Your Family Law Firm Representing Clients in Monroe County in Waterloo, Illinois
For those in Illinois and throughout the country, family is the first priority. When family dynamics change, it can be difficult for everybody involved. This is where a family law attorney can help put the pieces back together.
At Stange Law Firm, PC , we focus on family law matters, which gives us the experience to help you with the most complex cases. From our office in Waterloo in Monroe County, by appointment only, at 116 W. Mill Street, we serve clients throughout Monroe County who are looking for a legal team they can trust and rely on to get positive results.
To learn more about the Monroe County Circuit Court, please go the following link:
- Monroe County Circuit Court: Click this link to learn more about County Circuit Court.
- Illinois Child Support Calculator: This calculator can help you find an estimate on how much your child support may actually cost you.
To schedule a confidential initial consultation with our passionate, bold Monroe County family law attorneys, call 618-208-0587 or contact our law firm online.
From our webpage, you can also read articles about family law, view informational videos, seminar videos, listen to our podcast, download our mobile application or view support calculator for Illinois. You can also visit our blog: Illinois Divorce Attorneys Blog.
Tackling the Full Range of Family Law Issues in Monroe County and Waterloo, Illinois
When you choose a lawyer to handle family law matters, you want someone who focuses their practice. Family court cases require specific knowledge. Our attorneys fully understand what judges want to see in complex family law cases.
Our knowledge of family law helps us zealously advocate for family law clients in a variety of issues, including:
- Divorce and separation in Monroe County : We have dedicated attorneys that can assist clients with their divorce and separation cases.
- High Asset Divorce in Monroe County : Our attorneys are knowledgeable about high asset divorce.
- Monroe County Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements: Our legal staff can assist in drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
- Monroe County Paternity Attorneys : Stange Law Firm, PC has paternity attorneys that can assist you in Monroe County.
- Guardianships and conservatorships in Monroe County: We represent clients in their guardianships and conservatorship cases.
- Monroe County surrogacy : We represent clients with their surrogacy matters.
- Step-parent adoption in Monroe County: Being a step-parent is an important aspect of a child’s life. Our attorneys can make the process less stressful.
- Adoption in Monroe County : We represent clients with their adoption matters.
- Monroe County Minor emancipation : Our attorneys can represent both the teen’s and the parent’s minor emancipation matters.
- Grandparents’ rights in Monroe County: Stange Law Firm, PC believe that grandparents’ have rights too. Our attorneys can help.
- Appeals in Monroe County : We represent clients with their family law appeals.
- Monroe County Mediation and Collaborative Family Law : We have trained attorneys that can assist in mediation and collaborative family law practices in Monroe County.
- Child Support in Monroe County : We represent client’s in their child support cases in Monroe County.
- Monroe County Child Custody Attorneys : Our attorneys are experienced in child custody cases in Monroe County.
- Monroe County Juvenile Matters : We represent client’s in their juvenile matters in Monroe County.
- Modifications in Monroe County : We have attorneys that can help with your modification cases.
- Contempt and family access motions in Monroe County : We represent individuals in their contempt and family access motion matters in Monroe County.
- Military Divorce in Monroe County : We would be honored to represent your military divorce in Monroe County.
- Monroe County Name Change Lawyers : Our attorneys in Monroe County can help with legally changing your name.
- Orders of Protection in Monroe County : Stange Law Firm, PC can help you with your order of protection in Monroe County.
- Same Sex Divorce in Monroe County : We represent clients in their same sex divorce.
Our attorneys have received numerous awards and accolades for divorce and family law as set forth in their individual biographies. In particular, both founding partners at our law firm have been recognized as Super Lawyer Rising Stars for Family Law. Among other awards, Kirk Stange has also been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers.
What is Family Law in Waterloo, Illinois?
Family law refers to the practice of helping individuals with family relationships. It includes helping families pick up the pieces of their lives, while guiding them through this difficult time. Family law matters may include the dissolution of marriage, child custody and child support matters, adoption, paternity, and father’s rights issues. Because of the nature of these matters, family law cases tend to be very emotional and strenuous for the parties involved. At Stange Law Firm, PC, our attorneys are there to assists their clients through this difficult process. Family law practice may involve any of these following topics:
Divorce in Monroe County
Divorce is the process of breaking the bonds of marriage. When parties get married, they form a legal relationship. If they decide that they would no longer like to be a part of this relationship, they must file the necessary paperwork with the courts.
Based on the state in which the divorce is being filed, the rules and procedures may vary. While all states allow for no-fault divorce, some states require a period of separation. Be advised that most states also have residency requirements that come into play when filing for dissolution.
