Chicago Area Family Law Services for Every Family
Family law is as intricate and varied as today’s families. If you find yourself in a situation that requires family legal advice and counsel, you need attorneys experienced with every aspect of family law and with all kinds of families. At the start of a relationship, we can assist you with prenuptial agreements, as well as considerations that affect couples who chose not to (or are unable to) marry but still wish to protect and provide for their family. If you find yourself at the end of a relationship, whether you are married, in a civil union/domestic partnership, or otherwise, we can walk you through all of your options and help resolve the issue effectively and compassionately.
As this is a complex area of law, you need attorneys who can be attentive to your needs, are able to help you understand your rights and obligations, and will tenaciously pursue the best possible outcome. KSN attorneys can help any couple with:
- Pre- and postnuptial agreements
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Legal Separation
- Orders of Protection
- Custody
- Adoptions
- Visitation
- Guardianships
- Child Support
- Grandparent Rights
- Spousal Maintenance
- Tax Issues Upon Divorce
- Post-Divorce Matters
- Enforcement of Orders
- Complex Family Law Litigation
Divorce
Whether contested or uncontested, a successful divorce calls for attorneys who are both caring and aggressive. Divorce can be a difficult time, and emotions can make the necessary “business” decisions more complicated. If children are involved, we will fully examine the various custody, visitation, and support issues and help you achieve what is best for your children. We can also advise you to mediation and other alternatives to resolve disputes that may arise. At Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, our family law attorneys focus on achieving a divorce with dignity.
Civil Unions
The Illinois Civil Union Act became effective on June 1, 2011. The Act establishes legal relationships between two people (either same-sex or different-sex partners), providing all of the legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits that the laws of the State of Illinois grant to legally married couples. However, there remain issues specific to LGBT and other non-traditional couples that require the counsel of concerned and experienced family law attorneys. First and foremost, we can help you understand how the Civil Union Act affects you, and what you need to do to be afforded the protections it offers. If you decide a civil union is not right for you, but you still want to make sure your needs and those of your family can be met, we can discuss other options with you, including domestic partnerships and powers of attorney. Our attorneys can also help you with estate planning, which is important in a civil union to protect the rights of your partner and to ensure your wishes are followed. If you are in a non-married relationship that has ended, we can handle the many issues that can arise and that require the additional experience of a law firm sensitive to the needs of the LGBT community, including division of assets and real estate and support. We assist all our clients in evaluating their unique situation and preparing the right legal documents.
Please complete the form to the left or call our office for prompt assistance with your family law needs.
