Divorce
Schaumburg, Illinois Divorce AttorneyIf you face divorce, you need qualified legal advice. Divorce has been a main part of our practice for over a decade. Whatever circumstance you face, know that we have guided many people through this difficult period, and we can help you too. For more detail, contact the Law Offices of Lisa Hagenauer for an initial consultation. Divorce in Three PartsDivision of Marital PropertyAll divorces involve property division. Unless you have a prenuptial agreement, the property divided includes the majority, if not all, assets and debts that have accumulated during the marriage. Assets may include
Debts may include
The court is required to divide all marital assets in an equitable manner. We negotiate settlement of even the most complex estates considering various options based upon the client's goals and needs. If litigation is necessary, we have the experience and knowledge to fight for the best result for you. Child Custody, Support, and VisitationIf you have children, we work closely with you to create a workable child custody and visitation plan and calculate appropriate child support. Maintenance (sometimes known as "alimony")Child support is based on net income. The calculation the state uses is dictated by statute in nearly all cases. However, maintenance (sometimes referred to as "alimony") is more difficult to determine. There are many factors the court should consider according to statute. Factors include the income and property of each party; the needs of each party; the present and future earning capacity of each party; any impairment to present or future income earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance due to time devoted to domestic duties or having foregone certain career or educational opportunities due to the marriage; the time necessary for the party seeking maintenance to seek appropriate education, training, etc., and whether that party can become self-sufficient; whether a party who is a custodial parent is able to or should seek employment while caring for a child or children; the standard of living established during the marriage; duration of the marriage; age and physical and emotional condition of each party; the tax consequences of the property division upon each party; contributions and services by the party seeking maintenance to the education, training or career of the other party; any valid agreement between the parties such as a prenup; and any other factor the court finds should be considered in order to yield a just and equitable result. The broad language of the statute results in varying decisions from judge to judge as to the amount and duration of maintenance. The case law changes constantly regarding maintenance. We stay on top of those changes, enabling us to give our clients the most up-to-date advice in this area of the law and make the best arguments to the court which serve our client's best interest. Contact a Schaumburg, Illinois, divorce lawyer to discuss your legal options. |
