Illinois Family Lawyers

Former President of the McDonough County Bar Association, and named as one of the top 40 lawyers under the age of 40 by the American Society of Legal Advocates and the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40. CALI award for excellence winner for trial advocacy. Former First Assistant State's Attorney of the McDonough County Bar Association. Managing Attorney at the Law Office of Ken Wang. Admitted to the Federal Bar of the Northern District of Illinois and the Federal Trial Bar.

Thomas earned his Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law in May 2002. While in law school, he served as an Articles Editor for the Indiana Law Review and made the Dean’s List for three semesters. Before earning his law degree, Thomas obtained a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Indiana State University in May 1998. In undergraduate school, he made the Dean’s List for six semesters, was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, and was a recipient of the R. Christopher Perry Memorial Pre-Law Award. Thomas is currently licensed to help clients in...

Cameron knows no single approach works for every situation, so in addition to extensive experience as a litigator and trial lawyer, he has training in divorce mediator and in collaborative law. Cameron works with his clients to find the most appropriate approach. He looks for opportunities to utilize the elements of each process if he believes it will move a case toward a favorable resolution.

Cameron’s educational background includes a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He also holds a Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution from Chicago-Kent College of Law and...

Since 2007, Ms. Siedlarz has been practicing in the area of matrimonial law, representing clients in all aspects of family law, including dissolution of marriage proceedings, custody, child support, orders of protection, division of marital assets, post and prenuptial agreements, grandparents’ visitation rights as well as maintenance and division of retirement accounts. She is a compassionate attorney who takes the time to get to know her clients on a personal basis in order to achieve the best possible outcome in their cases. Attorney Marlene Siedlarz is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, and she also speaks fluent...

Angela M. Iaria is a licensed attorney specializing in the areas of civil litigation, family law, child custody and support, and estate administration in DuPage, Kane, Will, Cook and surrounding collar counties. Ms. Iaria's practice involves uncontested and contested divorce, post-decree conflicts, including child support, child-related expenses and child custody issues, as well as pre and post-nuptial agreements and estate administration. Additionally, Ms. Iaria has conducted multiple bench and jury trials in state and federal court for cases involving breach of contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duties, premises liability and real estate disputes.

Angela Iaria has served on the board...

Lee A. Marinaccio is a partner in the law firm of Botti Marinaccio, LTD., an established litigation law firm that specializes in the practice of family law.

In Mr. Marinaccio's early career as an attorney, he concentrated his practice in the area of criminal trial prosecutions. As a special assistant attorney with the United States Department of Justice; an assistant United States Attorney; a first assistant State's Attorney in Kane County, Illinois; and an assistant DuPage County State's Attorney, Lee obtained extensive and valuable experience as a trial lawyer. Since leaving his commitment to public service, Lee has concentrated his legal...

Walter R. Jackowiec III has been practicing law for 30 years and founded Walter R. Jackowiec III, P.C. in 1984. He concentrates his practice in divorce, family law, orders of protection and domestic violence matters in the counties of DuPage, Kane, Will, Cook and Kendall Counties. He has extensive litigation experience and has litigated numerous trial and hearings involving complex issues. His experience in trial work ranges from domestic violence trials, order of protection hearings, divorce trials, child support and custody hearings.

J. Richard Kulerski is a partner in the Oak Brook (and downtown Chicago) divorce law firm of Kulerski and Cornelison. Richard has over four decades of trial experience in the divorce courts of Cook and DuPage counties, IL. and is a Harvard trained mediator and settlement negotiator. Richard and his partner, Kari Cornelison, are staunch advocates of the settlement approach to divorce and both are active in divorce mediation, collaborative divorce law and in the rapidly growing cooperative divorce movement.

Megan Lafata (Elsner) is the Founder of Lafata Law LLC. Megan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and went on to work as a law clerk with a DuPage County Law Firm specializing in local prosecutions, criminal defense and family law. She then was admitted to Northern Illinois University College of Law. After graduating from Northern Illinois University College of Law, Megan embarked on her legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney for DuPage County. Her hard work and ambition catapulted her from prosecutions of traffic offenses to misdemeanors including DUI, battery, domestic battery, orders of protection, theft,...

