Lake Forest Family Lawyer

Family Lawyer Lake Forest, IL

If you have scheduled a consultation with a Lake Forest, IL family lawyer employed by Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC, you may have questions about how to prepare for our first meeting. Please know that this discussion will allow you to have your questions answered, be they about the divorce process, your unique circumstances and/or our firm’s approach to representation. As a result, one of the most beneficial things you can do when preparing to meet with us is to write any and all questions you have down as they occur to you. That way, you can refer to them during our discussion and will not be pressured to remember them without a reference.

Writing down questions is a relatively straightforward way to prepare for your consultation. But is there anything else you can do to ensure that your consultation is as efficient and comprehensive as you hope it might be? The answer to that question is, “Yes, indeed!”

Family Lawyer Lake Forest, IL

• Why It’s a Good Idea for Both You and Your Spouse to Get an Attorney
• Lake Forest Family Law Infographic
• Contacting an Attorney
• Dividing Marital Property
• How Much Do the Services of a Divorce or Child Custody Lawyer Cost?
• Family Law: Cost Considerations
• Get Familiar with Illinois State Laws Regarding Child Custody
• Be Strategic When Showing You Are the Better Parent
• Have the Correct Documents Prepared
• Understand Court Etiquette
• Why not hire a “bulldozer” attorney?
• Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC Lake Forest Family Lawyer
• Lake Forest Family Lawyer Google Review
• Finding an Attorney From a Lake Forest Family Law Firm Who Suits Your Needs

Why It’s a Good Idea for Both You and Your Spouse to Get an Attorney 

If you’re in the beginning stages of divorce, you might have a lot of questions on your mind. Kids complicate the issue, as do pets, property and other assets. It may not be easy, but you can get through this. The first thing to do is hire an attorney. You and your spouse do not both need to have one, but it is often a good idea. The following are some different situations and scenarios to consider:

• One Attorney, One Self-Representation

If you feel like your divorce is going to be an easy one, you may choose to have only one attorney. While an Lake Forest family lawyer cannot represent both of you, one spouse can retain an attorney and the other can be cooperative and self-represented. This scenario typically works best in an uncontested divorce. What that means is you and your spouse agree on child custody, division of assets and those other big issues. The attorney could help you both work through smaller issues.

• Two Attorneys

Someone who is in for a difficult divorce should always have an attorney. If your spouse has already retained a family lawyer, it’s time you do it too. With two attorneys, one representing each spouse, you both have someone who has your best interests in mind. Your lawyers can help you both stay on schedule, meet deadlines, pay proper fees and find common ground on the major issues. If you are unable to agree, there may come a time when you have to attend mediation by order of the court. Your attorneys will be there with you, helping you determine what is best.

• No Attorneys

In a divorce in which both parties choose to be self-represented, there could be some things that are looked over, but there are still some couples who choose to do this. You would have to make sure all the proper paperwork was filled out and turned into the court on time. You would have to figure out what fees to pay and how to arrange division of assets, child custody, spousal support and other factors on your own.

Lake Forest Family Law Infographic

 

Contacting an Attorney

As you can see, while there are some tempting options during a divorce, it’s often the best for both you and your spouse to obtain an attorney. Of course, your situation is unique and if you and your spouse are amicable, it might benefit you to do it without legal representation. If you are going through a divorce, contact an Illinois family lawyer right away so you can be sure to complete everything correctly and on time. 

Dividing Marital Property

One of the most important elements of your divorce process involves dividing your marital property. In order to ensure that our team can craft a strategy designed to obtain a fair divorce settlement on your behalf, we need to understand what kinds of assets you and your spouse possess. If you can make a list of all of your financial accounts, retirement accounts, real property, intangible assets, and valuable personal property, that will serve as a helpful starting point for a discussion related to your property division settlement.

Similarly, if you and your spouse have children, it will be helpful for us to know how you envision your child custody situation progressing. Do you have any idea of what kind of custody arrangement would best serve your child’s best interests? Are you and your spouse on the same page about this arrangement or do you have fundamental differences in regards to your custody arrangements? Writing down any thoughts you may have on this subject will be helpful as we discuss child custody matters.

