Russell Kaufman's Answers

I received a summons for "petition to establish parentage" to court: Will it help to have an attorney?

In my opinion you should always be represented by an attorney in all family law matters. You do have a right to a DNA test and should seek one right away. Depending on the age of the child the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may seek retroactive child support back to the date of birth and even seek contribution to birthing expenses. I have personally seen the State ask for 18 years of back child support. An attorney can help protect your rights.

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Can a 14-year-old kid sue their parents for threatening them?

If you feel that you are being threatened you should speak to a school counselor, clergyman, teacher, police or any other person with athourity.

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If a child lives in Indiana and visitation rights for the father were granted, but he lives in Illinois...

Without more facts it is hard to answer this question. Jurisdictional questions are tricky to answer. To adequately answer your question one has to know where the father resides, where you reside, and where your child resides. If you reside in Indiana and Indiana is the minor child's home state then Indiana would have jurisdiction over any custody matters.The fact that the father resides in Illinois would not change this. It also seems like you already have a case pending in Indiana....

Seeking Child Support Attorney Pro-bono or Sliding Scale

Another piece of advice is to call your neighborhood attorneys' offices and ask if they offer sliding fee scale or payment plans.

What do I need from my non-custodial ex-spouse waiving their right to dependent claim per our divorce decree?

Your divorce decree probably states that all modifications to the agreement must be in writing and this would not be an exception. Therefore, you should obtain 2 things, first a written agreement with your ex-spouse that states he is letting you claim your daughter for the tax year in question. Second, you should have him sign IRS form 8332 which also states he agrees not to claim the exemption for your daughter. If this is a permanent change, then you should enter a court order granting you...

Child support

Yes, there is a chance that you will have to contribute to your son's college expenses. Really, the answer to this question depends on what is written in your Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage. In some instances divorce decrees that deal with children who are already in college will specifically state each parent's financial responsibilty for college. Other Judgments will state that college tuition will be pursuant to section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act....