Jessica Wollwage-Rymut graduated from Northwestern University in 2007 with a degree in Political Science. After working for a year at a commercial real estate firm, Jessica was offered admission to the Chicago-Kent College of Law Honors Scholar Program. As an Honors Scholar, Jessica and her classmates enjoyed many unique opportunities, including working with Illinoislegalaid.org to create online tutorials for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

During law school, Jessica interned at the Chicago-Kent Taxpayer clinic helping taxpayers prepare returns and negotiate with the Internal Revenue Service. She also volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA of DuPage...

Axel R. Cerny grew up in the DuPage County community, attending Wheaton Academy in West Chicago. Following graduation in 2006, Axel attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications/ Journalism studies in 2010. From there, Axel returned to the area to study at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree in 2013, and after passing the bar exam was promptly hired to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney. There he worked for two years under DuPage County State’s Attorney, Bob Berlin, prosecuting...

Attorney Tom Elsner, Partner at Lafata Law LLC. Tom received his undergraduate degree in business management at Arizona State University. Tom had found his calling for helping others attain what was just and right while working as a business manager. He then was admitted into law school at Northern Illinois University. While enrolled, Tom worked as a Clerk for the US District Court in Northern Illinois and as an intern with the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. Since graduating from law school, Tom went on to become an Assistant State's Attorney for DuPage County where Tom worked in the traffic, misdemeanor and...

Brian Nigohosian is known as a skilled litigator who is able to direct his clients towards a successful resolution of their cases. He works hard to establish trust based relationships with each client, and provides the guidance necessary to get them to their goal. He employs an approach that provides his clients with the maximum amount of information with which to make an informed decision. While the majority of cases result in a settlement, he has found that the best approach is to prepare each case thoroughly, thereby placing his clients in a strong position to settle, or if necessary,...

Kyle D. Sellett is a Partner at Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, where he practices matters in Divorce & Family Law. Mr. Sellett’s legal career began as a Creditor’s Rights attorney and eventually acting as a Supervisor at one of his previous law firms. During his time practicing in Collection Law, he routinely handled trials, hearings, and other contested matters. His experience in this field makes him an ideal option to handle any case where there are delinquent debts involved. Additionally, he is an experienced negotiator who has a history of settling cases with favorable terms for his clients. Mr. Sellett joined...

We have had several thousand satisfied clients from throughout the Chicagoland area who we've provided top-quality legal services for over the past 35 years, since 1988, and our clients have given us a rating of 4.53 stars based on over 55 online reviews (on Avvo.com, Google and Lawyers.com).

The Law Offices of Sheryl Rae Ghezzi was established in 1986. General litigation developed into a boutique practice concentrating in Family Law and Estate Plannning. Focus Forward strategies are utilized to competently address the unique personal issues involving divorce, children,child custody, and individual estate directives. I support my Clients as they go through the process of transitioning their lives and assist them in Focusing Forward as a strategy to assist them in resolving the emotional stresses inherent in family law legal issues. I have lectured in the areas of child custody, family law, the divorce process and...

Eric J. Vogel was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2008 after graduating from John Marshall Law School. He served as Assistant Public Defender in the McHenry County Public Defender’s Office for over 10 years. In his time at the Public Defender’s Officer, he handled cases in several areas of the law, including, misdemeanor and felony criminal, juvenile abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and specialty courts. Mr. Vogel has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and History from Arizona State University in 2002.

Attorney Vogel understands that every client’s...

Ann Leone is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She then attended The John Marshall Law School and received her Juris Doctorate. She has worked in various government agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services and The Cook County Office of The Public Guardian as a Guardian ad litem. Through these agencies, she gained invaluable experience working on various complex juvenile immigration cases and handling many domestic relations cases, including custody disputes and divorces. Additionally, she has worked with numerous non-profits, specializing in...

Attorney David P. Gonet comes to family law with a background in appellate law and intellectual property law. A business major in college, David went on to get his law degree from the University of Houston College of Law, where he participated in clinical work, researching and drafting state and federal appeals, and petitioning for writs of habeas corpus. Prior to practicing exclusively in the area of family law, David worked at a law firm concentrating in civil appeals, were be drafted appeals to the Illinois Court of Appeals, State of Illinois Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, and...

