Family Law & Divorce
Divorce and family law matters can be emotionally challenging and legally complex. At Scannell & Associates, we help clients throughout Illinois protect their families, their finances, and their futures. Whether your case involves divorce, child custody, or adoption, our goal is to guide you toward a fair and efficient resolution.
đź“žCall (773) 233-2100 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with an experienced family law attorney.
Divorce in Illinois
Divorce, or the dissolution of marriage, legally ends a marital relationship. Illinois law governs related issues such as property division, child support, spousal maintenance, and parental responsibilities.
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Uncontested Divorce – When spouses agree on all major issues, an uncontested divorce offers a faster, more affordable way to end a marriage. We help draft and file all necessary documents to ensure the process runs smoothly.
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Contested Divorce – If you and your spouse cannot agree on key matters, our attorneys will vigorously represent your interests in court and work to achieve the best outcome for you and your children.
Legal Separation
Illinois recognizes legal separation. A person seeking a legal separation goes through the same process as a person seeking a divorce, in that the court will determine issues like property distribution, maintenance and child support. Legal separation might be the right option if you have religious objections to a divorce, or in some cases to save eligibility for your spouse's health insurance or pension benefits. A person who has been adjudged to be legally separated will be treated in many ways as though they are divorced, but the person would not be able to remarry legally. Talk to our experienced attorneys about this option.
Parental Responsibilities & Parenting Time
Illinois law no longer uses the term “custody.” Instead, the court allocates parental responsibilities and parenting time (formerly “visitation”) based on the child's best interests. If you are attempting to protect your parental rights and secure the best interests of your children without the assistance of a divorce attorney, you may end up with a less than acceptable outcome of your case. Our attorneys ensure your parental rights are protected and your parenting plan reflects your child's needs.
Child Support
A child's welfare is the most important aspect of most parents' lives. When a divorce occurs, their well-being can be greatly affected through economic changes in lifestyle. When confronting the issue of child support, having a skilled child support attorney is crucial to ensuring your children will have the financial support to maintain their quality of life. Illinois follows an income-shares model that considers both parents' incomes and parenting time. Whether you are seeking or paying support, we make sure your child support order is fair and accurate, and we can assist with modifications to older orders. Many people operate under the mistaken belief that if you equally share parenting time, that you will not be obligated to pay child support, which is not the law in Illinois. You may also be able to adjust the child support you were ordered to pay under the old formula, under certain circumstances. It is very important to talk to an experienced child support attorney to ensure your support obligation is fair and correct.
Property Division – Equitable Distribution of Assets
Most couples accumulate many things during their years of marriage. Whether you have been married a short time or a very long time, there will undoubtedly be a good deal of common property that belongs to both of you that will need to be divided between the two of you during your divorce. The distribution of your assets, property, and debts should be done according to your prenuptial agreement or by the laws of the State of Illinois if no such agreement exists. Illinois uses equitable distribution, meaning marital property is divided fairly, not necessarily equally. We help identify marital versus non-marital assets, enforce prenuptial agreements, and protect what is rightfully yours. You also may be able to protect any money or property that you owned prior to the marriage. It is very important to have an experienced attorney in your corner to protect your rights.
Maintenance
Maintenance awards depend on multiple factors, including income, earning potential, and length of marriage. We help clients pursue or defend against spousal maintenance claims to reach a just outcome. A Scannell & Associates attorney can help you understand this difficult area to ensure that your rights are protected.
Adoption
Adoption is one of the most rewarding yet complex legal processes. Our attorneys guide families through every step to ensure the adoption is completed legally and efficiently. Talk to a Scannell & Associates attorney to see if we can help you through this process.
Parentage Cases
If you are an unwed parent, establishing legal parentage is essential for securing rights and responsibilities. We assist both mothers and fathers in establishing paternity and resolving related child support or custody issues.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
If you are contemplating marriage but are concerned with what might happen to the assets that currently belong to you, we can help you craft an agreement that protects your assets in the event of a divorce. If you are already married, but now have a more complicated financial situation than when you were first married, we can help you with a post-nuptial agreement that will ensure that you are protected in case you get divorced.
Registration of Foreign Judgments
If you've relocated to Illinois with an existing divorce decree or custody order, we can register the judgment in Illinois courts so it can be enforced or modified locally.
đź“Ť Located in Evergreen Park, Illinois
đź“ž Call (773) 233-2100 to schedule a consultation.