Family law matters arrive at difficult moments. Whether you are considering divorce, working out arrangements for your children, seeking or defending a support obligation, or trying to enforce an order the other party is ignoring, the decisions made now will shape your finances and your relationship with your children for years. At Law Offices of Paul Marinov, P.C., we represent clients throughout Cook County and the collar counties — DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, and McHenry — in the full range of Illinois family law matters.
Illinois family law is governed principally by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Illinois is a no-fault state, so there is no need to prove wrongdoing to obtain a divorce. Marital property is divided equitably rather than equally, which does not always mean evenly. Parental responsibilities and parenting time are allocated according to the best interests of the children. Child support is calculated under an income shares model that accounts for both parents’ incomes and the parenting time each exercises. Spousal maintenance, where awarded, is generally determined under a statutory guideline formula. Each of these areas has its own rules, and a result that seems obvious at first often is not.
We handle:
Our office also practices immigration law. That matters more than it may sound. When a marriage ends and one spouse’s immigration status depends on it, the family law case and the immigration case affect each other directly — conditional residence, VAWA self-petitions, affidavit of support obligations that survive divorce, and custody questions where one parent may not be able to remain in the country. Most family law firms are not equipped to handle this, and most immigration firms do not litigate divorces. We do both, under one roof.
Attorney Marinov has represented Illinois families for over twenty years. We believe effective representation begins with communication: we explain the process in plain language, give an honest assessment rather than an optimistic one, and pursue settlement where it serves your interests while remaining fully prepared to try the case when it does not. Where the scope of a matter allows, our family law services are offered on a flat-fee basis.
Divorce and legal separation, allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, division of marital property, post-decree modification and enforcement, orders of protection, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
No. Illinois is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is irreconcilable differences, and one spouse cannot prevent a divorce by refusing to consent.
Illinois is an equitable distribution state. The court first classifies property as marital or non-marital, then divides the marital estate in proportions it considers just. Equitable does not automatically mean equal.
The legal term changed in 2016 to allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. Most people still say custody, and the underlying issues — who makes decisions and where the children spend their time — are the same.
Illinois uses an income shares model that considers the net income of both parents and the number of overnights each parent has with the children.
It depends on the length of the marriage, the parties’ incomes, and the statutory factors. Where the parties’ combined income falls below the statutory threshold, Illinois applies a guideline formula to set both amount and duration.
An agreed case with no children and limited property can move quickly. A contested case involving disputed assets or parenting issues generally takes considerably longer. We will give you a realistic estimate once we understand your situation.
Most family law cases do settle. Negotiated settlement, mediation, and pretrial conferences resolve the great majority of matters. We prepare every case as though it will be tried, which strengthens your position in settlement.
You may file a petition to enforce, and in appropriate cases seek a finding of contempt. Courts have a range of remedies, including make-up parenting time, wage withholding, and an award of attorney’s fees.
Yes. Support, parenting time, and allocation of parental responsibilities may generally be modified on a showing of a substantial change in circumstances, subject to specific statutory rules for each.
Divorce can affect a conditional green card or a pending application, but it does not necessarily end your path to status. This is an area our office handles on both sides.
Any court papers you have been served with or have filed, recent pay stubs and tax returns for both spouses if you have them, a list of significant assets and debts, and any existing court orders or agreements.
Whenever appropriate, we offer our family law services on a flat-fee basis so that you understand the cost of representation from the outset. Please contact our office to discuss the fee for your specific matter.
