Plainfield, IL Family Law Attorneys

Lawyers for Adoption, Paternity, Legal Separation, and More in Plainfield, IL

While family law cases will often address issues related to divorce and child custody, they can also involve other types of matters that may affect family members. People may need to take steps to establish parental rights, protect their assets before getting married, grow their families through adoption, or address a variety of other concerns. Understanding the legal procedures that will need to be followed when addressing these issues is not always easy, which is why legal representation from an experienced attorney can be crucial.

The team at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices provides legal help for clients as they address issues that may affect their families. We have years of experience handling these matters, and we know the best ways to resolve the disputes that may arise, make sure the proper legal requirements are met, and make sure our clients can achieve their goals. With our thorough knowledge of the applicable laws and our focus on compassionate representation, we can provide the representation needed from the beginning to the end of a case.

Taking Steps to Establish Paternity

There are a variety of situations in which a child may be born while their parents are not married to each other. Many couples choose to live together and have children without getting married, or pregnancies may occur when a couple is not in a long-term relationship. In these situations, the law will not automatically recognize a father as a child's parent. Even if there is no question about the identity of a child's biological father, steps will need to be taken to establish paternity.

There are multiple ways that paternity may be established. The easiest and most straightforward method is for both parents to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. This may be done at a hospital or at any time after a child is born.

In situations involving disputes about the identity of a child's father or where either parent is unwilling to acknowledge paternity, a petition to establish paternity can be filed in court. These cases will typically involve DNA testing, and a judge may issue an order of paternity once a genetic test confirms that an alleged father is a child's biological parent.

Until paternity is legally established, courts will be unable to address issues related to child custody or establish child support orders. A father who has been recognized as a legal parent will have the right to request reasonable parenting time, and he will typically be required to pay ongoing support to help cover the costs of raising his child. Paternity will also establish inheritance rights, and it will ensure that a child can receive health insurance coverage and access other types of benefits.

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Legal Separation

When a couple experiences marital difficulties but does not want to end their marriage, they may decide to legally separate rather than getting a divorce. A legal separation will address many of the same issues as a divorce, but it will not legally dissolve a couple's marriage. A couple can create a separation agreement that may include decisions about property division, child custody, and/or spousal maintenance.

Couples may choose legal separation for religious or personal reasons, or they may wish to remain married so that one spouse can stay on the other's health insurance plan. A legal separation may serve as a trial period as a couple decides whether to get a divorce. Before either spouse can get married to another partner in the future, they will need to complete the process of dissolving their marriage through divorce.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

In some cases, couples may want to make decisions ahead of time about how certain types of issues will be handled in a possible divorce. Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements can help couples avoid potential disputes while making sure they understand how financial issues will be handled during a marriage. A couple can create a prenuptial agreement before getting married, or a postnuptial agreement can be created at any time during a couple's marriage.

These agreements can address financial concerns, including how property will be divided, whether spousal maintenance will be paid, and how debts will be handled. They may be used to protect certain assets, such as the property a person owned before they got married or a business that is primarily operated by one spouse. Our lawyers can work with clients to draft prenups or postnups that will meet their needs while making sure these agreements will be legally enforceable.

Addressing Domestic Violence in Family Law Cases

Some family law matters may involve concerns about domestic violence that has occurred or is likely to occur. A person who has been abused by their spouse or another member of their family or household can take steps to receive protection. Even if abuse has not occurred, a person can take action to protect themselves, their children, or another family member against domestic violence that is likely to occur.

A person can file a petition in family court, asking for a judge to put an order of protection in place. This type of court order may require a person who has been accused of abuse to stay away from the petitioner or other family members. The person may be required to move out of a family's home, and they may be restricted from contacting their family members. Other issues can also be addressed by an order of protection, including temporary arrangements for child custody or child support or the requirement to participate in counseling.

Our attorneys can provide representation for clients on both sides of these proceedings. For those who need to escape abusive situations and prevent themselves and their families from suffering harm, we can help gather evidence and make sure a petition is filed correctly. For those who have been accused of domestic violence, we can provide representation during order of protection hearings and argue against unnecessary restrictions. We will also help our clients resolve the family law issues that may be involved in a case, including providing representation in divorce and child custody proceedings.

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Contact Our Plainfield, Illinois Family Law Attorneys

The decisions made in family law cases can have a lasting impact on a family while affecting the finances of the parties involved and determining how family relationships may be handled in the future. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, our attorneys can help clients determine the best approach to take in these proceedings, and we will work to protect their rights and help them achieve their goals. Contact our Plainfield family law firm at 630-932-9100 to set up a free consultation.