Chicago Family Lawyer

Family Lawyer Assisting Clients in Chicago, Illinois

Going through a divorce or a contentious child custody case can be extremely demanding in terms of time and emotional energy. You should not have to face any family law issue on your own when an experienced Chicago family lawyer can help with your case. At Arami Law, we are dedicated to providing personalized representation to each of our clients and working tirelessly to achieve a favorable result in every case we take. Our attorneys are committed to serving as experienced advocates to clients throughout the Chicago area, and one of our lawyers can speak with you today about your family law matter.

Handling Family Law Cases in Chicago

At Arami Law, we regularly assist clients with numerous family law matters, including but not limited to the following:

• Getting divorced: Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), to be eligible for divorce, or the dissolution of marriage, a party only needs to show a requirement of “irreconcilable differences.” This is a “no fault” divorce petition, and it is the only way to dissolve your marriage in Chicago. Once you have lived separate and apart from your spouse for six months, there is a presumption that you have met that requirement.
• Alimony or spousal maintenance: Courts make decisions about whether spousal maintenance is appropriate in each case. In other words, there is no “one size fits all” formula for determining whether spousal maintenance should be awarded. Instead, the court looks at many different factors when it comes to this conclusion. When spousal maintenance is appropriate, if the married couple earns less than $250,000 collectively per year, the court has guidelines to follow for making a decision about the amount and duration of the payments.
• Property distribution: Illinois follows a theory of “equitable distribution” when it divides marital property. To clarify, the court will divide property in a way that is equitable to both of the parties, taking into account a number of different factors. Both marital assets and debts are subject to division, but separate property will not be divided.
• Allocation of parental responsibilities: Instead of award legal and physical custody, the IMDMA now sees the parent-child relationship as one in terms of “parental responsibilities” and “parenting time.” Parental responsibilities include the parent’s right to make important decisions about the child’s upbringing, as well as the parent’s right to provide caretaking functions for the child. When the court allocates parental responsibilities, this is called an “allocation judgment.” If parents can agree to certain parental responsibilities, they can develop a “parenting plan” instead of an allocation judgment.
• Child support: Illinois no longer bases the child support obligation on the noncustodial parent’s income. Instead, the state has started using the “income shares” model for child support. In this model, the court combines both parents’ incomes and uses that total amount to determine the support obligation for the child.
• Modifications: If you need to modify a parenting plan, a child support order, or another court order, our Chicago family lawyers can help.

We also assist clients with high asset divorce cases, grandparents’ rights issues, relocation, paternity, premarital agreements, and many other legal issues affecting the family.

Contact a Chicago Family Law Attorney

If you need assistance with your case, a family lawyer in Chicago can help. Contact Arami Law to discuss your options with an experienced advocate.