What Does it Mean?A dissolution of marriage, more commonly known as a divorce, is the process through which two spouses exit a legal marriage.How Does it Work?In order to get a divorce in Illinois, both spouses must have been living separately for at least six (6) months. The spouses will have to show to a judge that they have irreconcilable differ
The IV-D program, otherwise known as child support enforcement services, is a social service program run by the Illinois Department of Family Services (HFS).Parents enrolled in the IV-D program are given free assistance with: establishing a parent's legal paternity, issuing an administrative child support order, and/or enforcing a
If you have received a sanction for failing to follow a court order or as the result of child support enforcement, you are required to be personally served written notice of the sanction. If you have received a sanction – such as a lien placed on your bank account, or a suspension of your driver's license – and you were NOT personally served writ
A Voluntary Conversion of Civil Union to Marriage is the process through which a civil union can become legally recognized as a marriage. Two partners for a civil union can file for a marriage license without paying the filing fee, so long as the the following conditions are met: the civil union has NOT been dissolved, nor is there a pending disso
A Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage (VAP) is a legally-binding document that establishes one's legal parentage for a child.If you are present with the biological mother at the hospital when a child is born, and the two of you are not married, you will generally be given the option of signing a VAP. You may also request to sign a VAP for a chil
Unallocated child support is a type of child support payment one can be ordered to pay or receive through a legally-binding child support order. If you are ordered to pay unallocated child support by a judge in court, all of your payments are tax-deductible.All other kinds of child support payments are NOT tax-deductible for the paying parent, nor
Terminating a child support order is the process through which a child support order is declared null and void. Once a child support order is terminated, no future child support payments are owed for the child(s) on the order.Generally speaking, there are two valid reasons to terminate a child support order:the child(s) on the order is over the age
Temporary maintenance (alimony) refers to payments made to your spouse or partner while the two of you are getting or currently are legally separated, OR are in the process of getting a divorce or dissolving your civil union.
Temporary custody is a temporary allocation of parental responsibilities (custody) to you, your spouse or partner, or both. This temporary allocation can only be made while the two of you are legally separated, and/or are currently in the process of divorcing or dissolving your civil union.If temporary custody is ordered, one parent will become the
Temporary child support refers to a type of child support payment to be made to your spouse or partner while the two of you are legally separated, and/or are currently in the process of dissolving your marriage (divorce) or dissolving your civil union.Generally speaking, a spouse or partner will only be ordered to pay temporary child support if bot
Tax exemptions for minor children, otherwise known as dependency exemptions, is a certain amount of income related to the cost of caring for and raising a minor chid(s) that is deducted from one's annual tax payments.If you are the legal parent, or have been allocated parental responsibilities (custody) of a minor child(s) you may be able to claim
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program offered by the federal government that provides monthly cash benefits to the following low-income individuals: those aged 65 or older those with certain documented physical or mental disabilities those who are blind; andin some cases, minor children that are disabled or blindYou can visit
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as 'food stamps', is a program managed in Illinois by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides financial assistance for the costs of buying food and other goods of nutritional value. If you are eligible for SNAP benefits, you are also eligible to receive an Il
Supervised parenting time refers to the presence of an employee of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) during a certain parent's scheduled parenting time (visitation).A judge may order supervised parenting time if there is evidence that a parent has put a child's physical, emotional, or mental health in danger. Likewise,
The solemnization of marriage is the process through which a marriage between two people becomes legally valid. Solemnization of a marriage can be performed by a judge, public official, or anyone certified by religious doctrine. Generally speaking, two spouses must apply to receive a marriage license from the state before the marriage can be legal
Service of process is a requirement for filling a notice of summons or a notice of motion. It refers to the process through which the recipient of the summons or notice is made personally aware of the case or of the changes to the case.There are three primary ways to conduct service of process when filing a petition or notice of motion:through the
A retroactive annulment is a type of declaration of the invalidity (annulment) of a marriage or civil union. If ordered, it that would mean that, under the eyes of the law, the marriage or civil union never existed.With a retroactive annulment, the court may not necessarily have the authority to order the payment of child support, the allocation of
The respondent to a civil court case is the person who first received a notice of summons and therefore is required to file their appearance in order to schedule their first court date. The person who originally filed the summons and the original petition is called the petitioner to the case. The petitioner and respondent to a case will continue t
Rescinding a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP)
Rescinding a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP) is the process through which a previously signed VAP is declared null and void.A VAP can ONLY be rescinded within 60 days of its being signed, OR 60 days after a different court case concerning the child has started, such as child support, allocation of parental responsibilities (custody), o
Relocation is defined as moving over 25 miles from one's current place of residence to a new place of residence.If you have been allocated parental responsibilities (child custody) or parenting time (visitation rights), you MUST provide the child's other parent with a notice of motion at least 60 days prior to the intended date of relocation.The mo
A Qualified (Illinois) Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court order issued during a divorce, dissolution of civil union, or legal separation case. QDROs decide how a couple's retirement savings will be divided among each other after they separate. If a couple does not have any retirement savings, a QDRO will not be ordered.
