Helen J. Nowels
Helen uses her experience and knowledge to advocate zealously and passionately for her clients. She knows that by the time a client reaches her, circumstances are often bad and out of the client’s control. The mission statement of the Farris Law Firm is to focus on the fight for the client today, so that they can focus on moving forward tomorrow.
About the Firm
Helen J. Nowels is the managing partner of the Farris Law Firm, and has been practicing in Illinois since 2009. In 2018 she received her license to practice law in the state of Indiana. Helen has years of experience as a litigator and trial attorney. Additionally, from 2010 until 2017 she acted as the adjudicator for the Village of Hazel Crest and has a specialized knowledge of municipal codes, violations and defenses. She has also successfully defended clients against other municipalities including Tinley Park, Homewood and East Hazel Crest.
Helen uses her experience and knowledge to advocate zealously and passionately for her clients. She knows that by the time a client reaches her, circumstances are often bad and out of the client’s control. The mission statement of the Farris Law Firm is to focus on the fight for the client today, so that they can focus on moving forward tomorrow.
Family Law
There are a wide variety of legal areas that make up family law. Dissolution of Marriage is just one part of family law. Recently Illinois overhauled its’ family law statutes, and child custody and visitation became the allocation of parental responsibilities. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage act places the allocation of parental responsibilities into two categories: significant decision-making responsibilities, and parenting time. The parent that does not have significant decision-making responsibilities is generally granted reasonable parenting time. A judge still has to make the determination of which parent has significant decision-making responsibilities and there are a myriad of factors that go into that determination. Sometimes the parties can reach an agreement, and other times a hearing is required to determine which parent, if not both, have significant decision-making responsibilities. Sometimes the court will appoint a guardian ad litem, child representative, or child’s attorney to help it determine which parent should be granted significant decision making responsibilities. This is a complex area of law, and generally legal counsel is needed to oversee the process
Child Support
In Illinois, the parent who is granted reasonable parenting time is generally required to pay support to the parent who is granted significant decision-making responsibilities. Prior to July 2017, the amount of child support a parent had to pay was based off of the parent’s income and the amount of children they had. The old model looked like this:
• 20% for one child
• 28% for two children
• 32% for three children
• 40% for four children
• 45% for five children, and
• 50% for six or more children.
In January of 2016 the legislature enacted the income shares model, which became effective in July of 2017. Now, child support will be calculated based on the combined net incomes of both parents. The new model looks like this:
- Determine each parent’s “net income” by running their gross incomes through a gross to net conversion chart.
- Combine both parents’ net incomes to determine the combined net income.
- Determine what percentages of the combined net income is represented by each parent’s net incomes.
Administrative Law
Administrative law is the body of law that relates to the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rule making, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Anyone who has ever received a ticket for violating a municipal code and opted to go to the municipal hearing, instead of paying the ticket, has participated in administrative law! Some examples of that are red light tickets and building code violation tickets.
Corporate Law
Corporate law is the business of representing businesses, or clients in their course of business. It can involve contract disputes, dissolution of corporations, limited liability corporations or partnerships.
Consult with the Farris Law Firm
Contact:
Phone: 708-234-9394 Fax : 708-398-3229
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2385
Hammond, IN 46323
Email: [email protected]
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