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Our latest Educate Empower Roundtable explored ways to navigate life’s many transitions — those we plan for and those that take us by surprise — with more confidence and clarity. It featured an insightful conversation with panelists Tracy Wheeler, LCSW, a therapist who discussed building the right support team; Sarah Tims, CFP® at  Curi Capital, […]

Life is full of transitions — some anticipated, while others catch us off guard. Successfully navigating them requires more than just reactive problem-solving; it takes perspective, planning and clear guidance. Years of guiding clients through divorce have shown me that understanding your options and priorities, combined with thoughtful decision-making, is key to transforming uncertainty into […]

I have represented many clients who faced the possibility of losing a sizable portion of the marital estate to which they were entitled because their spouse diverted assets into a hidden trust. This practice, often referred to as fraud on the marital estate, is well recognized in Illinois law. The high-net-worth clients with whom I […]

Divorce impacts people in many different ways. I’ve represented spouses with little financial knowledge who suddenly had to take charge of the household budget and parents navigating the complexities of raising children across two separate homes. These challenges are often intensified by the strong emotions that accompany the process. To help address these demands, many […]

Despite the rise in emerging electronic payment methods like Apple Pay, Venmo and Zelle, it may sound surprising that cash is still the most common form of payment. While cash has its advantages, it can complicate divorce cases, especially for a spouse divorcing a partner who is paid in cash at work or primarily handles […]

It’s been more than five years since it became legal for adults aged 21 and older to possess, purchase and consume limited amounts of cannabis in Illinois. In that time, usage appears to have become more common, or at least more readily disclosed, and it is increasingly becoming an issue in divorce cases involving children.  […]

Divorce is a life-altering event for the entire family, not just for the spouses but for the child(ren) caught in the middle as well. Unfortunately, I’ve seen parents engage in conduct that is clearly detrimental to their children. Even parents who mean well make choices that add to their children’s anxiety and fear. Speaking negatively […]

Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP are more than just financial buzzwords. These forms of cryptocurrency have become part of everyday vocabulary. Although it’s difficult to definitively say how many American adults own cryptocurrency, one source estimates it could be as high as 28%. Yet, these items have already become a point of contention in divorces. Until […]

Our second Educate Empower Roundtable event explored the intersection of addiction and divorce. It featured an informative conversation with panelists Gibson Smith, a recovery coach with 16 years of sobriety who shared his personal story of divorce and addiction; Mike Gammel, President and CEO of TrueTest Labs, which specializes in family law drug and alcohol […]

Some of the most emotionally charged divorces that I have guided my clients through have involved a spouse struggling with addiction. Whether the addiction is to alcohol, drugs or gambling, both parties begin the divorce process with intense emotions of fear, shame, anger and safety concerns. My mother-in-law passed away from alcoholism, so I have […]