| Family law refers to areas of law such as divorce, | | | | a result, this may result in a more localized |
| child support, adoption, pre-nuptial agreements and | | | | atmosphere, with judges becoming accustomed to |
| child custody. If you are dealing with a family law | | | | certain attorneys. |
| issue in Lake County, Illinois we almost always | | | | Child protection cases are heard at the Cook County |
| recommend that you hire a Lake County based | | | | Juvenile Court, which is located at 1100 S. Hamilton St. |
| attorney to handle your case or someone who | | | | Although falling underneath family law, proceedings in |
| regularly appears there. | | | | these matters are generally filed for by state |
| Cook County family law cases are split up into three | | | | representatives. There are over 15 judges that hear |
| basic divisions: Domestic Relations, Child Support, and | | | | child protection cases, of which there are many. |
| Child Protection. Domestic Relations courts hear | | | | Child Support cases, which are filed at 28 N. Clark, are |
| divorce, child custody, and visitation matters. Child | | | | heard at the Parentage Court, which is located in |
| Support courts hear all cases regarding payment of | | | | downtown Chicago at 32. W. Randolph. This court is |
| support fees by a parent to the parent in custody of | | | | considerably smaller than domestic relations courts, as |
| the child. Child Protection courts hear all cases of | | | | there are only 4 judges that hear cases in the |
| abused or neglected children. | | | | Parentage Court. |
| Although all domestic relations claims must be filed in | | | | Although Cook County has less of a tight knit legal |
| Room 802 of the Daley Center, Cook County splits | | | | community than other districts, in order to provide |
| its domestic relations courts by location of claimant. If | | | | proper assistance in a family law cases, it is likely |
| the claim is being brought inside the City of Chicago, | | | | better to have an attorney that understands the |
| the case will take in the Daley Center located in | | | | atmosphere surrounding the courts and has some |
| downtown Chicago at 50 W. Washington. There are | | | | experience in front of specific judges. Additionally, in |
| over 25 judges actively sitting in the Domestic | | | | matters such as child support, the smaller number of |
| Relations Division at the Daley Center. As a result, | | | | judges makes an experienced attorney more likely to |
| unlike many smaller counties, Cook County judges are | | | | have developed a familiarity with specific judges. |
| not as likely to develop a familiarity and opinion on | | | | Anyone going through a family law related legal |
| attorneys. | | | | matter should contact an experienced Cook County |
| Suburban based domestic relations claims, while filed | | | | Family law attorney to ensure that they are |
| in the same division as Chicago claims, are routed to | | | | represented to their most beneficial legal degree. |
| the sitting family law judge in that suburb's district. As | | | | |