Experienced Illinois Family Law Attorney Guides You Through Domestic Concerns
South Holland firm assists individuals in matrimonial and parenting litigation
The emotional toll that a divorce takes can be significant, and parents aren’t the only ones affected. When you are faced with a difficult family law matter, the Law Office of Elfreda Dockery in South Holland can help. I draw on almost 30 years of legal experience to provide you with comprehensive counsel when your marriage ends or you have other family legal issues. Whether you are facing divorce, child support, or legal separation matters, I have the knowledge and skill to successfully serve you and your family.
Attorney provides passionate representation in your Cook County’s First and Sixth Districts and Will County, Illinois divorce
When you decide to end your marriage, there are many things you need to consider. I can help you with matters including:
- Grounds — Illinois only allows divorces on one ground–irreconcilable differences.
- Property division — Illinois is an equitable division state, meaning the marital property will be divided fairly, but not necessarily equally. Some of the factors that affect the distribution of property include the health, age, and income of both parties, the duration of marriage, custody arrangements, and the role of each spouse in acquiring the property.
- Legal separation — When you decide that you don’t want to end your marriage but wish to legally separate from your spouse, there are some conditions that need to be met. You must live separately from one another and prove that you are personally not the reason for the separation. You and your spouse must then write a separation agreement that addresses issues such as child support, alimony, and division of debt and assets. The court must then decide if the agreement is fair and reasonable for both parties.
Before deciding the best course of legal action to take in your divorce or separation, I will take the time to understand your unique situation.
Effective advocate handles issues related to domestic violence
If you or your children have been victims of domestic violence committed by your partner, you need to take action by filing a protective order that bars the person who’s harmed you from contacting you. Under Illinois law, there are three types of protective orders: emergency, interim, and plenary orders. Emergency orders last from 14 to 21 days while interim orders last for 30 days and plenary orders can last up to two years. Extensions can be applied to any of the orders, and they are all designed for you to take control of a potentially dangerous situation. To ensure your safety and that of your children, I can help you file an order of protection.
Accomplished counselor delivers caring advice on child support and paternity matters
Both parents are responsible for supporting their kids, whether the parents are married or not. While parents can agree on child support arrangements, the court will need to approve it, and will follow certain state guidelines in issuing an order. After allowing for certain deductions, Illinois calculates basic support as a percentage of the noncustodial parent’s net income determined by the number of children. Resolving paternity can be a key factor in child support determinations: the father of the child is not considered to be the legal father in the eyes of the state if the parents are not married. Until paternity is established, the name of the father cannot legally be added to the birth certificate, and the child has no right to his financial support. I help clients to get fair support orders, whether they must pay child support or are looking to receive it.
Contact a skilled family lawyer in Illinois for a legal strategy session
When your marriage ends, everyone in the family is affected. At the Law Office of Elfreda Dockery, my focus is on the welfare of your children as well as your own in divorce, custody and other family law matters. Please call 312-964-3761 or contact me online to schedule a legal strategy session.
