Experienced Chicago Divorce Lawyers Helping Clients Achieve Positive Outcomes

If you are planning to divorce, you should do everything possible to spare yourself the potential strife and conflict that many people encounter during this process. The same problems that have caused you to decide to end the marriage-animosity, disagreements, difficulty communicating-can easily be magnified by the pressure of a divorce. You should retain an attorney who can help you avoid the financial and emotional costs of a drawn-out contested divorce. You want someone representing you that is qualified and devoted to your betterment; that is what you gain at our firm.

Spousal Maintenance, Which is Also Known as Alimony

A divorce settlement may include some form of spousal maintenance or alimony. This is a payment that is given to one of the spouses that may be deemed a dependent by the court. The dependent spouse could have become reliant on the other while they remained at home with the kids or could have grown accustomed to a lifestyle. A couple may be able to come to a decision on the terms of their alimony or the court will make a ruling based on a number of factors.

Parental Responsibility Previously Known as Child Custody and Visitation

Divorces between parents can be especially difficult, and it is important to have an attorney to defend your position. Both parents usually feel very strongly about preserving their relationship with the children, but it is vital to shield them from the negative emotional impact of a drawn-out legal conflict. The court will rule in favor of a plan that serves the best interests of the children.  Child “custody” is now a determination of allocating parenting time and decision-making.

Child Support

Parents are obligated to provide financial support for their minor children, oftentimes in the form of child support and/or contribution to child-related expenses.  WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, works closely with clients at the onset of their case to obtain the full financial disclosure of both parties to be able to properly and accurately calculate child support under the guidelines provided by Illinois law.

Contempt Issues

If your former spouse is refusing to comply with a court order, you can take legal action to enforce your rights. This is also true when the other parent is violating the custody or visitation agreement. If you bring the matter to a judge, the other party could be held in contempt of court and penalized.

Domestic Violence

If you are the victim of domestic violence, you can get compassionate support at our firm. We may be able to assist you with seeking a protective order from the court in conjunction with the filing a petition for dissolution of marriage.

Equitable Distribution

State divorce law seeks to divide marital property fairly, rather than evenly. Because there may be a large disparity of income between you and your former spouse, as well as a substantial difference in individually owned assets and cost of living, the court may assign more of the marital property to one party than the other. You can influence the outcome by retaining an effective lawyer.

Family Law

Family relationships are of vital importance in our society, and the legal system takes a strong interest in protecting the stability of families in the community. Having a family lawyer to advise you and provide representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of any type of dispute.

Fathers’ Rights

The term “fathers’ rights” refers to the innate rights that every father has to develop and maintain a relationship with his children.

Mediation

Divorcing couples who are capable of constructive and respectful communication will often benefit from retaining an attorney who is trained in mediation to help them resolve any outstanding issues. A mediator will not represent either person but will act as a third party, neutral in every discussion.

Modifications

You can petition the court to modify your final decree of divorce or other court order when some aspect of the settlement is no longer workable for you. Whether you need to increase or decrease the amount of alimony or child support, or if you are seeking to alter the custody agreement, you should seek the counsel of a lawyer who can help you make your request successful.

Parental Relocation

The parent who has primary custody of the children cannot usually move a great distance or out of state without approval from the other parent or a court order. If you need to move for work, to be closer to family, or for any other reason, the court will have to grant permission to do so. The non-custodial parent can attempt to block the move if it is not in the children’s best interests.

Premarital / Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Some couples are afraid to discuss prenuptial agreements because they involve the possibility of divorce. Divorce is a reality, but establishing a premarital agreement does not necessitate a future separation. In fact, prenuptial agreements can be a growing experience for couples. Prenuptial agreements are designed to protect the financial assets of each spouse so that, in the event of a divorce, the couple will not have to deal with a complicated asset division dispute.

Property Division

Illinois is an equitable distribution state, seeking to divide marital property fairly, rather than evenly. Because there may be a large disparity of income between you and your former spouse, as well as a substantial difference in individually owned assets and cost of living, the court may assign more of the marital property to one party than the other. You can influence the outcome by retaining an effective lawyer.

Protective Orders

If you feel threatened by your spouse or former spouse, you can go to court and request that the judge issues a protective order. The other party will be prohibited by law from harassing or abusing you, and you will have the safety and peace of mind you deserve.

Uncontested Divorce

It is to your advantage to get an uncontested divorce if at all possible. In an uncontested divorce, both parties are in agreement about all the issues involved, including custody, division of property, and spousal support.

How to File

The first step to take when filing for divorce is to retain the services of a professional.  If your divorce is contested or uncontested there will be many important distinctions to be made and legal counsel is a key component in that process.