Finally, if you can write down any thoughts you have about your needs and priorities as your divorce process progresses, that will also be helpful. A Lake Forest family lawyer will be best positioned to successfully advocate on your behalf once we understand what you want and need out of the divorce process.

Legal Guidance Is Available

If you have not yet scheduled a consultation with our team, please do not hesitate to do so today. Consultations are confidential and risk-free, as they do not obligate you to take any action whatsoever. All these initial conversations are designed to accomplish is that your questions are answered and that you are empowered to make an informed decision about your legal situation moving forward. Certainly, if you decide to file for divorce or otherwise need legal support and guidance moving forward, the team at Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC would be happy to assist you. But the consultation itself is risk-free, so please do not hesitate to connect with us today. We look forward to taking your call.

How Much Do the Services of a Divorce or Child Custody Lawyer Cost?

Both divorce and child custody disputes are notoriously expensive processes. It is therefore understandable that many couples compelled to navigate these life transitions ultimately become preoccupied with what they generally cost. It is important to understand that there is no set “price tag” associated with the legal processes of divorce and/or determining child custody. Instead, the legal costs associated with any specific case depend upon a variety of factors. Chief among these factors is how willing each party is to negotiate with the other.

Family Law: Cost Considerations

Contentious legal battles are undeniably expensive. Certainly, if you need to engage in a contentious legal battle in order to achieve an important goal, that goal may be well worth the time, resources and effort it takes to bring that result about. However, if you are concerned with keeping your legal costs low, you may significantly benefit from a collaborative approach.

Working with a Lake Forest, IL family lawyer to come to an agreement with your spouse and/or child’s other parent through mediation and/or attorney-led negotiation will almost certainly cost you far less than multiple trips to court would. Every time a lawyer needs to prepare to go to court, time and resources must be spent on that preparation. If you and your spouse are willing to work with your attorneys to come to an agreement outside of court, your costs will be considerably lessened from what they otherwise might be. Please don’t hesitate to ask our firm for clarification about your options and the relative costs associated with each.

Legal Assistance Is Available
If you have questions about divorce, child custody, child support or any other family legal matter, please schedule a confidential, risk-free consultation with an experienced member of our legal team today. When you come to our firm for your consultation, we can answer any questions you may have about your legal situation and/or about our firm’s approach to representation. Only after we better understand the specifics and complexities of your circumstances will we be able to give you a clear sense of how much your legal challenges may cost you financially.

Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC is committed to strong advocacy and transparent representation. What does this mean practically? If you choose to work with us, we will work hard on your behalf and we will be straightforward and open with you about our approach, communication standards, fees and style of representation. We understand that navigating a family-related legal challenge can be among the most stressful events ever experienced by an individual and/or family.

As a result, we take our role of representing our clients seriously while prioritizing efficiency and compassion so that the legal “side” of your situation is no more stressful than necessary. Please consider scheduling a consultation with a family lawyer from IL at Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC today — we look forward to answering your questions and exploring your legal options with you.

Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC can provide you with family law counsel in Lake Forest, IL. We understand that battling over child custody with your ex can be emotionally taxing and expensive. Attending your first custody hearing regarding your children can be intimidating since many parents are unfamiliar with the process. With some planning and counsel regarding Lake Forest family law, you can present an influential case to the family court judge. Along with hiring a family lawyer from Lake Forest, IL for help, Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC recommends considering the following advice: 

Get Familiar with Illinois State Laws Regarding Child Custody

The laws for child custody vary based on the state so live in. That is why we suggest acquiring family law counsel based in Lake Forest, IL. Our lawyers can advise you regarding child custody laws in the state of Illinois. Once you are familiar with the laws that apply to you, you can build a case that works in your favor. You may end up regretting not researching more into the topic if your child custody hearing doesn’t go as planned. It’s best to be prepared and knowledgeable before stepping into your hearing. 

