Family Law Attorneys in St. Charles, Illinois

Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, PC

555 South Randall Road
Suite 200
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
USA

(630) 584-4800

(630) 513-8565

www.familydivorcelaw.com

Contact Stephen M. Jacobs

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Law Firm Overview FREE CONSULTATION

Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C. provides experienced and professional legal services in all areas of family law and other related issues. We are committed to helping families work through the legal issues involved in a divorce, child related disputes, and property disputes.

Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience, and we are extensively familiar with all aspects of family law. Whether you are experiencing difficulties and are thinking about speaking to an attorney, or whether a legal action has begun, we can promptly meet with you to listen to your concerns and explain your options, professionally and confidentially.

The legal process is stereotypically stressful and mystifying - TV and media continue to promote images of divorce and family matters, usually in an inaccurate manner and with extreme nastiness. Having handled and resolved family law matters by agreement, through mediation and negotiation and through hearings and trials, we can provide experienced, courteous and competent advice to guide you through and help resolve your issues. At Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., we fully appreciate the sensitive nature of family law disputes. Many of our clients expressed fear and concern about their situation and with the legal process in general, prior to speaking with us but found relief and confidence after meeting with us to learn the facts about their options and legal rights.

We have represented mothers, fathers, children, witnesses and family members, including celebrities, doctors and other high-income earners, as well stay-at-home moms and the working man. We have represented every walk of life, and it has strengthened our experience and ability to effectively represent you. Many clients are relieved to learn that we have handled their situation before, and that we can offer insight to help resolve difficult circumstances. Let us help you with our experience and insight.

Areas of Law

Additional Areas of Law: Agreed Orders, Post-Nuptial Agreements; Annulments; Irreconcilable Differences; Mental Cruelty; Adultery; Habitual Drunkenness; Abandonment; Orders of Protection; Orders for Withholding and Garnishments; High Asset Divorce; Civil Union Dissolution for Non-Traditional Couples; Valuation of Business Assets; Protecting Professional Practices; Protecting Investments in Divorce; Property Division; Uncovering Hidden Assets; QDROs, Pension Valuation; Real Estate Valuation; Finance, Tax and Debt Issues; High Income Child support Obligations; Uncontested Divorce and Agreed Orders; Antenuptial Agreements; Dissolution Decree Modification; Enforcement and Contempt Cases or Child Custody Modification; Arrearages; Subpoenas; Financial Issues; College Expenses.

Areas of Law Description

Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C. provides legal services on the following areas of family law:

- Family Law

With over 50 years of combined experience, Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., provides experienced and professional legal services in all areas of family law and other related issues. Whether you are seeking a family law attorney, divorce lawyer, mediator, or guardian ad litem, our experience and information can be insightful and valuable to you.

- Divorce

Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., is experienced in handling all divorce and divorce-related issues, including maintenance, property distribution, and tax issues raised by a divorce. We also provide representation in all types of post-divorce actions, such as dissolution decree modification actions, enforcement and contempt cases or child custody modification actions. We work closely with our clients to achieve the best possible result in all divorce actions. We help many clients enforce the provisions of their divorce decree.

- Child Custody

Child custody is often the most difficult and emotional issue arising during a divorce or post-divorce proceeding. With over 50 years of combined experience in handling child custody cases dealing with various issues, the attorneys of Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., work with clients to achieve the most successful child custody solution possible.

- Child Support

Child support payments are used to provide children the same financial security as if their parents were not divorced or unmarried. In Illinois, the process of child support calculation is governed by statute. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act provides minimum guidelines for the court to follow in setting child support based upon the payer’s net (after tax) income.

- Child Visitation

Child visitation orders must accommodate the paramount consideration of assuring the child's welfare. The Illinois visitation statute provides that "a parent not granted custody of the child is entitled to reasonable visitation rights unless the court finds after a hearing, that visitation would endanger seriously the child's physical, mental, moral or emotional health." 750 ILCS 5/607. Visitation can be modified. The statute provides that "the court may modify an order granting or denying visitation rights of a parent whenever modification would serve the best interest of the child . . " 750 ILCS 5/607(c). Grandparent visitation rights have been controversial, but there are agreements and court orders providing for grandparent visitation rights that are enforceable in court.

- Adoption

At Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., we truly enjoy helping a family through the adoption process. No other area of family law is like adoption. Legally speaking, an adoption creates a legal relationship between a parent and a child and it must be done perfectly in order to be valid. All legal requirements must be completed before the court can grant an adoption. Most of the adoptions we handle involve a parent and their new spouse adopting that parent's child. That process involves terminating the parental rights of the absent parent many times by default or agreement. We can discuss your facts with you to see if there is a sufficient legal basis for your adoption.

- High Asset Divorce

If you have significant personal and business assets, protecting those interests in divorce will be an important factor in your final settlement or court judgment. Be certain that the law firm that represents you has the experience and professional resources to ensure that your rights are explained and safeguarded.

