Naperville, Illinois Divorce & Child Custody Law Firm

Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, PC - Divorce

1776 Legacy Circle
Naperville, Illinois 60563
USA

(630) 472-9700

www.illinoisdivorcetips.com

Contact Kathryn L. Harry

Published Articles

Law Firm Overview FREE CONSULTATION

Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, PC is an experienced family and divorce law firm providing personalized legal service and tireless advocacy. Our firm provides comprehensive family law services to clients in northeastern Illinois, in a comfortable and compassionate environment.

Our lawyers are committed to using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods when possible to resolve family matters outside of court. Negotiation, mediation, and collaborative law can all be more cost-effective and timely, while also acknowledging the emotional issues involved in divorce and child custody.

If a reasonable settlement cannot be arrived at through one of these means, the divorce lawyers have the trial experience necessary to confidently and effectively fight for your interests in court. It's always best to consult with a family law attorney to ensure you understand all the relevant issues that may affect your family in a divorce. At our firm, you will receive the personalized legal service you need in order to make educated decisions in your divorce or family law dispute.

Languages: Spanish, English

Areas of Law

Areas of Law Description

Our areas of practice include:

- Divorce

Divorce is an emotional experience a person will may ever face. The decision to end a marriage is not easy and is often accompanied with anger, fear, and resentment. The negative emotions associated with divorce are responsible for more than hurt feelings; sometimes they affect the final outcome of settlement negotiations. If you are committed to finding solutions that work for both of you, the resistance against you dissolves.

- Alternative Dispute Resolution

To arrive at a satisfactory decision in a delicate, difficult family law or divorce matter, both the practical and the emotional aspects of the situation must be considered. A judge in divorce court will rule on the numbers and practical matters. It takes the couple themselves, with the help of skilled attorneys who are great negotiators or mediators, to reach a resolution that acknowledges the emotional and financial needs of everyone involved.

- Business Valuation

At our firm, divorce clients work with business valuators, CPAs, and other financial professionals to identify business assets and to determine which assets are marital and which are non-marital (just because a business was owned before marriage that does not mean it is non-marital property. If the business has increased in value during the marriage, a portion of that increase may be considered a marital contribution). We also establish the market value of the business entity and inventory; and identify possible options for accessing or disposing of business assets and the possible tax consequences. If you are considering divorce and need sound legal guidance to understand your rights and options in valuing your business for purposes of property division, we can help.

- Property Division

Every divorce is different. Each presents a variety of potentially complex issues to be resolved. In long-term marriages, or those involving families with substantial assets, undoubtedly one of the most difficult issues involves the division of marital assets. Each of these types of assets or debts will need to be reviewed. Some will have tax consequences that a knowledgeable divorce attorney will identify for you.

- Dividing Retirement Plans

There are 2 types of retirement plans: the more common defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans. Both types of retirement plans are considered marital assets in divorce cases, and may require the use of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or QDRO to divide the asset between the parties. This means that the portion of the retirement plan that accumulated during the marriage is subject to division in a property settlement agreement or litigated divorce.

- Child Custody

The best interest of a child is always the primary concern in every divorce. As a parent, what are your rights and obligations? How can you resolve child custody and visitation matters? These are sensitive questions that need to be discussed and answered, let our child custody lawyers help you.

- Child Support

Disputes related to the care and well-being of children is some of the most challenging aspects of a divorce. Parents have many questions that need answers and concerns to be addressed. They can find those answers by speaking with a knowledgeable, experienced attorney. Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, PC has over 15 years of legal experience handling complex family law matters.

- Grandparents' Rights to Visitation

The Illinois visitation law presumes that the decision of a “fit” parent is not harmful to their child's mental, physical, or emotional health. If they have been denied visitation, it's up to the family law attorney working for the grandparents to prove that the parent's actions are harmful to the child. The court considers a number of factors in making its decision. A family law attorney at our firm can explain these factors and help you build a strong case. The firm's family lawyers have more than 15 years of experience helping families in DuPage, Cook, Kane and Will County in Illinois.

- Visitation

The firm's family law attorneys help parents resolve disputes in court as well as in alternative dispute resolution processes, such as negotiation, mediation or the collaborative law process. The firm's lawyers are advocates for the best interest of your child, working with you as the parent to develop a child custody and visitation agreement that serves the child and family best.

- Paternity

Whether you are a mother seeking to enforce the obligations of your child’s father, a father seeking to establish your legal rights to parent your child, or a man who has been falsely accused of fatherhood, attorneys at Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, PC represent all parties in paternity disputes may help you.

- Domestic Violence / Orders of Protection

We are committed to protecting our clients’ rights. If you are under threat of abuse, or if you or a child has been harmed by a spouse or partner, you need help immediately. Orders of protection can be obtained on an emergency basis. Emergency orders of protection are temporary in nature and can typically expire in 14-21 days after issuance. Other orders of protection can also be extended for up to two years. If you need an extension or an initial OP or restraining order, we can help you.

- Pre-Marital / Pre-Nuptial Agreements

Prenuptial agreements can be valuable tools to use in estate planning-especially for couples who are blending their families. Premarital agreements can ensure that property is properly distributed to children from a prior marriage in the event one spouse dies before the other. And of course both parties are better able to protect themselves from a protracted court battle when a premarital agreement clearly identifies how property will be divided in the event of a divorce or death of a spouse. If you are considering a premarital agreement but have questions or concerns, we can help.