Illinois Divorce, Family Law & Estate Planning Attorneys
Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. - Divorce & Family Law
|
3535 North Pulaski Chicago, Illinois 60641 USA |
|
(630) 472-9700
www.oakbrooklaw.com
Contact Kathryn L. Harry
Firm's VideosLaw Firm Overview
Free Consultation
Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. is an experienced, dedicated law firm with office locations in Oakbrook, Naperville, and, Chicago, Illinois. Our firm has been in practice since 1995. We offer legal services in the area of family law, including:
Divorce, Child Custody and Legal Separation
Support (both child support and alimony/maintenance)
Division of Assets and Preservation of Assets
Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements
Mediation and Collaborative Law
Parentage, Related Adoption, Visitation,
Business Evaluations
Division of Retirement Plans
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
Orders of Protection
Unique to our family law practice are the financial skills our attorneys bring to the table. Our know-how in estate planning makes our firm exceptionally qualified in dealing with the financial complexities of divorce such as those related to complicated trusts, tax structures and other intricate legal vehicles designed to preserve the assets of an estate. When dissolving a marriage, which involves a closely held family business, real estate holdings and substantial assets, an attorney skilled in understanding legalities of this nature becomes invaluable and offers his client a distinct advantage. We routinely represent and provide clients with creative and viable solutions to their financial concerns involving divorce, division or preservation of assets, and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.
At Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, our clients legal matters are held in the strictest of confidence. With client privacy a top priority, we take pride in providing clients with personalized attention tailored to meet their needs. Widely versatile in our approach to cases, our firm accommodates clients through litigation alternatives such as alternative dispute resolution including mediation, negotiation and collaborative law. Not only do we tirelessly advocate on behalf of our clients outside the courtroom, but clients can also count on our skills as seasoned litigators.
Our law firm is licensed to represent clients in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. At no charge, our law firm provides an in-person consultation to assist you in deciding whether a client attorney relationship with our firm will help you to resolve your family related issues.
Practice Areas
Additional Practice Areas: Orders of Protection; Negotiation; Post Marital Agreements; Grandparents Visitation Rights; Property Division; Guardianship; Living Wills; Power of Attorney; Decedent's Estate; Estate Administration; Chapter 7 Bankruptcy; Chapter 13 Bankruptcy; Mortgage Foreclosures.
Practice Areas Description
Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. provides legal representation and services in the following areas of practice:- Family Law
Through more than fifteen years of experience assisting families with domestic issues, our firm has gained extensive insight into the sensitive and often emotionally stressful concerns that divorce embraces. We understand the need for privacy and hold our clients matters in the strictest of confidence. While family law encompasses a broad spectrum of legal areas, the primary focus of our legal expertise includes, but is not limited to the areas of practice below:
Divorce
Divorces are often stressful and have a deep emotional impact, and for some people, the worst experience of their life. Not only are the conflicting emotions of divorce difficult to deal with, but also there are legal ramifications that can have a long-term effect on everyone in the family. At Kathryn L. Harry & Associates P.C., our attorneys assist clients who are facing divorce by helping them navigate the divorce process as smoothly as possible. We provide clients with detailed legal explanations, answer their questions about what to expect and design our legal approach to suit their unique circumstances. We pride ourselves on creating innovative and personal solutions for our clients.
Legal Separation
Legal separation may be a viable option to resolve an irreparable marriage when couples do not wish to divorce. Religious beliefs, closely held businesses or financial affairs may underpin the decision for legal separation rather than divorce. Similar to divorce, the couple will need to arrive at agreements regarding child custody, and support. Unlike divorce, however, the couple will not be able to remarry.
Child Custody
Child Custody refers to the parenting arrangements that divorcing parents agree upon or that the court orders for care of the children. At Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, whenever possible we take a collaborative law approach to custody, listening to the parents concerns and weighing what is in the best interest of the child. We also advocate protection of your parental rights, and once a parenting plan has been decided, we prepare a Joint Parenting Agreement to minimize post-decree litigation. Regardless, we offer representation to ensure that the plan is enforced.
Prenuptial Agreement
A prenuptial agreement determines how assets, debts, finances and property will be managed during a marriage. Partners often bring to the marriage different financial circumstances. One could have substantial assets or debts, which could become a concern later in the marriage. While commonly used to settle financial matters, prenuptial agreements also can establish how the couple will deal with prior commitments and obligations, such as children from previous marriages and ex-spouses. In addition, a prenuptial agreement can address issues regarding careers, lifestyles and locations of residence.
Postnuptial Agreement
A postnuptial agreement is a voluntary contract entered into by a couple after marriage when circumstances change, such as an inheritance, a career change, investment fluctuations or a business sale, or when marital strife results in disagreements regarding assets, debts, finances, responsibilities, future plans or children. Drafting a postnuptial agreement sometimes restores equilibrium to a marriage that is experiencing difficulty. While not all states recognize postnuptial agreements as valid legal documents, Illinois upholds postnuptial agreements drafted in accordance with the law. Full disclosure of assets, voluntary participation in the agreement and fairness are some aspects the court will look for in determining the validity of a postnuptial agreement.
Mediation
While similar to arbitration, mediation is conducted in a less-formal setting and does not have the binding attributes often associated with arbitration. The mediation process is not obligated to follow arbitration rules or legal procedures and provides more latitude for suggesting and formulating solutions. The role of the mediator is not to decide facts and make rulings but rather to help parties communicate and ease the process of working out their differences. The mediator invites discussion, encourages both parties to air their views and, in general, opens up communication. Parties may focus on issues they believe are important and tailor their settlement to suit their needs, which is often not the case when a judge oversees a proceeding.
