Inclusive Services Provided by Our Chicago LGBTQ Family Lawyers

Over the years, our practice has grown to serve people who need diverse representation in nontraditional family law areas, for example:

• Civil Unions – While civil unions in Illinois are not recognized as a “marriage” under federal law, same-sex marriages from other states (and civil unions) have many of the same rights and protections as married couples in Illinois. Illinois civil unions, although not recognized as “marriages” under federal law, do have protections similar to marriage, including decision-making rights in the event one partner becomes incapacitated, hospital visitation rights, and inheritance rights. By the same token, civil-union partners undergoing a “divorce” have nearly all the same rights as partners in a traditional family divorce.
• Domestic Partnerships – Domestic partners can achieve many of the same privileges and legal advantages afforded to married couples by documenting the relationship and entering into contractual agreements regarding child custody, transfer of property upon death, health care benefits, and other issues.

Family Business Issues

Our attorneys have business and corporate law experience, and are qualified to handle complex divorce cases involving family-owned businesses and business valuations. If a divorcing couple has business interests in common, we help ensure that the division of assets is handled properly by working cooperatively with appraisers and effectively presenting findings in settlement negotiations or at trial.

Along with appraisals from valuation professionals, family courts often look to certain IRS rulings, such as Revenue Ruling 59-60 (which deals with the valuation of shares of capital stock in closely-held corporations), when determining a business’s value. We understand how courts use such rulings and apply this knowledge to protect our client’s business interests through the divorce process.

Contact the Women’s Divorce & Custody Group by Haid & Teich

Our firm strives to be at the forefront of developments in family law. If you need a lawyer who is familiar with the concerns of nontraditional families, or if your divorce involves a family-owned business, please contact the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group for an initial consultation. We can provide the intelligent, assertive representation your case requires.