Since entering private practice, Attorney Smith has maintained a general practice with a concentration in family law. He has been a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and Winnebago County Bar Association for over forty years each. Attorney Smith is currently a member of the family law section of each of these associations. He is currently on an advisory panel for the American Bar Association. He has been a presenter to other attorneys locally on family law and child related topics.

For over forty years Attorney Michael J. Smith has provided experienced family law representation. Family law...

Christopher is a compassionate and accomplished Chicago family law attorney who focuses on divorce, custody, child support and many other areas of family law. Throughout his legal career, Christopher has been recognized by his peers as an outstanding member of the Chicago legal community. In February 2014, he was recognized by the Chicago Law Bulletin in a front page article for his robust commitment to family law and the clients he serves. Additionally, in March 2013, Christopher was honored by Illinoisprobono.org as “Advocate of the Month.” This incredible honor was bestowed by his peers for their appreciation of Christopher’s...

Joerika Stitt, Esq. is a dedicated and compassionate legal professional with a unique blend of expertise as a licensed attorney, social worker, and certified mediator. With a career rooted in advocacy and support, Joerika offers clients customized and collaborative solutions to amicably resolve divorce and family disputes. Starting off as a legal aid lawyer, Joerika represented survivors of domestic violence in divorce, family, and order of protection cases. This foundational experience shaped a deep commitment to providing empathetic and effective legal assistance. In private practice, Joerika continues to champion the needs of individuals and families, focusing on mediation and collaborative...

Eunice Ward has focused on family law since the beginning of her legal career. Over the years, she has gained experience with the divorce court, judges, and mediators. She is well known for her commitment and positive attitude towards her clients and their cases.

Noelle C. Cislo is a licensed attorney concentrating in the areas of divorce, post-decree issues, probate and estate planning. Noelle graduated from DePaul University in 2011 where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Cum Laude, in Political Science. While at DePaul, Noelle made the Dean’s List and was a recipient of the DePaul Scholars Award for her strong academic achievements. Noelle received her Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2014. During law school, Noelle served as a Notes and Comments Editor on the school’s Law Review and wrote an article regarding grandparent visitation rights....

Joshua E. Stern, Esq. is the managing partner of Stern Perkoski. As a dedicated family law practitioner, his goal is to help families through difficult transitions and act as a source of stability throughout the legal process.

Whether you are preparing to marry or are leaving your marriage behind, Joshua provides the legal expertise you need while lending an empathetic ear and remaining sensitive to the individual needs of each and every one of his clients. Because every matter is unique, Joshua takes the time to listen to what his clients want and outline their options, so they know what to...

Johnson Isdell LLC is a comprehensive family law firm well versed in the settlement and litigation of divorce, fathers rights, legal separation, child support, maintenance, custody, visitation, and prenuptial agreements. We pride ourselves in providing the highest level of service at a reasonable cost.

Nichole’s understanding of the great emotional toll family law disputes have on her clients helps her to assist her clients during a very difficult time. Nichole’s approach to her client’s matters is to advocate for her clients and find legally reasonable solutions which don’t exacerbate the financial toll divorce often takes on families, while also keeping her client’s best interests at the forefront. To help achieve this goal for her clients, Nichole has had extensive training with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago, Illinois where she further developed her skills in the art of mediation. Nichole also trained in...

Attorney Peter Sullivan is a quiet fighter. He grew up on some pretty mean streets but, since being accepted into private high school in Jersey City, he has had a passion for intellectual pursuits, including languages, arts, world history and the law. He joined the business of the law as a proofreader for some of the best antitrust lawyers in America. Based on his insatiable engagement with content, he graduated to paralegal (without the need for paralegal training) and wound up managing their antitrust litigation office. Needing to be convinced that lawyers can actually do good, before attending law school...

