Family Law Lawyers Naperville

Family law is about more than just divorce and the terms of divorce, although divorce is an important pillar of family law. Family law extends to addressing the terms of divorce after-the-fact in post-decree modifications, important matters such as prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and supporting children’s rights throughout family law cases by employing guardian ad litems (GALs). If you are facing a legal matter that affects your family, don’t put off reaching out to an experienced family law lawyer in Naperville. 

Divorce and the Terms of Divorce

Divorce is the dissolution of the marriage contract, and it is associated with considerable legal complications in terms of protecting the parties’ parental and financial rights. While no two divorces are ever identical, the divorce terms remain the same across the board, including (as applicable):

• Parental responsibilities and parenting time, which are always determined in accordance with the best interests of the involved children
• Child support, which is calculated according to careful state guidelines
• The division of marital property, which must be equitable (or fair given the unique specifics involved)
• Alimony (which is called spousal maintenance in Illinois)

Any one of these terms can become a complicated legal matter, and they can each (other than the division of marital property) be addressed in the context of divorce or in terms of a post-divorce modification. 

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Although prenuptial agreements make quite a stir in the media, they are nothing more than legal contracts that can guide specific divorce terms that involve financial matters, including the division of marital property and alimony, in the event of divorce. Prenuptial agreements are not a means of cheating the system but, instead, take a good deal of uncertainty out of the divorce process, which can help bolster the marriage itself. The difference between a prenuptial agreement and a postnuptial agreement is the point in time at which they are created. Prenuptial agreements are written prior to marriage and go into effect upon marriage, while postnuptial agreements are written and executed during the marriage. 

Protecting Children’s Rights

If the court determines that the best interests of the child or children involved in the family law dispute require legal representation of their own, a guardian ad litem may be appointed. GALs are often referred to as child representatives, and while many are family law attorneys, that is not the role they fill when they work as guardian ad litems. 

Reach Out to an Experienced Family Law Lawyer in Naperville Today

Whatever kind of family law concern you face, it is an important matter that deserves careful legal attention. The compassionate family law lawyers at SLG Family Law in Naperville are committed to employing the full scope of their impressive experience and legal insight in their focused efforts to champion your rights – in pursuit of your case’s best possible resolution. We are on your side and here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact us for more information today.