Full Description

With divorce rates on the rise, more and more parents are facing difficult custody situations involving their children. From parents having difficulty seeing their children on a regular basis, being denied visitation by the other parent, or not receiving enough or any monetary support, parents increasingly find themselves drawn into court to argue these issues. This book was written to inform parents of their legal rights and help them take their case through the system to protect themselves and their children.

In easy-to-understand language, this book tells you:

--How to get custody in Illinois
--How to understand Illinois family court procedure
--How to modify a custody, visitation, or support order
--How to take in case of kidnapping or abuse
--How to get sole or joint custody
--How to terminated parental rights
--How to calculate child support in Illinois
--How to prove paternity

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books

Introduction

Chapter 1: Hiring an Attorney
- Locating an Attorney
- Scheduling a Consultation
- Attorney-Client Confidentiality
- Initial Consultation with the Attorney

Chapter 2: Finding the Relevant Law
- Sources of Law
- Changes in the Law

Chapter 3: Custody and Visitation—General Considerations
- Types of Custody
- Best Interest of the Child
- Paternity
- Parentage in Assisted Reproduction Cases
- Visitation

Chapter 4: Settlement Prior to Trial—Custody or Visitation Agreements
- Whether to Settle
- Mediation
- Drafting the Agreement

Chapter 5: Preparing and Litigating a Custody or Visitation Case
- Gathering Information and Preserving Evidence
- Commencing a Court Case
- Responding to a Petition
- Litigation

Chapter 6: Visitation Difficulties and Other Abuse
- Domestic Abuse
- Harmful Exercise of Visitation
- Interference with Contact
- Parental Kidnapping
- Harassment
- False Claims of Abuse
- Emergency Custody Situations

Chapter 7: Rights of Non-Parents to Custody or Visitation
- Custody
- Visitation
- Other Third Parties

Chapter 8: Child Support
- Entitlement to Support
- Determining Amount and Duration
- Support Agreements
- Collecting Support Payments
- Child Support Enforcement Agencies
- Tax Considerations
- Other Considerations

Chapter 9: Preparing and Litigating a Child Support Case
- Gathering Financial Information
- Petition and Affidavit
- Responding to a Petition for Child Support
- Motion for Temporary Support
- Request for Attorney’s Fees
- Child Support Order

Chapter 10: Enforcing a Child Support Order
- Contempt
- Suspension or Revocation of Licenses
- Interception of Tax Refund
- Lien on Real Property
- Citation to Discover Assets/Turnover of Personal Property
- Wage Deduction and Non-Wage Garnishment
- Incarceration
- Creation of a Trust from Assets of Obligor Parent
- Non-Support Punishment Act
- Out-of-State Obligor Parent
- Assistance of Illinois Department of Public Aid

Chapter 11: Modification and Termination of Custody, Visitation, and Support Orders
- Custody and Visitation
- Removal of Child from State
- Child Support Modification
- Child Support Termination

Afterword

Glossary

Appendix A: State Statutory Provisions

Appendix B: Sample Visitation Schedule

Appendix C: Illinois Organizations Providing Pro Bono or educed-Rate Services

Appendix D: Sample Forms

Appendix E: Blank Forms

Index

Excerpt

Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews: