Family law
Your family is important. Your finances are important. A legal matter involving one or both of them is not easy for most people to handle. It is quite the opposite, and understandably so. Facing tough decisions about your future can be emotional, stressful and extremely frightening when you don’t know what to expect.
Shawn Heffernan & Associates, in Orland Park, we do everything in our power to make sure you have the information you need to make the best decisions possible. We answer your questions, explain family laws in detail, and help you understand the benefits and consequences of every option available. It is a simple approach that our attorney has found very effective for his clients over the past 20-plus years.
We Can Help You And Your Family
Every family is unique. This means that no case involving children is exactly like any other. If you are going through a divorce or paternity action and need to make arrangements for your children, you need someone on your team who understands that.
You need an attorney who can think strategically, devising a unique strategy for success tailored to your case. At Shawn Heffernan & Associates, we offer years of experience in family law matters combined with a personal approach to achieving a successful resolution. We are proud to help families throughout Cook County and the southwest Chicago suburbs.
We Will Answer Your Questions
Being unsure about what will happen to your children is very stressful: child custody and visitation are the first concern of every divorcing parent. Common questions we receive are:
- How is custody determined?
- Can I have sole custody?
- How do I make sure I still have access to my children?
- What if my ex-spouse moves: can I keep them from taking my children?
The answers to all of these may vary depending on your situation, but there is one constant: since 2016, Illinois has not used the terms “custody” and “visitation.” Instead, the decision-making power for the child, previously termed “custody,” is now called “parental responsibility.” Visitation, or the time each parent spends with the child, is now called “parenting time.”
Explore Your Options: Call Us Today
Regardless of terminology, we know that the amount of time you get with your children is crucially important. We have years of experience handling a wide variety of parental responsibility and parental time-sharing cases. Our small-firm approach means that our team is completely dedicated to your case, allowing you to focus on your family. We may be able to help you come to an agreement regarding shared parental responsibility and parenting time that protects your own rights as a parent.
You do not have to face family court alone. To discuss your case with an experienced lawyer, call our Orland Park office for more information.
Your assets, liabilities, needs, spending habits, living arrangements and schedules are unique. If you have children, their needs and schedules are unique. The one thing you can expect in divorce (dissolution of marriage) is that your experience will be different from that of anyone else.
You will want — and should have — an attorney who can give you the best advice for accomplishing your individual goals. Shawn Heffernan & Associates will help you find the best solution for you and your family. That begins by understanding your options for divorce and determining how to proceed. Clients throughout Cook County and the southwest Chicago suburbs rely on us to listen to their needs, advocate for their rights and help them accomplish their goals in matters involving divorce.
You Have Options
In Illinois, you can have a contested or uncontested divorce. Below is a general explanation of these two options.
- Uncontested: In an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse agree on all issues, including property division, maintenance and parenting responsibility. You can come to an agreement through negotiation or mediation, relying on the court to finalize the agreement. This option often costs less, takes less time and leaves the parties with more control over the outcome.
- Contested: A judge makes decisions concerning major issues in a contested divorce. In situations in which spouses cannot agree, when one spouse feels as though they are at a disadvantage in negotiations or if there is a history of abuse, this may be the better option.
In some cases, a couple may choose a combination of both approaches. They may resolve most matters out of court, leaving only a few matters for a judge.
Relationships can be volatile, especially during a divorce, and you may need protection from an abusive spouse. You may also be the victim of a false allegation of abuse. In either case, you need a lawyer who understands the system and how to help you successfully resolve your situation.
At Shawn Heffernan & Associates, we have over a decade of experience dealing with family law issues such as domestic violence. We know what to do to protect your rights in this difficult situation. We are proud to help people resolve difficult domestic situations throughout Cook County and the southwest Chicago suburbs.
We Can Help You Through This
There are several steps involved in a domestic violence allegation. In Illinois, it is not difficult to receive an order of protection: an accuser can obtain an emergency order of protection based on his or her testimony alone. The emergency order will last from 14 to 21 days. The judge will schedule a hearing to determine if the alleged victim needs a protection order of longer duration. The accused will be allowed to present his or her side at this hearing.
If you are accused of abuse, it’s important to seek an attorney’s help as soon as possible. A protection order can affect your life in many ways:
- You may be ordered to move out of your home or apartment.
- You could be barred from owning firearms or ammunition.
- You could face custody and visitation difficulties.
- You could have employment issues.
- You may be put at a disadvantage for any divorce or child custody proceedings.
We Are Here To Represent Your Interests
Call us, and we can explain what you may be facing and what you should do to protect yourself.
Every parent has concerns about their children, whether they are married or not. As a mother, you may be concerned about support for your child. As a father, you may want to be involved in your child’s life. The first step to reach your goal is to establish the paternity of your child in court.
At Shawn Heffernan & Associates, we have been practicing for over a decade and are experienced in family law. If both parents agree on who the father is, paternity can be established in court. If the parents do not agree who the father is, the court can order a DNA test. Regardless of your situation, we are proud to help families with paternity-related issues throughout Cook County and the southwest Chicago suburbs.
