Wheaton Family Law Attorneys

Lawyers for Paternity, Fathers' Rights, Adoption, and Other Family Law Issues in Wheaton, IL

There are a variety of concerns that may be addressed in family law cases, and these matters can often be highly personal and emotionally charged. Parents may encounter concerns related to their children, families may need to take the right steps when adopting a child, or other legal and financial concerns may need to be addressed. Because the matters addressed within this area of the law can have a profound and lasting impact on everyone involved, the guidance of a dedicated family law attorney can be a crucial element of a successful case.

At A. Traub & Associates, our family law attorneys provide legal representation for clients in Wheaton, helping to address a wide range of matters that may affect their families. We advise clients on the best ways they can protect their rights, and we work to find solutions that will serve the best interests of children and families. We can help manage the necessary documentation, court procedures, and negotiations while making sure our clients take the right steps to resolve sensitive family matters.

Protecting Fathers' Rights and Establishing Paternity

In Illinois, fathers have the same legal rights and responsibilities as mothers in family law cases. Our lawyers work to protect fathers' rights by addressing disputes related to their children and making sure they will be able to serve in parental roles and meet their children's needs. In some cases, parental rights may need to be legally established before ongoing child custody arrangements can be put in place. Our family law attorneys work with fathers to secure and exercise their parental rights by addressing matters such as:

• Paternity: When parents are not married at the time of a child's birth, paternity may need to be legally established before a father can assert his parental rights. We can work with parents to establish paternity by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP), or we can provide representation during court proceedings and ensure that DNA testing is performed correctly.
• Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time: After paternity is confirmed, a father can take steps to ensure that he will be able to play a continuing role in his child's life. Our lawyers can advocate for a fair parenting plan that will allow a father to share in decision-making responsibilities and have regular parenting time with his child.
• Child Support Considerations: Legal paternity also establishes obligations that will apply to a father, including the duty to contribute financially to the child's upbringing. Our attorneys can help ensure that child support will be calculated fairly based on Illinois guidelines.

Adoption Services

Adoption provides families with a path to welcome a child into their home. Specific legal procedures must be carefully followed in these cases to ensure that the parental rights of a child's biological parents will be properly terminated and that parental rights will be established for adoptive parents. Our family law attorneys can guide families through the legal steps in the adoption process while addressing any complications that may arise. We can assist with different types of adoption cases, including:

• Stepparent Adoptions: When a person wishes to adopt their spouse's child, the parental rights of the child's other parent must be terminated. A parent may agree to voluntarily relinquish their rights, or the court may terminate parental rights if that would serve the child's best interests. Our lawyers can help obtain the necessary consent for adoption of a stepchild while also helping a stepparent complete other legal requirements that may apply.
• Foster Care and DCFS Adoptions: Foster parents working with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) may have the opportunity to adopt children who are unable to be reunited with their biological parents. Our attorneys can assist with the administrative processes and court procedures that will be followed when helping families transition from foster care to permanent adoptions.
• Agency Adoptions: When parents are working with a private or licensed adoption agency to adopt a child, our lawyers will help ensure that all regulatory requirements are met and that adoptive parents fully understand their rights and responsibilities.
• Relative Adoptions: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives may adopt children in their extended families when biological parents are unable or unwilling to provide the necessary care. We can help ensure that these adoptions can be completed correctly while addressing any concerns about issues that could affect a child's best interests.

Adoption can be a legally complex process. During this process, our attorneys can assist with legal filings, background checks, home studies, consent issues, and court approvals to ensure that an adoption can be completed as efficiently as possible.

Surrogacy and Egg Donation Agreements

Assisted reproductive technology is a common factor in situations where parents are looking to grow their families. In situations where other parties may assist with this process, legal agreements will need to be established to safeguard the rights of all parties and address the expectations of everyone involved. Our lawyers can provide comprehensive support in matters involving:

• Surrogacy Agreements: When parents use a surrogate to conceive and bear a child, a legal agreement will need to be in place prior to any medical procedures. This agreement should outline the responsibilities, rights, and obligations of both the surrogate and the intended parents. Our attorneys will make sure agreements comply with statutory requirements and that parental rights will be established correctly after a child's birth.
• Egg Donation Contracts: Parents who receive egg donations to conceive will need to make sure the proper contracts are in place to clarify that the donor will not retain any parental rights and that the intended parents will be recognized as the child's legal parents. Our lawyers can ensure that these agreements include the proper medical, financial, and confidentiality terms.

Mediation in Family Law Disputes

In many cases, the parties involved in family law matters can benefit from using mediation to resolve disputes outside of court. Mediation can be especially valuable in:

• Parenting Plan Disputes: When parents are taking steps to establish custody arrangements, mediation can help them reach mutually agreeable terms while prioritizing their children's well-being.
• Financial Disputes: Mediation may be used to help resolve disagreements about child support, spousal maintenance, or the division of marital assets. By working together to address these issues, the parties can reach effective agreements that will be satisfactory for both parties.
• Adoption or Guardianship Conflicts: If disagreements arise among family members or between biological and adoptive parents, mediation may help them discuss these issues peacefully and find workable solutions.

Our attorneys can help prepare clients for mediation, making sure they understand their rights and advising them on how various issues may be addressed. We can review any proposed agreements before they are finalized. We also provide mediation services, serving as neutral mediators to help spouses, parents, or other family members resolve disputes.

Contact Our Wheaton, Illinois Family Law Attorneys

At A. Traub & Associates, our attorneys provide knowledgeable representation in family law cases that is grounded in compassion and focused on finding workable solutions. To learn how we can assist with your specific needs, contact our Wheaton adoption and paternity lawyers at 630-426-0196 to arrange a consultation.