Be Strategic When Showing You Are the Better Parent

No matter what you say, the main focus of the judge is going to be what will be in the best interest of your child or children. So, with family law counsel in Lake Forest, our lawyers can offer advice on how to showcase yourself in the best possible light. The judge needs to be convinced that one parent is more suitable to have custody than the other, and it can be challenging to prove without insight from a seasoned family law attorney at Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC. 

Have the Correct Documents Prepared

Lake Forest family law counsel can provide you with the correct documents so that you are prepared for your first child custody hearing. Examples of useful paperwork that the family court judge may need are financial statements from your employer, current address, photographs of your home, phone logs, a proposed visitation schedule, and proof that you paid any child support payments to the other parent. 

Understand Court Etiquette

From the very beginning of the court hearing, the judge will be in charge. By having family law counsel from a professional serving Lake Forest, IL can educate you on what to expect. It’s important that you never interrupt the judge and avoid emotional outbursts of any kind. You want to show that you are a parent that can keep their wits about them in a very tense situation. An attorney can roleplay so you can practice what it will feel like to be in the courtroom and talking with the judge. Preparing beforehand is crucial, because if you make a huge mistake during the hearing, it can completely change how the judge feels regarding your suitability as the parent with custody. 

Please do not go into your child custody hearing without preparation from your Lake Forest family law counsel. If needed, we can even represent you during the hearing if you need additional support. Call Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC today to book an appointment with lawyers that provide family law counsel to Lake Forest, IL. 

Finding the right Lake Forest, Illinois family law firm is essential when you want to get the process of divorce going. That said, if you do not find someone who works well with your personality, you may realize you did not get as much out of the divorce as your ex-spouse did or you may feel that your attorney bulldozed past what you were hoping for. Neither situation is good to be in, which is why the Lake Forest family lawyer relies on at Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC would like to help ensure you get the right divorce attorney for your circumstances. We care about making sure our clients are heard and will be compassionate when it comes to your divorce. We also know when it is time to be aggressive about protecting and defending your needs and believe we can offer you the right balance. Give our office a call to see how we can help you.

Why not hire a “bulldozer” attorney?

This is a question we hear a lot. Perhaps your ex has hurt you a great deal or you know that their attorney is extremely aggressive. Either way, you could be thinking that the best defense is a good offense. That said, a bulldozer attorney is not necessarily the best option. When thinking about a divorce, it is best to think about the whole picture and what kind of relationship you want with your ex-spouse. Our Lake Forest family law firm knows that one of the most important things to consider is if you have children together. Hiring an attorney who will humiliate your ex-spouse or demand information from their attorney may not work in your favor during or after the process. 

Instead, it could cause what may have been an amicable divorce to become full of resentment. When you have children to think about, you may want to consider the best way you can remain civil after your divorce, even when you are fighting for alimony and/or child support. 

Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC Lake Forest Family Lawyer

222 E. Wisconsin Ave Suite 4B Lake Forest, IL 60045

Lake Forest Family Lawyer Google Review

“I have been a client of Olga Allen’s over the past year for several family law issues and would highly recommend her to other women looking for representation. She is able to empathize with me as a working mother while providing an objective perspective on the legal issues related to my case. She is very smart, professional, responsive, honest, approachable and friendly. I have complete confidence in her and trust that my family’s best interests are in good hands.” – Laurin S.

Finding an Attorney From a Lake Forest Family Law Firm Who Suits Your Needs

The best way you can find the right attorney for you is to interview a few options and see who has knowledge in divorce cases and get a feel for personality. While this may not sound like a concrete answer, finding an attorney in-person who can work well with you is paramount. You may be looking for qualities like:

• Honesty
• A good reputation
• Someone willing to steer you in a better (but harder) direction
• Someone willing to discuss mediation

If your divorce attorney is promising you a certain amount of money and says you will not be paying spousal support, it may be time to look for another attorney. You want a divorce attorney who will not simply tell you what you want to hear. You need someone from a reliable family law firm in Lake Forest, Illinois who will take the time to understand your real-life problems so they can provide you with real-life answers. 

To see how our family attorneys from a family law firm in Lake Forest, Illinois can help you through this difficult time, please give Hurst, Robin & Kay, LLC a call now.