Darien, IL Family Law Attorneys

Skilled Lawyers for Child Custody, Divorce, and Other Family Law Issues in Darien

Cases heard in family court can be deeply personal and overwhelming, regardless of the legal matter. Whether you are going through a divorce, establishing legal paternity, or navigating domestic violence charges, issues related to family law can impact your and your family members' lives dramatically. Picking the right attorney to represent you and your interests as you address these issues can be crucial.

At Goostree Law Group, we recognize that every family situation is unique and requires a tailored legal strategy. Our over 100 positive reviews from satisfied clients across Illinois can attest to our dedication and tenacity in defending our clients. With more than 20 years of legal experience, our founder, Tricia Goostree, has received numerous professional awards, including Best Lawyers, Elite Lawyer, and Super Lawyers for many years in a row.

Call 630-584-4800 and let us help your family.

Types of Family Law Cases We Handle

Our Darien family law lawyers have represented clients in a variety of cases, including:

• Divorce: The decision to end your relationship can affect nearly every aspect of your life, including your emotional well-being, your financial security, and how your property will be divided. Your divorce may involve complex legal procedures, and our team can help you resolve the issues you may encounter, whether your divorce is uncontested or involves high levels of conflict.
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: To prevent conflict in the event of separation, spouses can create legal contracts addressing their property rights and financial arrangements. Our attorneys work with couples to address these issues before or during a marriage.
• Child Support: Raising a child is not cheap. In cases where parents are separated or unmarried, the court will put orders in place to ensure that both parents contribute financially to their child's development, including food, housing, clothing, education, healthcare, and more. We can help negotiate a fair child support order that will provide for your child's needs.
• Child Custody and Parenting Plans: Whenever children are involved in a family law case, the court will work to ensure decisions are made with a child's best interests in mind. The state of Illinois requires parents who are divorcing or separating to establish a custody arrangement and a visitation schedule, with the goal of preserving meaningful parent-child relationships.

Establishing Paternity

When parents are married at the time of a child's birth, Illinois state law assumes that the mother's spouse is the child's legal father. Paternity can be more complicated for parents who are not married, as legally recognizing fatherhood will require additional steps. However, it can be important to establish paternity, since it will create legal responsibilities, protect a father's rights, and provide benefits for the child.

There are many reasons establishing paternity can be beneficial for both parents and the child. Fathers will not be able to legally address issues related to custody or visitation until they are legally recognized as parents. After paternity is established, a child can benefit from having access to their family's medical history, they can receive financial support from both parents, they can inherit assets from both sides of the family, and they may be eligible for veteran's benefits and Social Security benefits through a parent.

When paternity is not acknowledged or is uncertain, a court may order DNA testing. This is usually done by taking cheek swabs from the child, the mother, and the alleged father. When a genetic test confirms that a man is a child's biological parent, the court will issue an order of paternity establishing parental rights.

Parents can also establish paternity by signing and filing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) form with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. This voluntary process can avoid the need for court involvement to resolve paternity disputes. After a VAP is signed and filed, the father will be recognized as the child's parent, and issues related to child custody or child support may be addressed.

Whether you are a father looking to preserve your relationship with your child or a mother seeking child support, our experienced family law attorneys will help you navigate family court proceedings related to paternity. We will advocate for your child's best interests while helping to preserve important family relationships.

Addressing Domestic Violence

As a criminal offense, domestic violence can have serious legal consequences and personal repercussions. Abuse may take the form of intimidation, threats, violence, confinement, or harassment. In situations involving domestic violence, the court can take steps to protect the safety of spouses, children, and other family members.

One of the most common first steps for victims of domestic violence is to request orders of protection. These court orders can prohibit an alleged abuser from engaging in certain behaviors or actions. They may restrict a person from entering a victim's home or making contact with their spouse or children. In some cases, an order of protection may grant temporary custody of children to one parent.

Emergency orders of protection may be necessary if a person requires immediate protection. These requests will generally go into effect immediately without waiting to hear testimony from the alleged perpetrator. A hearing will be scheduled to determine the level of protection that may be needed in the future. Both parties can present evidence and testimony at this hearing. If a judge determines that ongoing protections are needed, they may issue a plenary order of protection that may last for up to two years.

Our legal team approaches every case with compassion and patience. If you have experienced domestic violence, we can help you take steps to protect yourself and your family. If you have been accused of violence or abuse, we can help you respond to an emergency order of protection, navigate court hearings, and take steps to defend your rights.