Chicago Family Law Attorney
Get the help you need from a Lake County Divorce Lawyer
We have been practicing family law in the Chicago area for over 15 years. While divorce certainly is the most common family law matter that can arise, there are also many other legal issues that can arise that affect family relationships. Some involve modifications of things that were ordered during the divorce. Others are new issues not covered by prior orders or not anticipated by the parties in divorce proceedings but involve related issues. At Abrams & Ament, P.C., we can assist in representation in a wide variety of family law issues, including:
- Adoption
- Maintenance
- Child Support
- Custody & Visitation
- Children's Representative
- Mediation
- Collaborative Law
For more information please view our Family Law Questions or visit our Family Law information page. Please call us today if you are in need of an experienced, capable and compassionate family attorney in the Chicago, Illinois area. You can reach us at (847) 305-2957 (Wheeling) or (888) 419-6704 (Waukegan).
Adoption: Many loving individuals either cannot have children, or simply want to open up their home to another child. Adoption is often a lengthy process with significant red tape. We can help you through the process so that you can share the gift of love with a child you make a special home for. We can also assist in stepparent adoptions, where a stepparent wishes to adopt their spouse's child.
Maintenance: Commonly known as alimony, spousal maintenance payments are normally decided during the divorce. However, changed circumstances for either one of the parties may call for a modification of the alimony agreement. If you or your ex-spouse's financial situation has changed, we can help you modify the amount of alimony you are receiving or paying. Call us today to discuss how you might improve your financial situation.
Child Support: Child support is always modifiable when requested by either the party paying or receiving the support, and where there is a change in circumstances as provided by statute. This a change in circumstances could be when the parent paying support loses his or her job, or an increase in support when the income of the party paying support increases of the cost or raising the child increases. Sometimes, there is a mistake in the divorce order that results in your receiving less child support than you are entitled to. If you have two children, you should know that the statute has changed and you should be receiving 28% of the other parent's net income, not 25%. If you are receiving child support at 25%, call experienced attorney Rickey Ament to discuss a possible modification.
Custody & Visitation: Sometimes, events in the lives of one of the child's parents mean that the custody and visitation order needs to be modified. Maybe one of the parents is moving across the country, so the child cannot easily spend every other weekend with that parent. Perhaps one of the parents has been accused of child abuse or child endangerment, or has been arrested for another crime. Whatever the reason, the best interests of the child are always the most important factor. If you think that your custody or visitation order should be changed, please call us today to discuss your options.
Children's Representative: As a certified children's representative in both Lake County and Cook County, Illinois, Rickey Ament is approved to represent children in court in child custody proceedings, and has the ability to understand the child's best interests in a divorce proceeding. In addition, we represent children in need of representation in adoption proceedings or in juvenile matters.
Mediation In some circumstances, the parties want to control the outcome of any agreement they reach, but have trouble communicating without arguments. As a trained mediator, Mr. Ament's function is to facilitate the parties discussing all issues between themselves, and arriving at a resolution most viable for the parties. A mediator does not impose ideas or agreements on the parties but allows them a supervised, safe environment conducive to resolution of problems without resorting to the courts. Rickey Ament has been helping families through mediation for over 15 years, and he can help you as well.
Collaborative Law This is a new concept in Illinois, taking mediation one step further. The parties both retain attorneys trained in the collaborative law concept, and the four parties work toward the best resolution of all issues involved in the dissolution. However, the parties agree that, while the collaborative effort is proceeding, neither party will institute court proceedings. The only exception is an agreement to use the court system to implement some parts of the collaborative agreement. Collaborative law can be used to resolve such issues as modification of custody, child support, or alimony or disputes that may arise in adoption proceedings.
If the collaborative effort fails, the attorneys WILL NOT represent the parties in court proceedings. The parties will have to get different lawyers to represent them in court. Rickey Ament is a trained collaborative law attorney who can assist you in resolving your family law matters outside of the courtroom.
For further information or to discuss your family law problem, please call us at (847) 305-2957 (Wheeling) or (888) 419-6704 (Waukegan).