- Property Division

When dividing property a court must first determine if the property is marital or non-marital. If the property is determined to be non-marital, the court has no authority to award any portion of the property to the other spouse. If the property is determined to be marital then the court must "equitably" divide the property.

- Legal Separation

Legal separation and dissolution of marriage are similar in process, but have some significant differences. "Legal separation" is a term of art and refers to the process which results in a "Judgment for Legal Separation." It is primarily for those who are living in separate residences, and do not want to be divorced, but do want a court order setting forth each party's legal rights and obligations. Legal separation judgments often contain provisions related to child custody and support, visitation, property ownership and occupation, maintenance and debt indemnity. Couples who are legally separated remain married unless they take further action.

- Alimony

Maintenance, formerly known as alimony, is financial support paid by one spouse or former spouse to another spouse or former spouse. Maintenance awards can vary dramatically from case to case, county to county, and even Judge to Judge. Maintenance can be very difficult to secure; therefore, it is very important to have an attorney who has significant experience in handling divorce and post-divorce cases and a comprehensive knowledge of the applicable laws.

- Civil Union Dissolution for Non-Traditional Couples

Just as a marriage between a husband and wife can sometimes end in divorce, so can a civil union between same-sex partners and non-traditional, heterosexual couples, end in dissolution.

- Orders of Protection

"Domestic Violence Orders” are commonly referred to as "Orders of protection" and are entered pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. An order of protection can prohibit a person from harassment, physical abuse, verbal abuse, intimidation, or interference with personal liberty and also provide for a "stay away" order. Other relief can be granted, including temporary possession or custody of the children, exclusive possession of the home, financial support, and even may require a party to obtain counseling.

- Paternity

In paternity cases, child support, custody and visitation are the main issues. Many cases are filed because the mother is making a claim for child support, or filed because the father wants to establish his parental rights and seek custody or visitation. Paternity establishment is a prerequisite for obtaining a child support order. Some of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act laws, such as laws related to child support, custody and visitation are incorporated into the Illinois Parentage Act. There have been changes to these laws in the past several years, especially concerning the establishment of paternity, whether by acknowledgement of paternity or DNA. Many clients confuse these issues with whether or not a father is named on the birth certificate.

- Pre-Marital Agreements

Kane County Pre-Marital Agreements are often referred to as Prenuptial or Antenuptial Agreements. Ante is the Latin word for "before," so ante-nuptial agreements are agreements that are entered into before the marriage. Essentially, an antenuptial agreement is a written agreement made prior to the marriage that defines the rights of the parties in the event of divorce, separation or death. Many clients agree that the best time to prepare a fair agreement protecting the rights and interests of each party is before the marriage at a time when the parties are agreeable and cooperative, rather than during a divorce when emotions and distrust prevail.

- Antenuptial Agreements

Antenuptial agreements often define non-marital and marital property, and set forth how property will be distributed in the event of a divorce. This can provide each party some certainty and security in the event of a divorce, and can minimize issues at the time of the divorce. The agreement can also create timelines that make sense to the parties. For example, some are reluctant to marry because they have heard those sensational Hollywood stories about the couple that divorce after six months, and the misbehaving spouse received one million dollars, or permanent maintenance. In Illinois the parties may agree in an antenuptial agreement that if they divorce within one year, neither party receives maintenance, or if they divorce within five years or seven years, or any time scale that is fair to them.

- Uncontested Divorce and Agreed Orders

We have resolved many cases by agreement, and we have completed uncontested divorces very quickly. We have the necessary experience to make sure the agreement you have is the agreement that ends up in a court order or uncontested divorce order. We can explain the legal terms, and explain what effect the agreed order will have. This includes divorces where all or most of the terms are agreed up front, or where the other party does not participate and is held in default. We handle every type of agreed case. We know what you want and we know what to do.

- Personal Injury

Illinois Personal Injury Practice Concentration:

• Wrongful Death
• Workers Comp
• Personal Injury arising out of Automobile Accidents, Medical Negligence, Transportation & Product Liability
• Insurance Claims

Affiliations

Super Lawyers
KCBA
Illinois State Bar Association

Attorneys

	Mr. Carlo D. Colosimo Attorney Child Support and Custody, Child Visitation, Divorce, Family Law, Litigation		Ms. Marcee C. Duvall Attorney Divorce, Family Law
	Mr. Anthony J. Giudice Attorney Alimony, Child Support and Custody, Divorce, Family Law, Litigation		Ms. Tricia D. Goostree Attorney Adoption, Alimony, Child Support and Custody, Child Visitation, Collaborative Law
	Mr. Stephen M. Jacobs Attorney Family Law, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motorcycle Accident, Personal Injury, Truck Accident		Mr. Mathew G. Shaw Attorney Adoption, Collaborative Law, Divorce, Elder Law, Family Law
	Ms. Robin M. Zandri Attorney Adoption, Alimony, Child Support and Custody, Child Visitation, Collaborative Law