Posted on May 09, 2023 in Family Law

Establishing paternity is an important process for both parents and children in Illinois. Without establishing paternity, fathers may not have the same rights as mothers, and children are not entitled to the same legal protections and benefits. Today, we will discuss what is most important to know about paternity in Illinois. If you have questions related to paternity, contact a family law attorney to understand your legal options at this time.

Essential Considerations for Paternity in Illinois

In Illinois, paternity can be established in a few different ways, including:

• Through marriage – If a man and woman are married and a baby is born, the man will legally be considered the father.
• Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity – This method involves both parents signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity (VAP) form at the hospital or birthing center where the child was born. This can also be done at a later time as long as both parents agree to it 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Family Law

Premarital agreements, commonly referred to as prenuptial agreements, are contracts between two individuals planning on getting married. The agreement defines how the couple's assets and liabilities will be divided in the event of a divorce. Despite their growing popularity, many myths exist regarding premarital agreements. It is essential to debunk these myths to see whether a premarital agreement may suit you and your situation. Remember, if you are interested in a premarital agreement, contact an experienced family law attorney to learn more and see whether signing one may be in your best interest. 

The Most Common Misconceptions Regarding Premarital Agreements 

1. Premarital agreements are only for the wealthy – While premarital agreements are commonly associated with wealthy individuals and celebrities, they are not exclusively for the rich. Anyone can enter into a premarital agreement, regardless of their financial situation. In fact, premarital agreements can benefit those who have children from another marriage or own a business.

   Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 03, 2023 in Batavia Divorce Lawyer

When people are divorcing, there are many financial concerns to contend with, including alimony or spousal maintenance. Judges in Illinois must consider whether one spouse merits receiving payments from the other spouse for any period of time during or after a divorce.

Spousal support in Illinois is generally either temporary or long-term. Temporary support may last only through the divorce process while long-term support will last much longer.

Long-term maintenance can also be fixed-term, indefinite, or reviewable. Fixed-term maintenance means a court establishes a date on which support will end, indefinite maintenance means that payments will continue unless an award is modified or terminated, and reviewable maintenance means a court will retain the right to revisit the award and modify it later.

Amount and Duration of Spousal Maintenance

Not every divorce case involves a spousal maintenance order. Spousal maintenance decisions are usually based on a combination of different factors, including the needs of both spouses, the duration of the marriage, each spouse’s income, assets, and debts, the standard of living established during the marriage, the receiving spouse’s current and future earning capacity, constraints on either spouse’s earning capacity, the effect of child custody and placement arrangements on a spouse’s ability to maintain employment, and any other factors that a court finds to be just and equitable.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 07, 2023 in Batavia Divorce Lawyer

Ending a marriage can be an especially difficult and often confusing time. Even if a divorce is the best option for you and your spouse, it can still be a challenge to navigate the process. Hiring a divorce attorney is the best way to ensure you have access to the legal support you need. Your lawyer will guide you through the divorce every step of the way and help you step into the next chapter of your life.

But how can you pick the attorney best for you? There are many different things to keep in mind. With the added benefit of modern technology and the internet, researching is made easy so you can find the right fit for your needs.

What Type Of Attorney Do I Need?

There are many different types of law that can be practiced. In the case of divorce, a law firm that handles family law is what you will want. There are many different complexities involved in marriage dissolution cases, and knowledge of family law is essential.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 06, 2023 in Batavia Divorce Lawyer

As a new year rolls in, many of us are looking to start the year fresh and better ourselves during 2023. Though working on yourself is always a positive thing, it can be difficult for those of us who have recently gone through a divorce. If you and your former spouse have children together, it can be especially challenging to remain positive and resilient in the new year. But with some patience and understanding, you and your former spouse can work on your relationship in a constructive manner for the benefit of your children. 

How Can I Keep Positive?

Though it may go against your instincts to talk positively towards and about your former spouse, this will have a large impact on your child’s view of the parent. Young children are highly impressionable and what you say has a big influence on how they will feel and act in the future. Illinois Courts tend to lean in favor of keeping both parents involved in children’s lives as much as possible. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 07, 2022 in Batavia Divorce Lawyer

If you are looking to end your marriage, you may qualify for an annulment. Though an annulment is not the same as a divorce, it is another legal way to end a marriage. Technically, an annulment, called a Judgment of Invalidity of Marriage, asserts that a marriage was never valid to begin with. Specific requirements must be met for an annulment to be an option.

