At Keller Legal Services, our Naperville family lawyers are dedicated to offering the best possible service to our clients and it drives everything we do. Our Naperville family law attorneys focus on understanding each case before they can provide legal counsel to clients, enabling them to make an informed decision on how they want to proceed. We use our unparalleled legal skills, coupled with our extensive experience, to achieve outcomes that secure your best personal and professional interests.
When you work with our Naperville divorce attorneys, you can expect:
Whether you need a Naperville family law attorney for amicable negotiation or complex litigation, we have a collective experience of more than 30 years in handling a diverse range of cases belonging to different areas of family law. We know that in the legal landscape, there is no one-size-fits-all solution even when two cases may seem identical in nature. We strive to understand the unique details of your case and come up with customized solutions to suit your specific circumstances.
In Illinois, the legislature regularly updates the relevant family laws. The changes can impact our client’s rights and the way that we protect them. We stay ahead of the curve by quickly assimilating the new law and anticipating future developments.
Divorce is stressful. During this difficult time, our clients benefit from steady, seasoned guidance. Some of the more common legal issues in divorce that we deal with include:
Divorce mediation. Divorce does not have to be acrimonious. Instead, couples can work through their disagreements by sitting down with a third party (the mediator) to talk about the dispute. They can then craft a divorce settlement agreement that works for them, thus saving time and money.
Allocation of parental responsibilities. This is the new term Illinois uses for “child custody,” but the concept is pretty much the same. One or both parents can have the legal power to make important decisions for their children, such as education and medical care. These parental responsibilities can be shared or given to one parent.
Parenting time and visitation. Parents have a right to meaningful contact with their children. However, dividing this time is difficult unless parents live down the street from each other. Some of the fiercest family law disputes involve visitation—who the children will live with and when. We fight to ensure that our clients see their children as much as possible.
Child support. Illinois has standardized the calculation of child support. But there are still some variables that affect the final amount a parent pays, such as any special needs a child has. High-income parents could also pay much more in child support.
Division of Marital Assets & Debt Division. Any assets obtained while married are considered marital and the property of each spouse. The same is true of debts—regardless of who took out the debt. Illinois is an equitable division state. When couples disagree on the best way to divide their assets and debts, a judge will divide them in a fair manner by looking at all relevant circumstances.
Maintenance & Alimony. One spouse might need to make monthly payments to mitigate the financial unfairness of a divorce. Judges have wide latitude to award spousal support, so we encourage you to meet with a Naperville family law attorney today to begin developing a game plan.
Post-divorce Enforcement & Modification. Disputes do not end with the divorce decree. Your ex might not be following the parenting plan or refuse to send a monthly support payment. Alternatively, you might want to modify the decree to deal with changed circumstances. Illinois law strictly limits when you can seek a modification, so a lawyer’s help is essential.
Family law is broader than divorce. Our clients come to us because they need our experience to navigate the legal system on their behalf. Our Naperville family lawyers can help clients with many legal issues, including:
Adoptions. Clients eager to adopt have many options, including domestic or international adoptions, and open or closed adoptions. We can walk them through the different considerations and help them complete the heavy paperwork required before they can welcome a child into their home with loving arms.
Orders of protection. Domestic violence is a serious problem in Illinois. With an order of protection, a judge orders a person not to come near you or your children. Any violation can result in arrest, fines, and possibly jail time. We have helped men and women seek orders of protection as part of a divorce or even outside the divorce context.
Pre- & Post-marital agreements. Many issues that arise in a divorce can be avoided altogether by properly drafting a prenuptial or post-marital agreement. For example, a couple can decide how to divide their marital property or what even what will count as marital property. You can also make provisions for spousal support. Many people benefit from an agreement if they have a blended family because they can protect their children’s inheritance rights.
Parentage & Paternity disputes. Men do not have legal rights to see their children until their paternity is established. The same is true of child support—the state cannot force a man to support a child until he is shown to be the father. Unmarried men often struggle to assert their rights in court, but we are proud advocates for unwed fathers. Many parentage actions require a DNA test to show whether a man is the parent. Parentage is broader than paternity, however, and can involve same-sex couples who want to establish parental rights.
Annulment. This is an alternative for divorce when a marriage is invalid for some reason, such as one spouse already being married. Many people seek an annulment for religious reasons.
We have considerable experience in all sorts of family law issues. Please contact one of our Naperville family lawyers to learn whether we can help you.