Liz has presented seminars to divorce recovery groups, counselors, lawyers, hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies and was an instructor for several years for a personal injury trial practice course presented by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and classes for medical practitioners to area hospitals and staff regarding how to respond to legal inquiries and how to avoid malpractice. She has also presented seminars for the Illinois State Bar Association including a recent basic family law seminar.

Liz tried several cases to juries including a case that was decisiv with respect to the use accident reconstruction experts, evidence of...

When experience counts, count on me. My career as a young attorney began in commercial litigation and quickly grew into Corporate & Business Litigation; with a very strong accounting and tax background I began to do more business and corporate law, estate and trust planning and the garden variety practice from bankruptcy to taking a small company public to heading a group in the successful purchase of a bank, and so on for the first 20 years of my practice. When someone asked me to handle my first divorce, I approached it as a business dissolution: logical and...

Ms. Wechter thoroughly enjoys advocating for her clients and uses her caring, yet firm demeanor to obtain optimal results. She is a fierce, knowledgeable, and confident litigant inside the courtroom, while remaining a compassionate and empathetic ear to her clients outside of the courtroom.

Rina Infelise is currently a partner at Rohde and Infelise, PC where she practices in all areas of Criminal law, traffic offenses, domestic violence and orders of protection. Additionally, Rina defends parties that are the subject of Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigations. and abuse and neglect proceedings.

Michael T. Sanderson joined Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC in August of 2021, where he practices in the areas of family law, civil litigation, employment law, personal injury law, including medical malpractice cases, and Veteran’s rights. Prior to joining MKFM, Michael worked as an Assistant Regional Counsel for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, where he defended the agency in claims of employment discrimination and medical malpractice as well as administrative actions involving nursing homes and medical providers/suppliers. Michael began working in family law while still attending law school through his work with several Chicago-based law firms. He...

Bradley R. Kaye (“Brad”) is a licensed attorney concentrating in the areas of divorce, post-decree issues, estate planning, and criminal law. Brad is based in the Schaumburg office of Anderson & Associates, P.C., and handles cases primarily in Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will counties.

Sherlyn ("Sherry") Smith has fought and advocated for the rights of others for more than 20 years. Prior to embarking upon her legal career, attorney Smith was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specialized in DCFS involved families and mental health issues. Observing the nexus between individual legal and family problems, she concentrated her legal practice on family law, probate/guardianship, and family-based/humanitarian immigration law. She truly cares for her clients and works to help them really move forward once their cases are finished.

Deeply rooted in her beloved Chicago, attorney Smith is the proud graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana...

Based in Decatur, Illinois and serving clients throughout Central Illinois, I am a different kind of lawyer. I love value billing and flat fee arrangements. I embrace technology and use it to make my practice more effective. I worry about my clients, not their fees. I offer a valuable service to my clients, but I don't act like I'm better because of it. My practice focuses on personal injury, divorce, family law, special education, and real estate.

G. Edward Murphy is the Managing Partner of Murphy & Dunn, P.C. and has been one of the best divorce, custody and family law attorneys and lawyers in Peoria, Bloomington and Central Illinois for the past 36 years. He knows how to litigate your case when necessary, negotiate favorably if possible, and win your case for you and your children in court. He is a skilled trial attorney, but also a capable mediator and problem solver. He has been lead counsel running Murphy & Dunn, P.C. for the past 35 years since he was 26 years old and has been winning...

Attorney Lauren A. Anaya has over 20 years' experience in the practice of law and is ready to put her experience to work for you. Dr. Anaya began her legal career with the United States Department of Justice after being hired pursuant to the Attorney General's Honors Program, the largest and most prestigious federal entry-level attorney hiring program of its kind. She served with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and subsequently went to work for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the Office of the General Counsel. She knows immigration law and can assist...

A trusted and highly experienced attorney, Joseph M. Laraia is a representative in the courts of DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties in Illinois. Mr. Laraia has been a trial attorney for more than 48 years and takes pride in serving clients in both criminal and civil cases. When Mr. Laraia first started our law firm back in 1966, attorneys had to be versatile enough to represent clients in all types of legal cases. Because of this experience, he has been successful in cases ranging from traffic violations to capital murder, as well as in family law and business litigation.
Experience Makes...