Crystal Lake Divorce & Family Law
You can count on Bruning & Associates, P.C. to advise you on the relevant topics, as divorce and family law is our core practice area. We are aggressive in protecting your interests, but we are also compassionate in dealing with sensitive subjects. Our team is well-versed in the laws, and we have extensive experience representing clients throughout McHenry County. Please contact us today to learn how we can help. You can schedule a free consultation with a Crystal Lake divorce and family law attorney for specifics, though a summary of our services is also useful.
Skilled Legal Services in All Types of Family Law and Divorce Cases
Our lawyers at Bruning & Associates, P.C. deliver quality, comprehensive services with the most common legal issues impacting Illinois families, including:
Divorce
The divorce process focuses on separating the legal and financial interests that previously tied the spouses together through marriage. While every case is different, most parties will need to address:
- Property and Asset Division: Illinois law requires an equitable distribution of all real estate and personal property acquired by a couple during their marriage. After classifying marital assets from separate property, items are divided by the parties according to the interests of fairness.
- Maintenance, Alimony, and Spousal Support: In some cases, a lower-earning spouse may be entitled to alimony to balance financial inequities during divorce proceedings and after the case concludes. There are different types of spousal support, and an array of factors impact the amount and duration.
- High Net Worth Matters: Equitable distribution rules still apply, but there can be significant complexities for couples who have accumulated significant assets during their marriage.
Addressing Needs of Minor Children
Parents have rights and duties with respect to minor children, so these issues come up in both divorce and paternity proceedings.
- Child Custody: Illinois uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities to refer to child custody, but the concepts are similar. The laws prefer co-parenting where parents share in the important decision-making on raising the child. For convenience purposes, the child will usually reside with one parent.
- Visitation: The updated term for this concept is parenting time, which the non-residential parent has the right to exercise.
- Child Support: The nonresidential parent will also typically carry the child support obligation, and Illinois uses the income shares model for determining the amount. Statutory guidelines apply to ensure the child is covered for basic necessities, education, health care, extracurricular activities, and other essentials. In some cases, it may be appropriate to deviate from the statutory guidelines to increase or decrease the amount.
Domestic Violence
Assault is a crime in Illinois, but the laws also provide additional remedies to protect the safety of victims in domestic violence situations. It is possible to get an order of protection to cease attacks and threats, even on an emergency basis when appropriate. Our attorneys can also help with stalking cases and no-contact orders.
Other Areas of Representation in Divorce and Family Law
You can also count on our team to help navigate such matters as:
- Modifications and enforcement of family court orders
- LGBTQ rights, which are protected by law but still carry the same complexities when it comes to divorce and issues related to minor children
- Guardianships for minors and disabled adults
- Adoptions
- Paternity
- Prenuptial agreements
- Grandparents’ rights
- Many more
Guidance with Legal Options for Divorce and Family Law
Settlement Agreements
Illinois family laws encourage parties to agree on alimony and property division, and the court is not likely to disturb an arrangement that is not manifestly unfair. Therefore, you can agree on classifying marital assets and how to divide them; parties can also compromise on the type, amount, and duration of spousal support.
It is also possible to work out an agreement on the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, but there are some limitations. Courts require child custody and visitation arrangements to serve the child’s best interests, so the judge will review the relevant statutory factors before approving a parenting plan.
Mediation
While it might seem that compromise is impossible, parties often benefit from going through family law mediation to close the gap. The process involves sitting down with a trained mediator who works to facilitate productive conversations and help the parties see each other’s viewpoints.
Family Law Litigation
When parties cannot resolve disputes out of court, it will be necessary to participate in a contested hearing and have the judge decide. The proceeding is similar to a trial, and Bruning & Associates, P.C. will support your interests throughout the process. We will collect evidence, advise you on the laws, and develop a solid strategy. Our experience in courtrooms has enabled us to perfect trial advocacy skills, which we leverage to achieve your objectives
Get Legal Help from Our Crystal Lake Family Law and Divorce Lawyers
For more information on our services, please contact the Crystal Lake Family Law and Divorce Lawyers at Bruning & Associates, P.C. to schedule a no-cost consultation with a member of our team. We have several offices conveniently located near you in Chicago, Schaumburg, and Crystal Lake, Illinois. Once we assess your circumstances and understand your objectives, we can get started on a strategy for protecting your interests.