When you schedule an appointment with one of our Naperville divorce attorneys, the initial consultation is all about listening to your issues and drafting a roadmap for possible steps suitable for proceeding with your case. We explain each option in detail, with their advantages and disadvantages, and provide our unbiased counsel to help them select the best way forward.
We can also negotiate for our clients. Illinois law empowers husbands and wives to come up with a separation agreement on their own, which might include mediation. The law assumes that married men and women are better positioned to know how to fairly divide custody and marital assets than a judge. We understand how to press our client’s advantage at the bargaining table.
However, we also realize there is a time to fight in court. We have deep experience in litigation, including the discovery process, and will use our skills to benefit you. When should you fight? Sometimes, a spouse will not compromise or make a fair offer, so we must present your case to a judge. In other situations, your spouse could be a danger to your children, so we will fight for custody on your behalf.
Family law is a specialized area of legal practice that deals with a wide range of issues related to family dynamics and relationships. It addresses crucial matters such as marriage, divorce, child custody arrangements, child support payments, adoption processes, and cases involving domestic violence. This area of law aims to protect the rights of individuals within these relationships and provide legal solutions for conflicts that arise.
In Illinois, property division during a divorce follows the principle of equitable distribution. This means that marital property and debts are divided fairly, although not necessarily in equal parts. The court considers various factors to determine a just division, including each spouse’s income, their contributions to the marriage—both financial and non-financial—and their future financial needs post-divorce. This approach ensures that both parties are treated fairly according to their circumstances.
Illinois recognizes no-fault divorce as a valid reason for dissolution of marriage, allowing spouses to seek a divorce based on irreconcilable differences without the necessity of proving wrongdoing. Unlike some jurisdictions that require fault-based grounds—such as adultery or cruelty—Illinois emphasizes the inability of the couple to reconcile as the primary criterion for divorce, simplifying the process for those seeking to end their marriage.
Filing for divorce in Illinois involves several key steps. First, you must meet the residency requirement of living in the state for at least 90 days. Next, you will need to complete and file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the appropriate court. After filing, you are required to serve the petition to your spouse, ensuring they are aware of the proceedings. Following these initial steps, you will navigate the court’s procedures to resolve critical issues such as property division, child custody, and support, making it essential to understand each phase of the process.
In Illinois, child custody is referred to as the allocation of parental responsibilities, and the decisions made are heavily influenced by the best interests of the child involved. Courts assess a variety of factors when determining custody arrangements, including the specific needs of the child, the preferences expressed by the parents, how well the child is adjusting to their current environment, and the mental and physical health of all parties—ensuring that the child’s well-being remains the priority.
Child support constitutes the financial assistance one parent provides to the other for the upbringing of their child. In Illinois, the calculation of child support is grounded in a combination of both parents’ incomes, the number of children requiring support, and the time each parent spends with the child. This structured approach aims to ensure that the children’s living expenses, including necessities like food, clothing, and education, are adequately covered, regardless of the parents’ living situations.
Yes, child custody and support orders are not set in stone; they can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances. Such changes may include fluctuations in income, job loss, alterations in employment status, or evolving needs of the child as they grow. This flexibility allows the legal system to adapt to the changing realities of families while ensuring that children’s best interests remain at the forefront.
Spousal support, commonly referred to as alimony, is a financial obligation whereby one spouse provides support to the other after a divorce. In Illinois, the determination of spousal support is influenced by several factors, including the duration of the marriage, the income levels and earning potential of each spouse, and the standard of living that was established during the marriage. The goal is to ensure that neither party is left in a financially disadvantaged position following their separation.
The length of the divorce process in Illinois can vary significantly based on the complexity of the individual case and the ability of the spouses to reach a mutual agreement on essential issues. In instances where both parties are in agreement, an uncontested divorce could be finalized in just a few months. However, if there are disputes that lead to a contested divorce, the process may extend to a year or more, requiring patience and diligence from all parties involved.
While hiring a lawyer is not a legal requirement to file for divorce in Illinois, it is highly advisable to consult with a family law attorney. Having legal representation can provide invaluable guidance throughout the process, ensuring that your rights and interests are safeguarded. An experienced attorney can help navigate the complexities of family law, advise you on the implications of various decisions, and represent you effectively in court if needed, giving you peace of mind during a challenging time.
If you have any questions about how our attorneys can help you with your family law matters, you should give us a call at 630-505-1515 today to schedule a consultation. You may also contact our firm online.
(Updated 3/5/2025)
