Family Law Issues

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

Buffalo Grove Law Offices concentrates its practice in the area of family law. Family law cases include concerns about divorce, separation, paternity, adoption, child custody, child support, college, division of property and debt, family violence and more.We handle family law cases, as well as cases related to the family law setting. These may include real estate closings, short sales, wills, Powers of Attorney for Health Care, Powers of Attorney for Property, and other matters that arise in the context of a family law case. The fact that we concentrate in the family law area gives us the ability to concentrate on issues that arise in the family law area, including case law, prior and new statutes that can affect your case.

Other Areas of Family Law That We Handle

  • Minor emancipation: We can assist in the emancipation of a minor matter, whether we represent the teenager or the parents. Sometimes, it is in the best interest of the minor child and the family that the minor child is emancipated. Sometimes, it is not.

  • Grandparents Rights: We also handle situations regarding grandparent’s rights and responsibilities. These situations are often custody, guardianship, and grandparent adoption.

  • Stepparent Rights: When a parent marries or remarries after the birth of a biological child, the stepparent wants to adopt the child. Stepparent adoptions help to create a stronger family unit. We assist in this type of situation.

  • Guardianships and conservatorships: When someone can no longer care for themselves, someone else needs to step in to be their guardian or conservator. We can assist in this type of situation.

  • Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements: People sometimes need to make critical decisions about the effect of the relationship on assets owned before the marriage, and other issues before they marry. Prenuptial agreements are drafted before a marriage, and postnuptial agreements are drafted during the marriage, when circumstances warrant. Both types of agreements may be contrary to the state of the law, as far as a later dissolution of the relationship is concerned. It is critical for you to know what you can and cannot agree to, and what needs to be included in such an agreement.

Name Change

In a divorce proceeding, you can simply include language that you are entitled to change your name, in order for you to be able to do so. If you do not include this in your divorce decree, you still need an order of the court in order for you to change your name. The court clerk can provide you with documents to begin the name change process, either for yourself or your children. Sometimes a person will not get a name change during the divorce, although they may want to, because they want to maintain the same name that the children have. The court, in a divorce, will allow you to change your own name, but the children will more than likely need to maintain the last name of the other parent. It may be different in different situations, but this is what you can expect.

You need to know that Illinois law requires you to notify the Secretary of State within 10 days if you change your name. You must get a new driver’s license or ID card, vehicle title, and registration documents that show the name change. You will need to bring your current driver’s license (or ID card), and certified documents that show your name change. These documents may include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other court order that shows your old name and your new name.

Contact An Arlington Heights Family Law Attorney

Call our Arlington Heights, Illinois office at (847) 772-8579or contact us online to discuss your questions, concerns and options in an affordable initial consultation.

CIVIL UNION PARTNERS HAVE RIGHTS OF THEIR PARTNER’S MINOR CHILDREN AS STEP PARENTS.

By Buffalo Grove Law Offices | July 18, 2021 | Comments Off on CIVIL UNION PARTNERS HAVE RIGHTS OF THEIR PARTNER’S MINOR CHILDREN AS STEP PARENTS.

The child’s father died. His ex-wife refused to let father’s civil union partner see the child any longer. Father’s civil union partner filed a petition for visitation and allocation of parental responsibilities as the child’s step-parent. The Trial Court and the Appellate Court denied relief to the civil partner. The civil partner appealed to the…

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YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A DATING RELATIONSHIP IS?

By Buffalo Grove Law Offices | July 18, 2021 | Comments Off on YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A DATING RELATIONSHIP IS?

Following a jury trial, defendant was found guilty of domestic battery.  He was sentenced to 2½ years’ imprisonment.  He appealed. He argues contends that he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.   He claims that the State failed to present sufficient evidence that he was in a “dating relationship” with the victim. A rational…

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FATHER PROPERLY PREVENTED FROM HAVING CONTACT WITH HIS CHILD

By Buffalo Grove Law Offices | July 18, 2021 | Comments Off on FATHER PROPERLY PREVENTED FROM HAVING CONTACT WITH HIS CHILD

Father filed a complaint to determine parentage in the trial court.  He was initially granted supervised parenting time.   Later, the court entered a parenting order that reserved parenting time for father.  This was because of his incarceration at that time. The Trial Court entered a preliminary injunction.  The father was stopped from any contact or…

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FATHER NEEDS TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE DEGREE OF INTEREST IN HIS CHILD

By Buffalo Grove Law Offices | July 20, 2021 | Comments Off on FATHER NEEDS TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE DEGREE OF INTEREST IN HIS CHILD

The trial court entered an order terminating father’s parental rights as to his minor daughter.  She was then five years old.   The court granted mother’s and another man’s petition to adopt the child. The court found father an unfit parent.  On the basis that he failed to maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern, or…

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THE DOWNSIDE OF USING A PREPRINTED FORM

By Buffalo Grove Law Offices | July 20, 2021 | Comments Off on THE DOWNSIDE OF USING A PREPRINTED FORM

THE DOWN SIDE OF USING A PREPRINTED FORM The Trial Court entered a two year plenary order of protection.  The male Respondent was ordered to stay 500 feet away from his ex-spouse and her 4 minor children for 1 year.   The Respondent appealed.  He argued that the circuit court erred in admitting into evidence…

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CAN YOU SUE A GUARDIAN AD LITEM?

By Buffalo Grove Law Offices | July 20, 2021 | Comments Off on CAN YOU SUE A GUARDIAN AD LITEM?

An attorney was appointed as guardian ad litem (GAL) for a minor plaintiff.  There was a settlement for injuries she suffered in a motor vehicle accident.   The mother had been appointed by the court as the guardian of the minor’s estate. Eight years went by after the settlement.   The plaintiff minor sued her mother.   The…

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