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.