Arlington Heights Fathers' Rights Attorneys

Lawyers Helping Fathers Protect Parental Rights in Palatine and Rolling Meadows

In the past, fathers were often thought to play a less significant role than mothers when it came to raising children. In many families, the father acted as the "breadwinner" who was focused on earning the income needed to support the family, while the mother was expected to stay at home to care for children and take care of housekeeping duties. However, these types of family arrangements are becoming less and less common, and in today's families, fathers and mothers often play an equal role in earning income, managing household duties, and caring for children.

While fathers may play just as important a role as mothers in their children's lives, they sometimes struggle to maintain parental rights in divorce and family law cases. When addressing legal issues related to their children, it is essential for fathers to work with an experienced attorney. At A. Traub & Associates, we represent fathers in a wide variety of situations, and we can help you understand the best ways to protect your parental rights and maintain a close relationship with your children.

Protecting Fathers' Rights

According to Illinois law, both of a child's parents have the right to share in the allocation of parental responsibility, and they are both entitled to reasonable parenting time. During a divorce case, decisions about these matters are based on what is in the children's best interests, and one factor that will be considered is the role a parent played in making decisions for their child and caring for them in the past. Fathers who were closely involved in their children's lives should be able to maintain these bonds, regardless of their relationship with their former spouse or partner.

While it is often expected that a father will pay financial support to his former spouse or partner, child support obligations are based on the income earned by both parents and each parent's amount of parenting time. A father who has the majority of the parenting time will typically be eligible to receive child support from the mother, and if the parents share equal or near-equal amounts of parenting time, additional calculations may be necessary to determine each parent's financial obligations.

While divorcing fathers will typically be able to continue to have a relationship with their children, fathers who were not married to their child's mother may struggle to maintain parental rights. In these cases, it may be necessary to establish paternity, which will create a legal relationship between the father and the child, ensuring that both the father's and the child's rights will be protected. This can also ensure that the father will have a say if the child's mother chooses to relocate with the child.

If disputes about parental rights and responsibilities become contentious, a guardian ad litem may be appointed to ensure that children's best interests are protected. Fathers should be aware of the role that psychological issues or substance abuse may play in child custody disputes, or they may need to address accusations of child abuse or neglect. In any of these cases, it is essential to have legal representation.

Contact a Mt. Prospect Fathers' Rights Lawyer

If you are a father who is concerned about your parental rights and your relationship with your children, A. Traub & Associates can answer your questions and help you understand your legal options. We will work to ensure that you can continue to be the parent your children deserve. To set up a confidential consultation, contact us today by calling 847-749-4182. We represent fathers in family law cases in Palatine, Inverness, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Mt. Prospect, Des Plaines, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Long Grove, Wheeling, Elk Grove Village, and throughout Northwest Cook County.