A prove-up is the final hearing of a dissolution of marriage (divorce) or dissolution of civil union case. The hearing is typically conducted with a hearing officer, who guides both parties through the process of settling on the final terms of their (marital) settlement agreement. Prove-up hearing will only take place if the parties are ready to
Property divisions refers to the process through which marital property or civil union property is distributed among both spouses or partners during a dissolution of marriage (divorce) or dissolution of civil union case.Dividing assets contained in a couple's shared retirement account requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).Property di
Project Clean Slate is a program offered by the Department of Family Services (HFS) to help qualifying non-custodial parents pay off past-due child support (arrears).You may qualify to have all past-due child support owed to the state of Illinois erased if you can provide proof that one of the following circumstances prevented you from paying child
A prohibited marriage is a marriage between two types of persons that is not allowed by the state of Illinois, and can therefore be declared invalid (annulled)The following marriages are considered legally prohibited:a marriage that took place before another marriage was dissolved (divorced)a marriage between siblings, half-siblings, or adopted sib
A prohibited civil union is a civil union between two partners that is not allowed by the state of Illinois, and can therefore be declared invalid (annulled)The following civil unions are considered legally prohibited:a civil union that took place before another civil union or marriage was dissolveda civil union between siblings, half-siblings, or
A presumed parent is the legal parent of a child. In other words, if you are presumed to be the parent of a child, then your legal parentage has been officially established.One is presumed to be the legal parent of a child if either one of the following conditions are met:you are married to or in a civil union with the child's biological mother at
The petitioner to a civil court case is the person who first filed a petition and a notice of summons to start the court case. Similarly, the person to whom the petition and summons was addressed to is the respondent to the case. The petitioner and respondent to a case will continue to be the petitioner and respondent throughout the duration of th
If you have been ordered to pay maintenance (alimony) and you fail to make an alimony payment on time, the amount that was owed will become past-due maintenance. Unless the past-due maintenance is paid off, the next child support order you receive will show that you owe both the current alimony payments plus the past-due alimony. In Illinois, past
If you have been ordered to pay child support, and you fail to make a child support payment on time, the amount that was owed will become past-due child support (arrears). Unless the past-due child support is paid off, the next child support order you receive will show that you owe both the current child support payments plus the amount that is pas
If you have been ordered to pay cash medical support and you fail to make a payment on time, the amount that was owed will become past-due cash medical support. Unless the past-due cash medical support is paid off, the next child support order you receive will show that you owe both the current cash medical support payments plus the past-due cash m
Parenting time (visitation rights) refers to the amount of time a caregiver is allowed to spend time with a child. Parenting time is ordered by a judge in court through a parenting plan, which may also allocate parental responsibilities (custody arrangement).IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PARENTING TIME:If you have been given parenting time with a
A parenting plan is a legally-binding document that orders the allocation of parental responsibilities (custody arrangement), parenting time (visitation rights), or both.The content of a parenting plan may include, but is not limited to the following information:which parent(s) has primary custody of the child(s)how much parenting time (visitation
A notice of summons is a document that is filed when the petitioner starts a civil court case through filing a petition. The summons notifies the respondent that they have 30 days to file their appearance. The respondent must be properly served the notice of summons, or else the entire case may be considered invalid.
