Marriage equality resolved some questions, but LGBTQIA+ families can still face distinct issues involving parentage, second-parent adoption, children born before or outside a marriage, assisted reproduction, names and identity documents, premarital property, and family records that do not reflect lived relationships.
As an LGBTQIA+ attorney and advocate, Mia Tarbhai offers representation that is affirming without losing legal precision. The work begins by mapping the family's actual history and every document that may establish—or leave gaps in—legal rights.
Scope of representation
Family-law issues we address
- Divorce and dissolution of marriages or civil unions
- Parentage, second-parent adoption, stepparent adoption, and assisted reproduction
- Decision-making, parenting time, relocation, and support
- Prenuptial, postnuptial, cohabitation, and donor-related agreements
- Orders of protection and safety planning
- Estate planning and documents that protect chosen family
- Correcting assumptions or records that do not reflect a family's legal relationships
How we approach the work
Start with the family history the law needs to see
Chronology can be decisive: dates of marriage or civil union, births, acknowledgments, adoptions, donor arrangements, moves between states, prior judgments, and caregiving history. Collecting those records early helps identify rights that already exist and protections that still need to be created.
Respectful representation also means candid advice. An affirming lawyer should explain both the strengths and the legal gaps in a case, then choose the most durable available path—agreement where possible and evidence-based litigation where necessary.
Illinois family-law insights
Read before your next decision.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to the first questions.
Does marriage automatically establish both spouses as legal parents?
Marriage can create important presumptions, but it is not a universal substitute for a parentage judgment or adoption. The answer depends on conception, birth, timing, documents, and governing law.
Why consider a second-parent adoption if both parents are on a birth certificate?
An adoption judgment can provide durable recognition across jurisdictions and during emergencies. Whether it is needed or available requires review of the family's existing legal documents.
Are same-sex divorces handled under the same Illinois statute?
Yes, Illinois divorce law applies, but the factual history may create distinct classification, parentage, or pre-marriage partnership issues that need careful analysis.
Can the firm provide representation in Spanish?
Yes. Rose Tarbhai Law Group provides legal services in English and Spanish.