Family Law
This is a complicated area of the law that often involves some of the most difficult issues. Family law includes divorce and separation, custody arrangements, spousal and child support, modification or enforcement of court orders, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Emotions run high in family law matters, and these legal issues can lead to life-altering changes for all parties involved.
Because of the high stakes involved in family law matters, it is crucial to have an experienced family law attorney in your corner.
Divorce
Divorce occurs when a marriage is legally terminated.
Going through a divorce can be a traumatic experience. And to make matters worse, a divorce can be a complex legal process.
Issues that are considered during a divorce include property distribution, child custody and support arrangements, and in some cases, spousal support. All of these topics must be addressed to finalize the divorce.
If you and your spouse have agreed to the issues that need to be addressed in your divorce, you may be able to file an uncontested divorce. This is typically a more cost-effective option, but it is not possible in all scenarios. When spouses cannot agree on key issues, a contested divorce is likely the only option.
Regardless of whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, the fact remains that a divorce is often emotional and messy. Vantage Group Legal Services can help connect you with qualified legal professionals and divorce attorneys to help you get through this difficult time.
Spousal Support
Sometimes referred to as alimony, spousal support is typically an issue that is hotly contested during a divorce.
Spousal support is ordered when one spouse will need financial support from the other following the divorce. The spouse seeking support must demonstrate a need for the support, and the other spouse must have the means to pay the support.
The judge in your divorce case will determine spousal support. Additionally, it is important to note that a judge has broad discretion to award spousal support.
In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and what should be awarded, the court will consider factors such as:
- The standard of living during the marriage;
- The length of the marriage;
- Each spouse’s individual income;
- Property owned by each individual spouse;
- The future earning capacity of each individual spouse; and
- The specific needs of each spouse.
Spousal support can be an important part of a divorce. Thus, it’s important to have someone in your corner who understands the law and who will fight for your interests.
Child Custody
Fighting for the custody of your child can be expensive and emotionally draining.
There are two aspects of custody to consider in Illinois: legal and physical custody.
Legal custody determines which parent makes important decisions on the child’s behalf. This includes which school he or she will attend, what religion will be supported in the home, and medical decisions. If parents have joint legal custody, they will make these decisions jointly.
Physical custody, on the other hand, determines who the child will primarily live with. If one parent has sole physical custody, the other parent will typically have regular visitation rights. Parents may also share joint physical custody.
When judges are faced with a child custody case, the court will seek to accommodate the best interest of the child. Several factors are considered in making this evaluation. An experienced child custody lawyer can help you navigate your child custody case.
Military Divorce
Divorce is a complicated process as it is. When one or both spouses are military members, it can become even more difficult.
As a general rule, parties must reside in Illinois for 90 days to meet the residency requirements to file for a divorce in the state. This also applies to active-duty military members who are stationed in Illinois for 90 days or more.
If your spouse is an active-duty member when you file for divorce, the divorce papers must be served on your spouse in person. If your divorce is uncontested, the spouse can waive the affidavit and forego receiving the papers in person.
Federal law protects members of the military from being divorced without knowing the action was filed. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act allows a military divorce in Illinois to be postponed if the spouse is on active duty. The active-duty spouse can waive these protections if he or she wants the divorce to move forward.
While a military divorce can be complicated, an attorney can help you understand the process and ensure that your divorce goes as smoothly as possible.
Personal Injury
If you have ever suffered a personal injury due to the actions of someone else, you may have a legal claim for recovery.
A personal injury claim allows you to seek monetary compensation from a party who was at fault in causing your injuries. This is often a great way for accident victims to get the compensation they need to recover in the aftermath of an accident.
Examples of damages for which you can recover compensation in a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Past and future medical expenses;
- Property damage repair and replacement;
- Loss of income and earning capacity due to your injuries;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of companionship; and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries at the hands of another, contact a personal injury attorney today to discuss your case and see what you can do to begin your process toward recovery.
Car Accidents
A car accident can turn your world upside down.
In the aftermath of a car accident, victims are often faced with personal injuries, property damage, financial hardships, and emotional trauma. So what can you do after a car accident to address these complicated issues?
A personal injury lawsuit can provide you with a way to get the compensation you need and deserve after your car accident. Though it can feel stressful to take this on, you don’t have to handle this on your own.
If you have sustained injuries in a car accident, a personal injury attorney can help you fight for your rights and work toward recovery. At Vantage Group Legal Services, we can connect you with an experienced car accident attorney to get you the best legal representation for your case.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are some of the most devastating personal injury accidents that can occur.
The size and weight of commercial trucks coupled with the speed at which they travel can lead to severe consequences in the aftermath of an accident. For this reason, extensive regulations exist to better protect both truck drivers and other drivers on the road.
Unfortunately, however, truck drivers don’t always follow these regulations.
Some of the most common causes of semi-truck accidents include:
- Improper cargo loading,
- Poor truck maintenance,
- Poor training,
- Driver fatigue, and
- Speeding.
If you sustain injuries in a truck accident due to any of the above, you may have a legal claim against the truck driver, the trucking company, or both.
An attorney can help you assess your potential claims and determine your best pathway toward recovery.
Motorcycle Accidents
Many people love the simultaneous thrill and sense of calm that comes with riding a motorcycle. However, the fact remains that motorcycles are some of the most dangerous modes of transportation that exist.
In fact, in 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely to die in an accident than passenger cars per vehicle mile traveled. Despite increases in motorcycle safety and a rise in helmet use by riders, there is never any way to prevent involvement in a motorcycle accident with any certainty.
Due to the size of motorcycles compared to passenger vehicles and trucks, they can be less visible to other vehicles and more susceptible to being hit. Further, motorcycles are less stable than vehicles with more than 2 wheels.
If you are a motorcyclist who has sustained injuries in an accident, contact an attorney today to see how you can recover.
Slip and Fall
One of the most common types of personal injury accidents is the “slip-and-fall” case.
You may have heard of slip-and-fall accidents before but never given them much thought. Surprisingly, however, slip-and-fall accidents can result in significant injuries and potentially complicated legal proceedings.
A slip-and-fall accident can lead to many complications, including:
- Extensive physical injuries,
- Medical expenses,
- Time away from work as you recover,
- Lost earning capacity, and
- Emotional trauma.
Dealing with these issues can be stressful and overwhelming. But all of them are damages for which you may be able to receive compensation.
If you want to know more about how to recover in the aftermath of your slip-and-fall accident, a personal injury attorney can help.
Vantage Group Legal Services can connect you with a competent personal injury attorney to get you the compensation you need to recover.