Paternity Does More Than Establish The Father
Once paternity is established, you can obtain court orders for:
- Child support
- Child custody (known as parental responsibility in Illinois)
- Visitation (known as parenting time)
Without a court order, fathers of children born out of wedlock do not have a right to see their children. And mothers do not have a right to support. Establishing paternity allows you to establish these rights. A paternity action also establishes a child’s right to inherit.
Protecting Yourself Is Easy: Talk To An Experienced Attorney Today
When you want to relocate with your child—or need to object to the proposed relocation of your child—there are many legal steps you must take for the relocation to be approved or denied. As a parent concerned about the welfare of your child, it can be difficult to understand all of your options, which is why discussing your situation with an experienced attorney is the best thing you can do.
Shawn Heffernan & Associates, has worked with clients throughout Cook County, Will County, Dupage and other Chicago suburbs in a wide-variety of situations involving relocation requests. Our experienced team can provide you the answers you need to move forward.
How Does The Law Affect My Case?
Our founding attorney, Shawn Heffernan has over 20 years of experience working with clients who are on both sides of relocation cases. Whether you are a parent considering moving with your child or are the one opposing the other parent’s relocation request our team can help. With extensive knowledge in family-related legal matters, we can find a realistic solution that works for you. Mr. Heffernan will always give you honest advice and be upfront about how the law applies to your case.
In Illinois, relocation can involve a proposed move to a different state, city, or even neighborhood. The parent who would like to move must give a written notice containing the date of the intended move, the address of the proposed new home and the length of time the relocation will last. This needs to be done at least 60 days before the planned move. The other parent can then consent or object. If one parent objects, they must state their reasons why. The court will look at what is in the best interest of the child when making its decision.
Call Now To Learn More
In relocation cases, a judge will look at the specifics of each situation—there is no blanket solution. This is why it is important to have an experienced lawyer by your side. We will do everything we can to advocate for you and your future. We can also help with visitation agreements and custody arrangements.
As you prepare to get married, there are some legal steps that must be followed such as obtaining a marriage license. There are also some steps that are optional and one of those is arranging a prenuptial agreement.
You may think that a prenuptial agreement is unnecessary for you. Yet, it is important to remember that a prenuptial agreement can protect your financial interests if you have significant assets. If you have children from a prior marriage, it can also protect their interests.
Helping You Prepare For Any Eventuality
At Shawn Heffernan & Associates, we serve clients throughout Cook County and the southwest Chicago suburbs with a wide variety of family law needs. Because of that experience, we are able to devise prenuptial agreements designed to solve multiple issues that may come up, including:
- Keeping one spouse’s family property in their family, even if they pass away
- Designating support for any children from previous relationships
- Outlining who will receive your assets if you die before your spouse
- How household bills will be managed
- How each spouse’s retirement benefits will be distributed
- Management of shared credit card accounts
There is a misconception that prenuptial agreements are designed to protect you in a divorce. However, that is not their only purpose. Essentially, a prenup, or even a postnuptial agreement, can help you make arrangements for almost any event that may arise throughout your marriage. It is not only a tool in case you get divorced, but also meant to help smooth your marriage, and can be especially useful if you and your spouse have complex financial dealings.
A Lawyer Can Help You Protect Your Interests
Throughout the course of a marriage, married couples may buy a house, accumulate retirement savings, and invest in stocks and other assets. They may also have debts. Everything acquired throughout the marriage must be divided in order to finalize a divorce.
To protect your financial interests, you need a lawyer who understands the law. Shawn Heffernan & Associates, has over 20 years of experience helping clients like you obtain full and fair property settlements during a divorce. We focus on achieving results for clients throughout Cook County and the southwest Chicago suburbs. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Protect Your Property And Your Interests
Shawn Heffernan & Associates is a firm offering experienced representation in family law matters, including division of marital property. Marital property includes all assets accumulated during your marriage, including:
- Furniture, artwork and rugs
- Kitchen items such as china, dinnerware and small appliances
- Collectibles such as figurines and stamp and coin collections
- Real estate such as the family home or vacation home
- Vehicles, including cars or boats
- Savings accounts
- Retirement accounts, including 401(k) accounts and the distribution of pensions promised by jobs
- Businesses
- Debt and other liabilities such as shared credit card debt and student loans incurred during the marriage
Division of marital assets can become complicated. For example, even if you owned an asset before your business, a portion of it may be marital property based on what happened during your marriage. An experienced attorney can not only help you navigate the process, but can also interact on your behalf with the other party’s lawyer to make the division as easy as possible for you.
There’s No Risk To You: Call Today
Shawn Heffernan & Associates, has been practicing law for over a decade and has successfully handled countless personal injuries cases for our clients. We are ready and willing to take on your case for you.
We are pleased to offer free attorney consultations to victims of personal injuries, so there is no risk in calling us and seeing what your case may hold.
Family Law
Family law encompasses various legal matters that pertain to family relationships, domestic relations, and related issues. Some of the key areas of family law include: