Carol Stream Family Law Attorneys

Lawyers Assisting With Issues Affecting Parents, Children, and Other Family Members in Carol Stream, IL

There are a variety of situations where legal proceedings may affect family relationships. Matters addressed in family court will often involve child custody and related issues, including situations where fathers need to protect their parental rights, the legal parentage of a child is established, or families take steps to provide for children's needs. The specific issues addressed in a case will depend on a family's circumstances, but regardless of the situation, legal representation from a skilled lawyer can help ensure that matters will be handled correctly.

At A. Traub & Associates, our attorneys provide legal help across a wide range of family law matters. We take the time to understand each family's unique circumstances, ensuring that we can provide the guidance needed to resolve legal issues successfully. We have decades of experience representing clients in family courts in DuPage County, and we can provide the compassionate representation needed to protect the interests of our clients, their children, and other family members.

Fathers' Rights

Fathers who are involved in family law cases may be concerned about whether they will be able to maintain close relationships with their children and play continuing roles in their lives. Illinois law does not give either parent preference when decisions are made about child custody, and family court judges will focus on protecting children's best interests. When a father is looking to secure meaningful parenting time and make sure he will be able to participate in decisions affecting his children, he will need to take steps to demonstrate that he can provide for children's best interests.

Our lawyers can help fathers take steps to protect their rights. We work with clients to show that they are actively involved in their children's lives by attending school events and medical appointments, maintaining consistent contact with children, and playing an ongoing role in child-rearing. We can help fathers document their parenting activities and present strong cases for child custody arrangements that will meet their needs.

The Role of Paternity in Family Law Cases

When paternity is established, this will legally recognize a man as a child's father. This recognition matters, because it forms the basis for many other rights and responsibilities, including parenting time, decision-making authority, and child support.

While a mother's husband is typically presumed to be a child's legal father, there is usually no presumption of paternity in cases where parents are unmarried. In these cases, steps will need to be taken to recognize a father as a child's legal parent. Paternity can be established through a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form that both parents sign. However, if there are questions about paternity, or if either parent is unwilling to voluntarily acknowledge paternity, a petition may need to be filed in court to establish paternity. This process will typically involve genetic testing to confirm that a man is a child's biological father.

After paternity is established, parents can take steps to address issues related to child custody and create a parenting plan that will detail how decision-making responsibility and parenting time will be handled. Paternity can also provide a child with inheritance rights and access to benefits such as health insurance or Social Security. Our attorneys can help parents understand what steps may be taken to establish paternity, and we will work to resolve any related issues, including putting child custody and child support orders in place.

Guardianship of Minor Children

In a situation where a child's parents are unable to care for the child because of issues such as illness, substance abuse, military deployment, or incarceration, guardianship may need to be established to ensure that another person can provide care for the child. Both parents may consent to the appointment of a guardian, or a court may take steps to establish guardianship in a situation where parents are unfit or have abandoned a child.

Multiple types of guardianship may be addressed by courts, including:

• Guardianship of the Person: This type of guardianship will give a guardian the authority to address concerns related to a child's daily life, education, and medical care.
• Guardianship of the Estate: This type of guardianship may be put in place when a child has inherited property or financial assets and will require assistance with managing financial matters. A guardian may handle assets on behalf of a child, use them to provide for a child's needs, and make sure the child will be able to assume control of their finances once they reach adulthood.
• Temporary Guardianship: In situations such as an unexpected medical crisis affecting a parent, a guardian may be named on a temporary basis to ensure that a child's needs will be met.

Guardianship will not permanently terminate the legal rights of a child's parents. A guardian may be named to address specific needs or provide care and supervision for a child during a specific period. When necessary, a parent may file a petition to end a guardianship arrangement once they are able to resume care of their child. In all cases, courts will evaluate whether a guardianship will serve a child's best interests.

Contact Our Carol Stream, Illinois Family Law Attorneys

When legal issues are addressed in family courts, these cases can affect important relationships between parents, children, or other family members. Dealing with these issues can seem overwhelming, especially for those who are unfamiliar with legal procedures and who are concerned about how to maintain relationships with their loved ones. At A. Traub & Associates, our lawyers can provide the legal help clients need in these situations. We can work with fathers to protect their rights, make sure paternity is established correctly, provide guidance on how issues related to guardianship may be handled, assist with adoptions, and address other concerns that may affect families.

To learn more about how we can assist with matters that may affect families, contact our Carol Stream family law attorneys at 630-426-0196. We are ready to provide the compassionate legal support you need to resolve issues that may affect the custody of your children, the financial support you pay or receive, and your ability to maintain stability for your family.