Brookfield, IL Family Law Attorneys

Lawyers For High Conflict Divorce and Child Custody Cases in Brookfield

Getting married is a huge milestone in anyone's life, and when you tie the knot, you expect it to last forever. However, the reality is that a large percentage of marriages end in divorce, and when your relationship with your spouse has broken down, ending the marriage is often the best option for everyone involved. The process of dissolving a marriage is rarely easy or simple, and no matter whether you expect your divorce to be smooth and friendly or contentious and hostile, you need a skilled legal advocate on your side to help you manage the avalanche of legal issues that must be resolved.

With over 95 combined years of family law experience, the lawyers of Wakenight & Associates, P.C. can provide you with the legal help you need when getting a divorce in Brookfield, Illinois. We are prepared to fight for your rights, protect your financial stability, and ensure that you will be able to successfully move on to a new life after your divorce is completed.

Divorce and Family Law Issues in Brookfield

The village of Brookfield, which is located in Cook County 13 miles west of downtown Chicago, provides many people with a peaceful place to live, work, and raise a family. When married spouses in Brookfield choose to get a divorce, or when families must address other family law issues, their cases will typically be heard in the courtrooms of the Maywood Courthouse. These cases may involve a variety of legal concerns, including:

• Marital property division - According to Illinois law, marital property includes all assets and debts that a couple acquired after getting married and before their legal separation or divorce. These assets should be fairly and equitably divided between spouses.
• Spousal maintenance - Also known as alimony or spousal support, these payments will be made by one spouse to the other following divorce to allow both spouses to maintain their standard of living. The amount and duration of maintenance payments are calculated using formulas defined in Illinois law.
• Allocation of parental responsibilities - Formerly known as child custody, this concerns the right to make decisions about raising children. These rights are defined in a parenting plan that is incorporated into a divorce decree. Unmarried parents may also create an agreement on how to divide parental responsibilities.
• Parenting time - Formerly known as visitation, this refers to the time that children will spend with each parent. A schedule for parenting time during regular weekdays and weekends, holidays, vacations, or other relevant days will be included in a parenting plan.
• Child support - Monetary support meant to meet children's needs and cover their expenses will often be paid by one parent to the other, and both parents' incomes are considered when determining the amount of support payments.
• High conflict divorce - Couples may struggle to resolve divorce issues if their relationship has become hostile, and they may need to address issues such as adultery, parental alienation, substance abuse or other mental health concerns, and stalking or harassment. If an emergency occurs, a spouse or family member may be able to obtain an order of protection.
• High net worth divorce - Couples with large assets or high incomes may need to address issues such as ownership of vacation homes, complex assets such as investments and retirement accounts, business valuation, tax considerations, and hidden assets. 
• Post-divorce modification - A divorce decree or judgment may be modified if either party's circumstances change significantly, such as in parental relocation cases.
• Paternity - Unmarried parents may need to establish legal paternity for children in order to secure parental rights and child support.
• Adoption - One or both birth parents' parental rights must be terminated before the legal process of adopting a child can be completed.

Contact a Brookfield Divorce Attorney

At Wakenight & Associates, P.C., we will answer your questions and provide you with the representation you need when working to resolve your family law issues. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact our office at 708-480-9651.