A notice of motion is a written request to the courts that a issue a specific court order, or a judgement regarding a particular aspect of the case. Examples of common motions include: a motion to modify a child support order a motion to enforce parenting time (visitation rights); or a motion to appeal a divorce judgementIn order for a notice of
A non-retroactive annulment is a type of declaration of the invalidity (annulment) of a marriage or civil union, which means that the original marriage or civil union is considered valid UP TO the date of the annulment. This means that the court has the authority to order the payment of child support, the allocation of parental responsibilities (cu
The non-custodial parent is the legal parent of a child, but is NOT their primary caregiver. Instead, the custodial parent is the child's main caregiver and has primary custody. Unless it has been ordered otherwise by a parenting plan, the child's biological mother will typically be their custodial parent.If two parents have joint-custody, both par
A motion to reconsider is a notice of motion that can only be filed within 30 DAYS of receiving a court order you disagree with.For example, if you have been ordered to pay an amount in child support that you disagree with, you can file a motion to reconsider within 30 days of the order being entered. This will request that the court schedules a ne
If a judge has ordered that you and your partner or spouse are legally separated, and you have experience a significant change in financial circumstances – such as a change in employment status or the additional presence of a mental or physical disability – you may be able to modify certain aspects of your legal separation agreement, including:temp
A parenting plan (custody order) can be modified to change which caretaker has custody of a child(s), but only within TWO (2) YEARS of its originally being ordered. Additionally, a modification will only be approved if you can show to a judge in court that doing so would be in the best interest of the child(s).Modifying a parenting plan may result
Modifying a child support order is the process through which certain aspects of a previously issued child support order are changed, and a new child support order is created. There are two main reasons for modifying a child support order:1. Modifying the $ amount of child support owed (including alimony and cash-medical support)Depending on the cir
Certain aspects of a (martial) settlement agreement may be modified, but ONLY IF it can be shown to a judge that doing so is in the best interests of both parties and/or their children.A substantial change in one's financial circumstances, such as a change in employment status or the added presence of a mental or physical disability, may warrant a
A parenting plan (visitation schedule) can be modified to increase or decrease the amount of parenting time a caregiver has with the child(s).A modification may be granted if you can show to the judge that there has been a change in either caregivers capacity to care for the child(s) since the original parenting plan was ordered.Additional reasons
Medicaid is a program managed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) that pays for certain medical services for eligible children, senior adults, or disabled persons. Eligibility is determined by income – more information can be found here. Some things to know about Medicaid: If you are a recipient of Medicaid, you are
A marriage license is both the first step towards getting legally married in Illinois, as well as a document that confirms the legal marriage between two persons. In order to get married, you and your partner must first apply for a marriage license together at an approved location BEFORE solemnizing the marriage, which requires the following: pre
Martial property refers to all proprety, including debts (marital debt) and other financial commitments, that is acquired by either spouse that is legally married AFTER the effective date of the marriage. This date can be found on your marriage license. The following is NOT considered to be marital property: gifts or inheritances any property acqu
Maintenance (alimony) refers to a financial contribution to your spouse or partner while or after you have gotten a divorce, dissolution of civil union, or legally separated.Like other child support payments, maintenance will become past-due maintenance if the paying ex fails to make payments on time.The amount an ex is ordered to pay in maintenanc
A lien placed on a bank account prevents one from withdrawing or spending funds in the account. The lien could affect either a portion of or all funds in the account. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT A LIEN: If you have failed to make child support payments on time, or owe past-due child support, a lien can be placed on your bank account as part of
Legal separation is the process through which a judge orders that two spouses in a marriage or two partners in a civil union are required to live separately from one another. However, this DOES NOT mean the two spouses or partners have divorced or have had their civil union dissolved.When two people are legally separated, one or both parties may re
A judicial child support order is a legally-binding child support order that is entered by a judge in court. This means that in order to modify, enforce, or terminate a judicial child support order, you will need to file a notice motion to the other parent and have your case heard by a judge.If you have a copy of your child support order, you can t
Joint-custody means that both parents are equally responsible taking care of their child. This means that both parents would be considered the child's custodial parent. If both parents of a child are married to or in a civil union with each other, the two parents would have joint-custody of the child(s).