Collaborative Law
Collaborative law is another solution-oriented approach that is an alternative to arbitration, mediation and courtroom litigation. Collaborative law focuses on creating an environment in which couples cooperate to reach decisions that benefit the whole family. Experts support spouses in the collaborative law process and assist them in expressing their views. Through the guidance of their attorneys and possibly other financial and counseling professionals, constructive suggestions are made and thoughtful consideration is taken to arrive at fair and reasonable settlements.
Visitation
In Illinois, every fit parent has the right to Visitation, also referred to as Parenting Time, with his or her children. Often one parent is designated as the custodial parent and the other parent is entitled to a specific schedule of time to spend with the children. The purpose of visitation is to promote a healthy relationship between the parents and the children. The court assumes that the parents are fit and that the maximum involvement of both parents is appropriate.
Grandparents Visitation Rights
Pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, grandparents and great-grandparents may petition for visitation rights of a child who is one year old or older regardless of whether the parents of the child are in a divorce. A pending divorce or custody case is not required. Rather, the grandparent may file an independent action in the county in which the child resides. The law assumes that a parent can and does make decisions that are in the best interest of the child. Therefore, there is a rebuttable presumption that a fit parent's actions and decisions regarding grandparent and great-grandparent visitation are not harmful to the child's mental, physical, or emotional health.
- Estate Planning
Our estate planning attorneys will take the time to listen to your objectives and help you determine how best to meet those objectives. We can help you with all your estate planning and probate needs and concerns.
Will
You may have thought about what should be in your Will, but you just haven't gotten around to putting it down in writing and getting it properly signed and witnessed. Often, clients come to us because they are going on a trip and would like to have a Will prepared before they leave. We will help you draft a legal Will and other estate planning documents (standby guardianships, powers of attorney) to meet your deadlines.
Trusts
With a Living Trust, you can still own and manage your property, but there will be far less hassle for your family when the property is transferred upon your death. The transfer can be quick and without the thousands of dollars that probate could cost your estate. Talk to a lawyer experienced in establishing and managing trusts estate planning lawyers Kathryn L. Harry & Associates.
Living Wills
A Chicago Living Will lawyer can help you express your wishes so that doctors and family members understand what you want. A situation like an irreversible coma can cause extraordinary pressure for your family and among health care givers.
Talk to an attorney about your wishes. How do you want life support, medical treatment, food, and water handled if you are in a coma? Is there a point at which you want medical intervention to end? This is a very personal decision one that is very difficult for family members. Also called an Advanced Directive, a Living Will can assure that when you can't speak, your Living Will will speak for you.
Power of Attorney
With a power of attorney, you can name an agent or representative (a relative or friend, for example) who will act on your behalf. The power of attorney will be effective during your lifetime unless you elect to change it. Without powers of attorney in place, your family may be faced with petitioning the court for guardianship. If you are facing a temporary disability or planning a trip, it is wise to have the appropriate powers of attorney in place in case you need them.
Probate
At our estate planning and probate law firm, estate planning attorneys help our clients determine the best ways to protect their assets and make their wishes clear to their loved ones. We also help with the detailed requirements of probate and estate administration.
Decedent's Estate
A relative's death is stressful. Dealing with estate matters and probate adds to the stress. Illinois decedent's estate attorneys Kathryn L. Harry & Associates can help you deal with the details of probate and estate administration.
Guardianship
There are times when you may need estate planning documents and powers of attorney quickly. For example, if you are leaving on a trip and need a will or a stand-by guardianship for a child who will be staying with relatives or friends, you need those documents before you leave. We understand your urgency and we can help with quick turnaround.
When setting up a trust or powers of attorney, or when writing a living will, you may want to take more time to consider the options available to you. At our Chicago estate planning law firm, we will take the necessary time to answer your questions and understand your objectives.
Standby Guardianship
When a disabled adult is unable to make basic medical and financial decisions, someone needs to act as guardian to assure the disabled adult is properly cared for. Talk to an elder care lawyer about how to handle the situation.
A mentally disabled adult may have been disabled since childhood. In some cases, the disability occurred in later life caused by Alzheimer's disease, dementia, brain injury, or a stroke that renders a person unable to manage bank accounts, living arrangements, property, or investments.
Our guardianship lawyers can guide you through the process to petition the court for guardianship. The court will designate the guardian. The plenary guardian then must submit detailed financial reports annually.
- Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 bankruptcy may also be called a fresh start or an asset liquidation type of bankruptcy. Most people do not plan to file bankruptcy. Rather, it happens to them. Bankruptcy is part of our Constitution and is designed by our government to assist those in need of starting over.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13, often called a debt reorganization or consolidation, allows you to repay your debt over time. This is especially useful if you are behind on your mortgage or owe money to the IRS. In addition, Chapter 13 allows you to discharge more types of debts than Chapter 7 does.
Mortgage Foreclosure
You may avoid foreclosure in Illinois by filing for chapter 13 relief. The moment a Chapter 13 Petition is filed with the Bankruptcy Court, the foreclosure stops! Even if the petition is filed minutes before the house goes to sale at auction, it will prevent the auction from taking place.
More Information on Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. - Divorce & Family Law
Chicago, Illinois Divorce AttorneysFamily Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, IL Child Custody Attorney
Chicago, IL Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer
Collaborative Law Firm, Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL Estate Planning Lawyers
Chicago, IL Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer
Guardianship Attorneys, Chicago, Illinois
Contact Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. - Divorce & Family Law
Other Offices
- USA - Illinois, Naperville
- USA - Illinois, Oak Brook - Main Office
