Divorce, adoption, child support and custody are examples of issues that concern a Chicago family lawyer. This lawyer may also get involved in cases where a child has been involved in a juvenile delinquency issue and is being brought into juvenile court.
Of all the issues that a family lawyer can become involved in perhaps divorce is the most prevalent. As divorce is something that changes a couple’s life forever, if there is a desire on the part of one spouse or the other to keep the marriage alive the lawyer will often become involved in exploring areas where the couple has mutual desires, attempting to mediate and reconcile the parties. There are actually some jurisdictions in the US where a ‘cooling off” period is demanded before further action can be taken, there are also jurisdictions in the US that look to non-combative mediation when it comes to determining child custody, child visitation rights, the division of marital property and spousal maintenance. In cases like this where these issues are settled through mediation the couple and their respective lawyers meet and hammer out an agreement that is acceptable to both and can be passed to a judge for approval.
Although non-combative mediation is desirable, there are times when it proves impossible to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. In cases like this the lawyers will plead their client’s case in the presence of a judge. Once the judge has heard the stance of both parties the issues will be settled by judicial decree as there are not juries in divorce proceedings. Although this is often the last time the individual will see his or her Chicago family lawyer there is always the real chance of a change in circumstances; perhaps the custodial parent wishes to move to a new location and a modification to custodial orders are in order.
Although dealing with divorce and separation is a major part of what a Chicago family lawyer does, there are many other areas where he or she will get involved. In the event a couple wishes to adopt a child, the lawyer will help to locate an agency that places children for adoption, the lawyer will detail and prepare the adoption petition and gather whatever testimony is required from whatever responsible individuals or authorities that are needed to support the petition in family court.
