Every year, thousands of Americans make the difficult decision to file for divorce. For many couples, divorce represents a new lease on life, full of exciting possibilities. Yet, for parents fighting for sole-custody of their children, the divorce process can be incredibly nerve-wracking. Many fathers believe that winning sole-custody of their children is a near impossibility. In all reality, fathers win custody routinely, throughout the United States, but it is important to work with your attorneys on how to approach your custody battle. If you believe that you should possess custody of your children, contact an experienced legal team, as soon as possible.

Custody and Fatherhood Throughout the United States

Every parent wants to have a relationship with their children, tragically for many fathers, they are robbed of any semblance of a parental relationship. Throughout the United States, a staggering 27% of fathers have no contact with their children at all. In many cases, this is due to the difficulty that fathers face winning custody battles.

On an annual basis, hundreds of thousands of Americans are pulled over for violating basic traffic laws. While the vast majority of people will simply accept their ticket, pay the fee, and move on, these violations can have drastic implications on your driving future. Here in the state of Illinois, paying a traffic violation ticket will result in a mark against your driving record. Repeat driving offenses can result in license suspension or possible permanent loss of driving privileges. If you have been given a traffic ticket, it is critically important to consult with an experienced legal team, before making any decisions regarding the violations.

Traffic Violations and Consequences

Within the Illinois Administrative Code, every traffic violation results in a number of points on your driving record. Accumulating a high number of points can result in license suspension or revocation. As stated in Illinois Section 1040.30, minor violations such as a non-working light or a speeding violation less than 10 mph over the legal limit, will likely result in no more than a 10 point penalty. The worse the offense, the higher the point penalty, as traveling more than 15 mph over the speed limit, can result in a penalty of up to 20 points, while reckless driving charges come with a penalty of 55 points.

Every year, thousands of Americans are arrested on domestic battery charges. In the state of Illinois, domestic battery is defined as the act of knowingly causing physical harm to a family or household member. A domestic battery charge can lead to potential jail time and substantial monetary fines. An aggravated domestic battery charge could result in up to seven years behind bars. If you are in the midst of a divorce, a domestic battery charge can significantly impact the well-being of you and your family. If you are accused of domestic battery, it is critically important to contact a qualified attorney, as soon as possible.

Impact on Your Family Law Case

If you are in the process of a divorce, and are accused of domestic battery, it is likely that the court’s decision will weigh the accusations heavily in their decision-making process. In a custody battle, a domestic battery charge can lead to loss of child custody and potential loss of parenting time privileges. A domestic battery charge can also impact the court’s decision on issues of property ownership and financial allocation.

Domestic abuse continues to be a massive issue for law enforcement officials throughout the United States. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately one million Americans are abused by an intimate partner, each year. Shockingly, an average of 20 Americans face domestic abuse, every single minute. If you have been abused by an intimate partner, it is incredibly important to contact the local police, and meet with a qualified domestic abuse lawyer. Coming forward about the domestic abuse you face in your relationship can be one of the most emotionally challenging moments in your life, but it can be paramount to ensuring the safety of you and your family.

Domestic Violence Can Lead to Fatal Injury

A qualified legal team can help you establish an order of protection, and in doing so protect you from your assailant. In cases of domestic abuse, it is important to react quickly and inform both law enforcement and your legal representatives of the true extent of the violence. Domestic violence can escalate from minor transgressions to life-threatening violence, rapidly. According to studies conducted by the NCADV, just under 20% of all domestic violence incidents involve use of a weapon. The likelihood of homicide increases by a staggering 500% when a gun is present during the violence. Despite the life-threatening nature of domestic abuse cases, only 34% of people injured by an intimate partner, ever receive medical attention for the injuries they have suffered.

Every year, thousands of American couples elect to separate and file for divorce. While the divorce process can be a painful transition, a divorce can lead to much-needed independence, a newly invigorated lifestyle, and another chance at finding love. When children are involved, divorce can come with complications. Despite the misconception that a child is better off in a household with two parents, even if the relationship is unhealthy, it is never healthy for a child to experience a marital relationship that is no longer functioning.

If your relationship with your spouse is no longer healthy, it is incredibly likely that you are no longer operating as a healthy parenting team. All that said, life as a sole-custodial parent can be highly stressful. Nothing causes single parents as much stress as questions of financial security. If you believe you are entitled to child support payments from your former spouse, it is time to contact a quality legal team.