Client Portal
PRACTICE AREAS
Family Focused. Results Driven.
ALLOCATION OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
CUSTODY/VISITATION
Allocations of Parental Responsibilities, formerly known as custody disputes, are one of the most difficult and contentious aspects in Family Law. During allocation of parental responsibility disputes, the court has jurisdiction over your family to determine what is in the best interest of your child/children, and who should have the control and decision making over your children’s upbringing and education. Furthermore, there are situations where the majority parent (the parent with majority of the parenting time) wishes to relocate with their child to another state or geographic location, this is known as “relocation.” At times, these disputes can be as complex as custody disputes during the original divorce or parentage proceedings.
McLeod Law Group’s attorneys are both experienced and effective in dealing with these types of contentious disputes. Allow McLeod Law Group to advocate on your behalf and skillfully handle your child custody case. The skilled attorneys at McLeod Law Group will steer you through your complicated custody battle, so that you understand the process, your rights and your options.
DIVORCE
A divorce can be one of the most difficult times of your life. There is a lot at stake, both emotionally and financially. At McLeod Law Group, we understand what you are going through. Our job is to guide you through this difficult process, so that your legal rights are protected. Here at McLeod Law Group, we routinely handle difficult and complex divorces, as well as uncontested divorces.
In a complex case, it is important to have advocates who can give your case the individualized attention it requires. The family law attorneys at McLeod Law Group are aggressive and experienced and that translates into success for our clients. Every divorce is unique, and can include any combination of property, custody, financial and tax issues. At McLeod Law Group we have a team of experienced professionals ready to work for you to ensure you get optimal results.
CHILD SUPPORT
Children deserve to be supported by both parents. In Illinois, the child support statutory guidelines determine the amount of a child support award. The objective is for the child to enjoy the same lifestyle as he or she would have enjoyed had the family remained intact although sometimes exceptions are made, depending upon the situation of the parties. Therefore, a court will award a statutory amount to the parent with the majority of parenting time unless there is a significant reason for deviation. Such a result may be the case even if the support award would exceed the actual demonstrated needs of the child.
At McLeod Law Group, we ensure that each client’s child support orders are specifically calculated based upon various factors in our client’s lives. When you are in need of child support, you should not have to go one day without support from the other parent. Likewise, when you are obligated to pay child support, you need an attorney who is skilled at ensuring your assets and rights are protected. At McLeod Law Group, we will assist you in obtaining a reasonable child support order, and we will advise you as to what amount you are likely to pay, or receive, based upon the law.
JUVENILE GUARDIANSHIP/ADOPTION
In Illinois, Juvenile Guardianships and Adoptions are handled in the Probate Division. Guardianship cases and adoptions occur when the natural parents are unable to care for the child (deceased, missing, imprisoned, estranged, etc). Guardians are preferably relatives or close family friends of the child, but whatever the situation, they are appointed by the Court who has jurisdiction to decide who shall have control over the care and well-being of the minor child. The guardian may be required to periodically update the Court, as well as interact with social agencies and the court system in order to ensure the needs of the child are being met.
Guardianship proceedings can be particularly challenging because they are often preempted by a tragic family issue, such as the death of a loved one. The attorneys at McLeod Law Group understand the emotional challenges that your family faces during a guardianship proceeding, and we take pride in supporting our clients through the court process.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic Violence is a crime. Anyone who hits, chokes, kicks, threatens, harasses, stalks or interferes with the personal liberty of another family or household member has broken the law. In Illinois, victims of domestic violence can petition the court for an Order of Protection, enabling them to get protection as well as gain total control over the children, the family residence, vehicles and other personal property. If you are the victim of domestic violence, do not despair or delay. The experienced attorneys at McLeod Law Group can provide the tools needed to protect you from further harm. Conversely, if someone has falsely accused you of abuse and as such, is attempting to get a permanent Order of Protection against you, do not take this threat lightly. It can show up on a background check and therefore have a negative impact on future and current employment opportunities. Furthermore it should be noted that the outcome of an Order of Protection often can be the deciding factor in a custody or divorce case.
McLeod Law Group has a wealth of experience in the Domestic Violence courts. If you need representation on this sensitive matter, we look forward to helping you.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
McLeod Law Group will work with developers, investors, brokers, residential and commercial owners.
Our scope ranges in various areas, including areas that deal with titles, contract breaches, review of residential or commercial contracts, easement rights, foreclosures, evictions, and rescinded contracts.
ESTATE PLANNING
McLeod Law Group provides an estate planning service to clients who are concerned with securing their legacy on their own terms. In the absence of legal planning otherwise, estates are distributed after death according to Illinois’s laws of intestacy. Of course, this may not be the plan you would have chosen. Our estate planning attorneys promise to deliver you a properly drafted estate plan, replacing the terms of the State with your own.