What Is an Annulment?

The state of Illinois views an annulment as the invalidity of a supposed marriage. This would mean that the marriage itself would be voided from the date of the marriage. In a divorce, the marriage is dissolved but an annulment invalidates the marriage altogether. There are only a select few circumstances that can qualify a marriage to be annulled:

• If one or both parties were under 18 at the time of the marriage, and therefore, under the legal age of consent, and did not have any consent from a guardian or the courts.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 10, 2022 in Child Custody

One of the most difficult decisions in a divorce is deciding who is granted custody over the children. If you and your spouse can reach a parenting plan outside of court, then things can remain comparatively less complicated. Oftentimes, however, a judgment must be passed within the courts to resolve the issue. There are many factors that are weighed when reaching the final decision. Having an experienced attorney in your corner is your best advantage when faced with the challenges of custody battles and divorce. 

Important Factors Courts Consider When Deciding Custody 

The Illinois Court system will typically attempt to settle for a shared custody plan for the spouses. As long as both parents can prove they have a stable home, the parenting plan will attempt to keep both parents in the children’s lives. The primary factors that the courts will look at when determining the custody can include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 18, 2022 in Prenuptial agreements

A couple’s wedding day may very well be one of the happiest days of each partner’s life thus far. This happiness can be traced back to the fact that many months and sometimes years go into planning a wedding, often down to each minute detail. However, planning for a wedding and marriage are two entirely different things. Preparing for marriage can involve many responsibilities, few as crucial as preparing for the financial implications of getting married.

It is becoming more common for couples to negotiate and sign a premarital agreement or prenuptial agreement. These agreements are invaluable tools that spell out how a couple will handle debts, assets, and other financial issues if they decide at some point to get divorced. While some find these agreements to be “unromantic,” this is not the intention of such agreements. However, suppose you and your partner are considering marriage. In that case, it may be wise to consult with an experienced attorney trained in helping couples secure financial security and remove doubt about who will get what in the event of a future divorce.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 05, 2022 in Divorce Advice

 Divorce can be a challenging period of life for all parties involved. This can be compounded if the couple filing shares underage children. Though it can be easy to get swept up in your emotions and remain distracted by all the legal proceedings and unexpected life changes, it is imperative to continue to give extra support and attention to your children during divorce. Van Larson Law focuses on navigating you through your divorce in the most effective and stress-free manner. A significant aspect of that is providing you with the resources available to help your children during the transition.  

Five Tips for Helping Children Adjust During Divorce

During a divorce, children undergo many changes very rapidly. These changes in a child’s life can result in adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, can be traced to be the root of many challenging health and social problems later in life. A parent’s need to provide for and protect their children always comes as a top priority, but it can be difficult for one person to juggle all of the changes in their own life while giving the proper attention and support to their children. It could also be uncharted territory for the parent and they may be unsure of how to navigate the shift in their daily routine.  

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 10, 2022 in Divorce

Approaching divorce for the first time can feel intimidating. Not only is there a lot to do, but the outcome of every little detail has the potential to impact your future in a major way. Fortunately, many people before you have tackled divorce and come out the other side in one piece. And with the help of a great attorney, you can do the same. Here are five important areas you will need to address in your Illinois divorce.

Property and Debt Division

All marital property and debt must be divided between spouses before a divorce can be finalized. Generally speaking, everything that was acquired by either spouse - including income, purchases, and credit card debt - will be considered marital property and must be divided equitably. Illinois is not a community property state, so the focus on dividing debt will be fairness rather than sameness.

Spousal Support

While many marriages do not include spousal support as part of their negotiations, many do. A general rule of thumb is that the longer you were married and the more dependent one spouse was on the other financially, the more likely it is that spousal support will be a part of the picture. It is important to understand that Illinois courts prefer spouses to negotiate their own divorce decrees whenever possible, so, for example, if you want to trade spousal support for another marital asset and your spouse agrees, a court is likely to approve your settlement.

Continue Reading ››