Divorce and Custody

Divorce, Paternity and Custody

Divorce can be extremely emotional.  As you anguish over a troubled relationship, your combined incomes are divided while your household bills double.  The children whom you love often get caught in the middle.

At Mertes & Mertes, P.C., we get it.  We understand your anguish over a troubled relationship.  We are sensitive to the fear that you have over your future, and the future of your children.  And we devote ourselves to protecting you, and them, from the harm that divorce and breakups can cause.

The attorneys of Mertes & Mertes, P.C. have years of experience in the successful handling of family law matters, including the following:

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact Mertes & Mertes, Attorneys At Law for advice on any legal matter.

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If you are facing or contemplating a divorce, you should seek the legal advice of an attorney. A divorce lawyer at Mertes and Mertes can help educate you on the divorce laws in Illinois and help minimize the lengthy court process and emotional distress often associated with divorce proceedings. Knowing when to contact or hire a divorce lawyer at Mertes and Mertes can make the difference between an amicable split between you and your partner and a potentially uphill battle.

Call us today at (815) 626-1500 to discuss your situation.

Legal Separation -
Legal separation is a legal process by which a married couple may formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally married. A legal separation is granted in the form of a court order, which can be in the form of a legally-binding consent decree. The most common reason for filing with the courts for a legal separation is to make interim financial arrangements for the two of them, such as deciding which one will pay which bills, possess which property, and whether one of them shall pay the other temporary financial support.
Annulment -
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning almost as if it had never taken place
Paternity -
In law, paternity is the legal acknowledgment of the parental relationship between a man and a child usually based on several factors.  At common law, a child born to the wife during a marriage is the husband’s child under the “presumption of legitimacy”, and the husband is assigned complete rights, duties and obligations as to the child. The presumption, however, can be rebutted by evidence to the contrary, at least prior to a formal court ruling involving the putative paternity
Domestic Partnerships -

A domestic partnership is a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life but are neither joined by marriage nor a civil union.
Child Custody -
Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are sometimes used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent’s duty to care for the child.
Visitation (including interstate disputes) -
In family law, visitation is one of the general terms which denotes the level of contact a parent or other significant person in a child’s life can have with that child. Contact forms part of the bundle of rights and privileges which a parent may have in relation to any child of the family.
Child support -
In family law and government policy, child support or child maintenance is the ongoing practice for a periodic payment made directly or indirectly by an “obligor” to an “obligee” for the financial care and support of children of a relationship or marriage that has been terminated, or in some cases never existed.
Alimony (maintenance) -
Alimony (also called maintenance or spousal support) is an obligation to provide financial support to one’s spouse after separation or divorce. It is established by divorce law or family law in many countries and is based on the premise that both spouses have an absolute obligation to support each other during their marriage (or civil union known as common-law marriages). Alimony is the continuation of this obligation to support after separation or divorce has occurred.
Orders of Protection -
A restraining order or order of protection is a form of legal injunction. The term is most commonly used in reference to domestic violence, harassment, stalking or sexual assault. In the United States, each state has some form of domestic violence restraining order law, and many states also have specific restraining order laws for stalking and sexual assault.
Adoption -
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another who is not kin and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents. Unlike guardianship or other systems designed for the care of the young, adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status and as such requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction.
Prenuptial Agreements -
A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into prior to marriage, civil union or any other agreement prior to the main agreement by the people intending to marry or contract with each other. The content of a prenuptial agreement can vary widely, but commonly includes provisions for division of property and spousal support in the event of divorce or breakup of marriage. They may also include terms for the forfeiture of assets as a result of divorce on the grounds of adultery, further conditions of guardianship may be included as well.
Post-nuptial Agreements -
A postnuptial agreement is a written contract executed after a couple gets married, or have entered a civil union, to settle the couple’s affairs and assets in the event of a separation or divorce. It is normally “notarized” or acknowledged, and is usually the subject of statute of frauds. Like the contents of a prenuptial agreement, it can vary widely, but commonly includes provisions for division of property and spousal support in the event of divorce, death of one of the spouses, or breakup of marriage. In rare cases, a “prenup” may be enforceable even without a marriage, such as with a Domestic partnership or Registered partnership.

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