If both you and your spouse or partner are in agreement to get a divorce or dissolve a civil union, a joint petition for simplified dissolution is the fastest way to dissolve the marriage or civil union in Illinois.You may be able to file for a joint petition for simplified dissolution if ALL of the following conditions are met:You and your spouse/
Interim attorney's fees refers to the costs associated with hiring and being represented by an attorney in court, to be assessed periodically throughout the duration of a legal separation, dissolution of marriage (divorce), or dissolution of civil union case. An award of interim attorney's fees may be based on, but is not limited to the followi
Income withholding is a method of child support collection. A notice of income withholding legally requires an employer to withhold a certain amount of income made by a parent paying child support from their paycheck. The income that is withheld should equal the amount of current child support owed, and sometimes plus the amount of past-due child s
The Illinois State's Disbursement Unit (SDU) processes all child support payments. If you have been ordered to pay child support, you may be required to make your payments directly to the SDU. You can visit their website here to view information about your case, including your payment history. In order to find out to whom child support is owed
A hearing officer is an employee of either the Cook County Circuit Court or the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). They are tasked with acting as a mediator between both parties to a case; guiding them through legal processes, and facilitating discussions.
Gestational surrogacy is the process through which a woman carries and gives birth to a child that was conceived through in vitro fertilization, with the intent to place said child in the care of another parent, referred to as the intended parent. In order to have a valid gestational surrogacy agreement, the intended parent must have made a geneti
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form filled out by a prospective or current US college student to determine their eligibility for financial aid. In order to apply for financial aid, the student will have to meet at least the following requirements: be a citizen of the United States have a valid social security number; an
Filing an appearance is the next step for the respondent to a civil court case to take after the petitioner to the case files a petition and serves the respondent with a notice of summons. An appearance is a document that confirms the respondent will either be represented by an attorney, or represent themselves as their own attorney (pro se) during
Filing a petition is the process through which the majority of civil court cases begin. In order for a petition to be heard by a judge in court, a notice of summons must be properly served to the opposing party. Generally speaking, petitions must be filed electronically through the Clerk of Court's website – see here. The party that files the
A fee waiver is an application open to those who cannot afford to pay court fees or any related legal fees, such as filing a petition or filing an appearance. You will need to have the following information to apply for a fee waiver: the public benefits you receive, such as LINK/SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or SSI the amount income you earned last month,
A Certification for Exemption from E-Filing, if approved by the courts, allows you to file a petition or notice of motion on paper rather than doing so online (e-filing).You may qualify for an E-Filing exception if:You do NOT own or have access to a computer or a stable internet connectionYou have previously tried and were unable to e-file; orYou a
Enforcing a child support order involves additional measures taken or penalties placed to ensure that the non-custodial parent of a child pays child support. Generally speaking, enforcement is usually reserved for when a non-custodial parent has repeatedly failed to make payments on time. Some enforcement penalties are more severe than others. Pena
If you have a parenting plan concerning minor child(s), and you or the other caregiver is not with the child(s) during their allotted parenting time (visitation rights) is prevented from spending their parenting time with the child(s), a judge may take measures to enforce parenting time.Actions that result from the enforcement of parenting time may
If you are the custodial parent of a child that is over the age of 17 and/or has graduated high school that plans on enrolling, or is currently enrolled in college or another post-secondary educational institution, you may be able to receive financial assistance from the child's non-custodial parent with college expenses.Expenses that can be covere
If you have failed to make child support payments on time, your driver's license can be suspended as part of a child support enforcement penalty. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT A DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION: If you believe that you have not fallen behind on your child support payments, you may be able to contest the suspension If you cannot work
In Illinois, every civil court case is filed with a unique docket number. Your cases's docket number will be written on every court order you receive. Additionally, each time you file a notice of motion, you will have to include the docket number for the case. For family law cases (Domestic Relations cases), every docket number will contain the
A dissolution of civil union is the process through which two partners exit a legal civil union. In order to dissolve a civil union in Illinois, both partners must either be legally separated for a period of at least six (6) months, or otherwise prove that they have been living separately for a period of at least six (6) months. Additionally, you
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is an administrative agency with two primary functions: Providing Medicaid coverage to those who qualify; and Child support enforcement services through their IV-D program Enrolling in the IV-D program gives HFS the right to establish legal parentage, as well as enter and enforce an
A denial of parentage is a written document that is signed by the parent that was married to or in a civil union with the child's biological mother within 300 days of that child's birth. This parent is otherwise known as the presumed parent. By signing a denial of parentage, the presumed parent swears they are NOT the child's biological parent. An
Declaring the Non-Existence of a Parent-Child Relationship
Declaring the non-existence of a parent-child relationship means that a child's legal parent is NO LONGER recognized as that child's legal parent. This can be made based on the results of DNA testing or by acquiring knowledge of the relevant facts of the situation, but ONLY IF it has been less than TWO (2) YEARS since the petitioner to the declarat
A declaration of invalidity of a marriage or civil union, otherwise known as annulment, is the process through which a marriage or civil union is legally declared null and void. By annulling a marriage or civil union, both spouses or partners will no longer be considered to be in that marriage or civil union. A marriage or civil union can only b
DNA (genetic) testing can determine if there a parent-child relationship exists between an adult and a child. In a paternity (parentage) court case, a judge may order that an alleged parent of the child agree to DNA testing. The results of the DNA test may be used to establish legal parentage, or to declare the non-existence of a parent-child rela
Current child support is the amount that you have been ordered to pay on a regular basis as part of a child support order. In contrast, past-due child support is the amount one is ordered to to pay if one fails to make a current child support payment on time. If one still owes current child support after failing to make a payment, the past-due
A court order is a written document issued by a judge in court. Court orders are given to both parties to a court case – called the petitioner and the respondent – each time your case is heard in front of a judge in court. The court order describes what events took place in court on the date it is issued, and it typically requires one or both par
A counter-petition is a petition that can be filed by the respondent to a dissolution of marriage (divorce) or dissolution of civil union case. Counter-petitions may be filed in order to either express a desire to preserve the marriage or union, or to allow the respondent to otherwise express their desired outcome from the divorce or dissolution o
Being held in contempt of court is typically the result of a failure to follow the directions of a court order. It may also be the result of child support enforcement. If you are held in contempt or court, you may be subject to certain penalties, such as a fine or a short period of incarceration.
Conciliation refers to actions taken by a judge or the other party to a dissolution of marriage (divorce) or dissolution of civil union case to repair the damages of the marriage or civil union. If a judge believes there exists the potential for reconciliation, they may order that both parties take part in a conciliation conference to determine if
Civil union property refers to all proprety, including debts and other financial commitments, that is acquired by either partner in a civil union AFTER the effective date of the civil union. This date can be found on your civil union license. The following is NOT considered to be civil union property: gifts or inheritances any property acquire
A civil union license, otherwise known as a civil union certificate, is a document that confirms that both partners have entered into a legally recognized civil union. In order to enter into a civil union in the state of Illinois, both parties must sign the civil union license, and pay a $60 USD filing fee. If you cannot pay the fee, you may be a
A child support order is a legally-binding court order requiring a legal parent of a child, typically the child's non-custodial parent, to make a certain amount of child support payments on a regular basis. There are two types of child support orders: judicial child support orders, and administrative child support orders. The main difference betw
Child support refers to payments made by one legal parent of a child(s) to the other legal parent towards the cost of caring for and raising a minor child. Generally speaking, the parent that makes child support payments is called the child's non-custodial parent, while the parent that receives payments is called the custodial parent. A child sup
Challenging a Voluntary Acknowledgement or Denial of Parentage
A signed Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP) or denial of parentage can only be challenged within TWO (2) YEARS of its being signed on one of the following bases: one was pressured into signing, or otherwise forced to sign the VAP or denial against one's will the VAP or denial of parentage was fraudulently signed; OR the VAP or denial was
Cash medical support is a type of child support payment one can be ordered to pay or receive through a legally-binding child support order. If you are ordered to pay cash medical support, that means you have been ordered to pay a certain amount to reimburse the cost of medical services covered by Medicaid for the child. Like all other forms of chi
Caretaking functions refer to activities involving direct contact with a child, particularly those that relate to supervising and caring for a child. Caretaking functions include, but are not limited to the following activities: feeding and maintaining the child's health overseeing the development of critical skills, including language and motor
Attorney's fees refers to the costs associated with hiring and being represented by an attorney in court, to be assessed throughout the duration of dissolution of marriage (divorce) or dissolution of civil union case. As part of a (marital) settlement agreement, one party may be ordered to pay attorney's fees for their ex-spouse or ex-partner. Thi
The process of getting a divorce will likely involve many hearings in court and the issuing of many different court orders. Some of the court orders or "judgements" made throughout a divorce case can be appealed or changed (modify) depending on the situation. Examples of court orders and judgements that can be appealed or modified may include:
The allocation of parental responsibilities, often referred to as "child custody", legally determines which caretaker(s) is responsible for the caretaking functions of a child(s). A custody arrangement becomes legally binding through a parenting plan that is approved and ordered by a judge in court. Oftentimes, only one caretaker is given primary
An affidavit is a written document that alleges a set of factual statements, and may be submitted as evidence as part of a court case. In other words, an affidavit is the written version of testifying in court under oath, and requires signing by a licensed public notary.
