General information about how Illinois family law works, in the same plain language Michael uses in the room. Your situation will have its own facts; none of this is legal advice about your case.
The portion of a pension earned during the marriage is generally marital property. For Chicago police and fire pension funds, Illinois uses a court order called a QILDRO to direct the fund to pay a former spouse a share. Valuing that share correctly, and trading it against other assets when that makes more sense, is where the real work happens.
Yes. Illinois courts allocate parenting time based on the child’s best interests, and nothing requires a standard week. A plan can be built around tours, furlough days, and seasonal picks. The key is writing the schedule the family actually lives, with clear rules for trades and holidays, so the plan survives real life.
Illinois law and federal protections both address this. Courts can enter temporary arrangements during a deployment and restore the prior schedule afterward, and a parent’s absence due to military service is treated differently from a voluntary absence. The best move is updating the plan before orders take effect whenever possible.
No. He represents families across Lake County, the northern suburbs, and greater Chicago in all family law matters. The uniform background simply means those clients never have to explain their work. Every client gets the same close reading of the record.
Not unilaterally. Under 750 ILCS 5/609.2, a parent with the majority of parenting time must give written notice before relocating beyond set distance limits. If the other parent objects, a judge decides based on the child’s best interests. Distance, schooling, and the reason for the move all matter.
Illinois uses an income shares model. Both parents’ net incomes are combined, statutory guidelines set the total support a child should receive, and that amount is divided between the parents in proportion to their incomes, with adjustments for parenting time and expenses like health insurance and childcare.
When there has been a substantial change in circumstances: a job change, a significant rise or fall in income, or a change in the child’s needs. Support does not adjust automatically. A court has to enter the modification, which is why timing matters.
No. Illinois divides marital property equitably, which means fairly in light of statutory factors, not automatically equally. Contributions to the marriage, each spouse’s circumstances, and arrangements for children all weigh in. Equal is common. It is not guaranteed.
An agreed divorce still runs through a court, and the settlement documents control your future obligations. Having your own lawyer review the agreement before you sign is inexpensive insurance against terms that read fine today and cost you in five years.
You can share a short outline of your situation before the meeting. Michael listens, asks direct questions, and identifies the information that matters. You will have room to raise the concerns that have been hardest to sort out alone, and you leave with a clearer view of the work ahead.
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