Orland Park, IL Custody Attorneys for Black Families

Knowledgeable Lawyers Helping Black Parents Address Child Custody and Parenting Time in Orland Park, Illinois

Parents who are involved in family law cases will need to address a variety of child-related issues, and they will need to make sure they can put legal agreements or court orders in place regarding the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. While all families will need to address certain issues in child custody cases, there are some unique concerns that may affect Black families. In these cases, it is important to work with an attorney who understands a family's needs, the priorities of parents, and the laws that apply in these cases.

At The Foray Hurst Firm, we work with parents and other family members to address child custody disputes and find solutions that will provide for the best interests of the children involved. Whether a child's parents are getting a divorce or breaking up as an unmarried couple, whether children will be living with one parent most of the time or spending time with both parents, or whether children may be cared for by other family members, we can provide guidance on the legal issues involved in these cases, and we can work to resolve child custody disputes successfully.

Unique Child Custody Issues Affecting Black Families

While the same laws apply to all parents, children, and other family members involved in family law cases, Black families may have complex family relationships that will need to be addressed. At The Foray Hurst Firm, we have a strong understanding of the issues that may arise, and we can assist with matters such as:

Unmarried Parents

For many people in the Black community, marriage is not a priority, and couples will often remain in long-term relationships or live together for many years without getting married. However, when an unmarried couple has a child, the father will not automatically be considered to be the child's legal parent. If the couple breaks up at a later date, the father may not have parental rights toward the child.

In these situations, paternity will need to be established before issues related to child custody can be addressed or before child support orders can be put in place. Our attorneys can help parents follow the correct procedures to establish legal parentage and address other concerns related to child custody and child support.

Parents Who Have Children With Multiple Partners

Child custody issues may also be more complicated when either a mother or a father has children from one or more previous relationships. If a mother has children with several different men, separate child custody agreements may need to be created, and she may receive child support from multiple different sources. If a father has children with multiple women, he will need to understand how child support obligations may be handled for each child. The same issues will need to be addressed if one or more children will be living primarily with their father.

At the same time, families may encounter conflict involving overlapping parenting time schedules and uncertainty about when different children will be staying with parents or extended family members. Our lawyers work to help our clients create effective parenting plans that will help to minimize confusion and disputes while ensuring that parents can work together to provide for their children's needs.

Collecting Past-Due Child Support

In some cases, Black parents may struggle financially because the other parent is not contributing toward their child's ongoing needs. In these cases, they will need to understand their options for child support enforcement. By working with our attorneys, a parent can determine what options are available to collect the amount owed, along with any interest that may apply. This can help them protect their child's right to receive financial support that will cover regular expenses and other costs.

Safety Issues

Some parents may face concerns about their children's exposure to abuse, other forms of violence, or activities by a parent or other family member that could threaten children's safety. In cases where domestic violence has occurred or where a child may be at risk due to a parent's drug use or criminal activity, our lawyers can help determine whether it may be possible to obtain an order of protection. Our goal is to ensure that children will remain safe, and we help our clients take the proper measures to protect the well-being of their families as they address concerns related to child custody or other family law issues.

Contact Our Orland Park, Illinois Black Child Custody Lawyers

At The Foray Hurst Firm, we believe in addressing the issues faced by our community and ensuring that our clients can resolve their legal concerns effectively. To learn how we can help Black parents during family law cases, contact our Orland Park, IL child custody attorneys at 312-702-1293 and set up a consultation today.