An administrative child support order is a legally-binding child support order that is issued by the Department of Family Services (HFS). This means that in order to modify, enforce, or terminate an administrative child support order, one should either call HFS or visit their downtown office. If you are the custodial parent of a child or are recei
In Illinois, every administrative child support case has an administrative case number. Every document you receive from the Department of Family Services (HFS) will have the administrative case number written on it. Each administrative case number contains an "H". For example: "221HXXXXXX." Note: the numbers before the "H" may be differe
The legal parent is a person that has a legally established parent-child relationship with a child. If you are the legal parent of a child, your name likely will or otherwise can be placed on that child's birth certificate. A child's legal parent is allowed to do the following: make or receive child support payments, depending on their relationsh
An adjudication of parentage refers to a court order (or a legally equivalent administrative order) that establishes a parent-child relationship between the adjudicated parent and a child. A judge or the Department of Family Services (HFS) may adjudicate parentage on the basis of DNA testing, or because of the relevant facts of the situation. Pare
A (marital) settlement agreement is a legally-binding court order made between two spouses when getting a divorce or two partners when dissolving a civil union. Settlement agreement can order one or both parties to make certain payments to the other, or to divide certain assets, including: alimony payments child support payments for minor children
The custodial parent is the legal parent of a child that is primarily responsible for the caretaking functions for a child. In other words, a custodial parent is the child's main caregiver. If the child has another other legal parent in addition to their custodial parent, that other parent would be the child's non-custodial parent. A person can bec
This article explains the requirements for a couple living in Illinois to file a petition for joint simplified divorce. This divorce petition makes it quick and easy for spouses to get a divorce, but is only available to those that meet specific requirements.Note that all information in this article applies equally to both married couples and
How to Obtain a Copy of Your Child's Birth Certificate
This article provides an overview of how you can retrieve a copy of your child's birth certificate. We discuss what requirements you'll need to meet in order to request a birth certificate copy, how much it costs to retrieve a copy, as well as why obtaining a copy can be useful. Requirements to Obtain a Birth Certificate Copy A child's birth certif
This article offers an overview of what it means to quash service. The word "quash" is used to mean something is invalid. Quashing service refers to the process of filing a motion to tell the courts you believe there was invalid service of process in your case. Below, we discuss when and how a person can make a request to quash service to help thei
Child support payments made towards a legally-binding child support order are generally handled by the Illinois State's Disbursement Unit (SDU). This state agency processes child support payments made by one parent, and then distributes that payment to the other parent. In this article, we discuss how you can check your child support balance. Your
A child support order is a legally-binding court order requiring one parent to make child support payments to another parent. Child support orders may specify how a parent must make child support payments. Sometimes, child support payments are taken directly from a parent's paycheck through a notice of income withholding. Other times, parents must
It is no secret that hiring a private attorney is expensive. Recognizing this, some private attorneys offer a cheaper arrangement for providing legal help. One such arrangement is called limited scope representation (AKA unbundled, or a la carte legal services). This article provides an overview of limited scope representation – what it is, and wha
Child support refers to cash payments made by one parent of a child to the other. These payments are meant to support the cost of raising and caring for a minor child. However, the amount a parent owes for a child support order may not be owed entirely to the child's other parent. In some cases, child support payment may also be owed to the state o
Legal Advice vs. Legal Representation: What's the Difference?
Lawyers can offer a variety of services to folks seeking legal help. Typically, lawyers argue on their client's behalf in front of a judge in court. When a lawyer represents their client's interests in court, this arrangement is called legal representation. While there are many free and low-cost legal resources in Chicago, some of these attorneys a
If you wish to resolve your legal problem in court, you may be required to pay court fees. The requirement to pay court fees depends on the type of legal problem you would like the courts to help with. In this article, we will cover when individuals will have to pay court fees. Additionally, we discuss what to do if you can't afford your court fees
A child's legal parent possesses unique rights and responsibilities. For example, only the legal parent of a child can be required to make or receive payments for a child support order. Being the child's legal parent means one's parentage (paternity) has been legally established.Unless you're the child's biological mother, having your name on a chi