth. If both parents are not in agreement on the matter – and, therefore, refuse to establish paternity via official documentation with the court – the court can require a paternity test (DNA test).  Establishing who a child’s father is can benefit everyone involved in all the following ways: 

• Providing the child with additional financial support
• Allowing both the father and child to form a bond and grow a deep parent/child relationship
• Allowing the mother to share the considerable responsibilities faced by a single parent
• Allowing the child to benefit in terms of inheritance laws, in terms of health insurance coverage through the father’s employment, and social security and veterans benefits

An Experienced Rolling Meadows Family Law Attorney is Standing by to Help

If your family is facing a legal concern, an accomplished Rolling Meadows family law attorney at Andrea Heckman Law understands how important the matter is to you, and our team is well prepared to help. We take great pride in our stellar track record of guiding cases like yours toward beneficial resolutions that uphold our client’s rights and best interests. We are on your side and here to help, so please don’t delay reaching out and contacting us for more information today.