Each state has their own guidelines for how to divide assets and debts in a divorce, but the rules are similar in most states. In most cases, the court looks to make an equitable division of the assets. This doesn’t necessarily mean dividing the assets are equal for both parties. The court can look at things like the parties’ contributions to the marriage, the length of the marriage and the needs of each party after the divorce. Misconduct such as infidelity or domestic abuse can also play into the court’s decision in terms of property and debt division and spousal maintenance.
Divorce is Civil Litigation in Waterloo, Illinois
Divorce cases are heard in state court. Similar to other forms of civil litigation, parties may work to gather evidence through depositions, interrogatories and subpoenas. Parties may also participate in mediation sessions, the collaborative process and other forms of conflict resolution. In many scenarios, cases may settle prior to a trial. However, some cases that involve contested divorces, high-assets, and certain other factors may have to go to trial.
Maintenance and Spousal Support in Monroe County
One of the most difficult issues in a divorce case is often maintenance and spousal support (previously referred to as alimony). Some states use a formula in order to determine the amount of support. This is now the case in Illinois. Even in cases where the court uses a formula, it’s still important to make sure that the court uses the proper procedures in order to arrive at the correct amount of support.
Pre and Post-nuptial Agreements in Waterloo, Illinois
A prenuptial agreement is a contract that parties sign before they get married. Prenuptial agreements should contain detailed descriptions of the significant property and debts owned by each partner. Depending on the nature and complexity of these assets, a prenuptial agreement can be just a few pages – or a few hundred. At Stange Law Firm, we draft each prenuptial so that it meets the exact needs of our clients. There are some matters that can’t be included in a prenuptial agreement like child custody and child support agreements. Otherwise, the parties can create an agreement that outlines matters like separate property, distribution of the assets and spousal support in the event of a divorce. When the parties enter into this kind of agreement after they get married, it’s a postnuptial agreement.
Parenting time in Monroe County
Parenting time is one of the most deliberated and emotional areas of family law. When it comes to custody of the child, most states base their decisions around the best interests of the child. The court takes into account which parent has the greater relationship with the child, whether or not each parent can provide a stable home environment for the child, and whether either parent has a history of substance abuse or a criminal background.
If a parenting plan can be established by the parents, the court will usually follow this agreement. However, if the parents cannot agree, the family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC will present evidence to the court regarding the child’s best interests. This might involve presenting school records, testimony of a psychologist or substance abuse counselor, criminal records and even medical records. Our attorneys will work to gather the necessary evidence, while also ensuring to consider the rules of evidence that are applicable in the particular local jurisdiction.
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities in Waterloo, Illinois
Parental responsibilities involves who makes major decisions about the child. Parenting time can be shared between the parties, or the court may award more parenting time to one of the parents.
It is imperative that family lawyers understand how the courts determine custody related issues such as parenting time and allocation of parental responsibilities in their jurisdiction because rules between states can vary slightly. The family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC help their clients understand the law and form realistic expectations so that they can make wise decisions as their case moves forward.
Child Support in Monroe County
Children have the right to support from both of their parents. The purpose of child support is to provide the child financial resources as if their parents lived under one roof, although it is common in most child support matters that the child’s parents live in separate households.
Each state has their own respective formula for calculating proper child support amounts. Most of these formulas factor in each parent’s income, the allowable tax deductions and other expenses, a child’s health insurance expenses, and whether they have child care needs. Certain states also factor in how much time each parent spends with the child, although this is not common practice by all states.
The family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC work with their clients to ensure the child support is fairly and accurately calculated. If the other parents attempts to hide income, or is unemployed by choice, an experienced family attorney can assist their client in showing the entire situation. A family lawyer also reviews the calculations made by the court to ensure that no errors were made that could result in an unfair and inaccurate calculation of child support.
Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
Another sensitive area of family law practice involves abuse and neglect. If the state is under the assumption that a parent is not able to properly care for a child, they may choose to begin abuse and neglect proceedings. The state may represent a parent that is accused of abuse or neglects, or they might even represent a child.
When family lawyers represent clients in abuse and neglect proceedings, they are working to help defend their client against the reports of abuse or neglect, or they are helping their clients regain custody of their children by assisting them in complying with services and other requirements. Because the standard for terminating parental rights is high, family lawyers work hard to advocate for their clients in a situation where the state is seeking to terminate those rights.
Contact an Illinois Divorce Attorney for a Consultation
When you have a family law concern in Waterloo, or anywhere in Monroe County, contact us online or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation at any of our convenient locations, including:
Monroe County (Waterloo), IL Office (by appointment only): 618-208-0587 Click to learn more about this location. 116 West Mill Street, Waterloo, Illinois62298.
