Family Law Attorney in Arlington Heights

Family Law Attorney in Arlington Heights

Until about 2010, Illinois family laws were a jumbled mess of random court decisions and out-of-touch statutes. But today’s family law process is much more streamlined and much more in-tune with your family’s needs. These new laws do not guarantee better results. They are only tools, and only the best Arlington Heights family law attorneys know how to use these tools.

At Andrea Heckman Law, we know the law. More importantly, because we have developed proven methods over the years, we know how to make the law work for your family. These methods involve a dedication to legal principles, strong advocacy for our clients, and old-fashioned hard work. Through it all, we proactively communicate with you, so you are never in the dark.

Divorce in Arlington Heights

The marriage dissolution rate has declined somewhat since 2000. But divorce is still the foundational family law matter in most situations. If an Arlington Heights family law attorney makes a mistake in your decree, these errors are difficult to undo.

That is why we work hard to get things right the first time. A divorce decree should resolve all the practical and financial issues in a marriage dissolution. That includes things like parenting time division, child-rearing orders (e.g. the children must stay in a certain geographic area), asset/debt division, and financial support orders.

In many ways, an Arlington Heights family law attorney can start working for you even earlier. At Andrea Heckman Law, our professionals craft premarital agreements that place your marriage on a stronger footing and also take some of the sting out of a future divorce.

Modification in Cook County

Life changes constantly. People move to new houses, get new jobs, deal with serious injuries, recover from chronic illnesses, and the list goes on. When your life changes, an Arlington Heights family law attorney can make sure your divorce decree matches your new circumstances.

Generally, the judge will modify any part of a decree if these circumstances have materially and substantially changed. These alterations could affect both emotionally charged orders, such as a parenting time division, and financial matters, like child support payments.

It is always important to get these changes in writing and incorporate them into the decree. Otherwise, one parent can unilaterally decide to go back to the way things were before. If that happens, the other parent has practically no legal options.

Family Preservation Orders

Our services are not limited to divorces and modifications. We build long-term relationships with our clients. So, we offer a wide range of non-divorce family law services, including:

• Paternity: Even if the birth certificate names you as the father, you have basically no legal rights. Only a legal paternity case gives you proper credit for the financial support you pay and ensures that you have a voice in the way your child is brought up.
• Stepparent Adoption: Many times, a legal document has a transformative effect, and a stepparent adoption is a good example. This streamlined process solidifies the legal and emotional bonds in your blended family. If stepparent adoption is not a good option, for whatever reason, a name change may have almost the same positive effect.
• Protective Orders: For many reasons, living in fear is a terrible thing. Illinois law provides people with a number of options, so they do not have to settle for less. At Andrea Heckman Law, we also represent alleged abusers. We know that there are almost always two sides to the story. 

In all these situations, our door is always open, even if you just need some good legal advice about your family’s current legal conundrum.

Reach Out to a Dedicated Lawyer

There are a number of ways that a family law attorney can make your life better. For a free consultation with an experienced family law attorney in Arlington Heights, contact Andrea Heckman Law. Home and after-hours visits are available.