Rolling Meadows, Illinois Family Law Attorneys

Lawyers for Child Custody, Paternity, Domestic Violence, and More in Rolling Meadows

The legal matters that may be addressed in family courts will often involve personal issues that can affect the relationships between parents, children, and other family members. These cases often involve complex emotions and disputed issues, which can make legal issues more difficult to resolve. Understanding the right approach to take is not always easy, but legal help from a skilled lawyer can help ensure that a person will be able to protect their rights and resolve issues successfully.

The lawyers at Cosley Law Office work with clients in Rolling Meadows and the surrounding areas to address multiple types of family law matters. We advise clients on the procedures that will be followed during a case and the steps they can take to address legal concerns and resolve disputes. Our goal is to find solutions that will provide for the needs of children, parents, and other family members going forward. With our experience in family law and our knowledge of local courts and judges, we can help our clients complete their cases successfully.

Paternity

In some family law cases, steps may need to be taken to establish paternity for a child before addressing issues related to child custody or putting child support orders in place. Paternity may need to be established in situations where parents were not married when a child was born. Until the proper steps are taken to recognize a father as a child's legal parent, he will have no parental rights and no responsibilities toward the child.

In many cases, the easiest way to establish paternity is to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form. This may be the best option if parents agree that a man is a child's father. However, if there are disagreements about paternity, a petition to establish paternity may be filed in court, and a judge will most likely order DNA testing to confirm the biological relationship between a father and child. After a father is recognized as a child's legal parent, the parents may take steps to put a child custody agreement in place, and the father may be ordered to pay child support.

Fathers' Rights

In some cases, fathers may face challenges as they try to maintain relationships with their children and protect their parental rights. In addition to establishing paternity, fathers may work to put agreements in place that will allow them to participate in making decisions about how children will be raised, as well as parenting time schedules that will provide them with reasonable amounts of time with their children.

When addressing child-related issues, courts will focus the best interests of children. Our attorneys can help clients protect their fathers' rights, and we will advocate for solutions that will allow them to maintain involvement in their children's lives.

Grandparents' Rights

Illinois law presumes that parents have the right to make decisions related to their children, including deciding when children can see or spend time with grandparents or other family members. There are some situations where grandparents may petition for visitation time with grandchildren, ensuring that they can maintain important family relationships. Our lawyers work with clients to address issues related to grandparents' rights, show that a continuing relationship with grandparents is in children's best interests, and establish visitation agreements that will allow for positive, ongoing family relationships.

Legal Separation

In cases where a couple does not want to terminate their marriage through divorce, they may choose legal separation instead. A couple may establish an agreement that will detail how certain issues will be handled while they are separated, including child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, and property division.

Unlike divorce, a legal separation will not dissolve the legal relationship between spouses, and they will remain legally married. Our attorneys can help clients determine whether legal separation may be the best option for their situation, and we can help create separation agreements that will address financial issues, parenting matters, and other matters related to a separation.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

A couple may take steps to establish an agreement that will detail how financial issues will be handled during their marriage and in the event of a divorce. A prenuptial agreement will be created before a couple gets married, while a postnuptial agreement can be created at any time during a couple's marriage. Our lawyers work with clients to create marital agreements that will protect their assets and financial interests while helping to avoid uncertainty about what may happen in the event of a divorce.

Domestic Violence

When violence or abuse occurs within a family, a person may need to take steps to protect themselves, their children, or other family members. A victim of domestic violence may file a petition for an order of protection, which can help prevent abuse from occurring in the future, place limits on when a person may contact or go near their family members, address issues related to child custody, require a person to pay financial support, and put other measures in place that will help protect against harm.

Our attorneys can help clients request orders of protection and address related family law issues. We also work with clients who are facing accusations of domestic violence, providing representation during order of protection hearings and advocating for solutions that will minimize disruptions to a family.

DCFS Hearings

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, commonly known as DCFS, may investigate reports of child abuse or neglect. When a report is made, investigators may contact parents or other family members, visit a family's home, interview children or other parties, or take steps to remove children from parents' custody. Our lawyers can provide representation in DCFS hearings and investigations, helping parents address allegations of abuse or neglect and working to resolve cases while avoiding disruption to a family's daily life.

Contact Our Rolling Meadows, IL Family Law Attorneys

At Cosley Law Office, we can provide the representation needed to address family law issues successfully. We will advise clients of their rights, make sure they understand their options, and provide representation during legal proceedings. Our goal is to find solutions that will protect important relationships so that a family can move forward into the future. Contact our Rolling Meadows family law firm at 847-253-3100 to schedule a free consultation.