Best Divorce Attorneys in Chicago
Juli A. Gumina
Divorce Lawyers
Named a Leading Lawyer in the area of Family Law, Juli handles all types of Family Law cases including contested custody and financial trials. Juli focuses her practice on high net worth and complex asset divorce matters, child custody and removal litigation, and financial issues in divorce, especially those involving closely held or family owned business interests. Juli is always working towards a collaborative solution to resolving a client’s issues.
Juli A. Gumina is a Shareholder in Sullivan Taylor, Gumina & Palmer, P.C. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”), the premier professional organization of family law attorneys throughout the United States. Juli was admitted to practice law in 1995, and graduated with a J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology-Kent College of Law, where she was on the Dean’s List and a member of the Bar & Gavel Society.
Juli received her B.A. from Loyola University in Chicago, where she graduated cum laude and was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society. She honed her litigation skills for several years as a public defender in DuPage County, prior to joining the firm to focus on family law. Juli is a trained and experienced mediator and is frequently appointed by the courts to mediate family law issues, in addition to serving as a Guardian ad Litem in both DuPage and Will County.
Named a Leading Lawyer in the area of Family Law, Juli handles all types of Family Law cases including contested custody and financial trials. Juli focuses her practice on high net worth and complex asset divorce matters, child custody and removal litigation, and financial issues in divorce, especially those involving closely-held or family-owned business interests. Juli is always working towards a collaborative solution to resolving a client’s issues.
Juli has spoken and presented at numerous seminars dealing with family law topics and the issues surrounding divorce. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage County and Will County Bar Associations.
JOSHUA HAID
Divorce Lawyers
Mr. Joshua P. Haid is one of the founding members of the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group and is now the Managing Partner. He co-founded the original firm in 2009 after being approached by a lawyer who believed there was a need for a law firm focused on the rights of women and mothers undergoing a divorce. She, herself a corporate lawyer, had just completed and underwent the stress and frustration of a divorce, and believed there was a need for a law firm that was fair and aggressive when necessary, but most of all, honest and straightforward with all their clients about the entire process. With her help, Mr. Haid set up the first law firm in Chicago to focus on Women’s and Mothers’ rights, which has now grown to three offices in downtown Chicago, Lake Forest, and Lisle. After merging with co-partner James Teich in 2014, he has overseen the transition of the firm into one of Chicago’s fastest-growing law firms dedicated solely to the practice of family law.
Mr. Haid has extensive experience litigating complicated divorce and custody cases throughout Illinois, including many cases with multi-jurisdictional parties (e.g. Parties in different states or different countries), and high-net-worth estates. He has been recognized in Super Lawyers publications in both 2017 and 2018 as a Rising Star and a Super Lawyer in 2022 (honoring those exhibiting excellence in the practice of law and only received by 2.5% of lawyers in Illinois), serves on the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Illinois Board of Directors, and has taught multiple CLEs (continuing legal education) seminars to other lawyers, including, how to litigate against and properly represent parties with mental health issues. He has also worked on many divorces involving the LGBTQ community. Indeed, he filed Illinois’ first same-sex divorce and has been working with members of the LGBTQ to ensure equal rights in divorce and custody cases ever since.
Kourosh Arami
Divorce Lawyers
Family and matrimonial law cases require a level of compassion and dedication that some attorneys simply don’t understand. A process like navigating a contested family law matter, for example, can be complex and difficult even in the best of times, and it can feel almost impossible to manage when you are emotionally distraught. While there are a great number of Chicago family and matrimonial law attorneys to choose from, few of them truly appreciate the needs of families like Kourosh Arami. Arami Law, Inc. was founded in March 2004 as a solo practitioner, with the simple, but clear, desire to provide quality representation to people facing tough legal challenges. Attorney Arami’s skill in litigating multi-faceted and complex family and matrimonial law matters helped quickly establish the firm as a leader in this area. He gained a reputation in the legal community for being a fierce advocate for clients, while maintaining the highest level of professionalism, allowing him to build productive relationships with all parties involved. He has successfully litigated thousands of contested family and matrimonial law cases, including many highly contested cases, involving issues such as allocation of parental responsibilities (formerly known as custody), allocation of parenting time (formerly known as visitation), child support, maintenance (formerly known as alimony), disposition of marital property and debts, the contribution of attorneys’ fees, and premarital agreements, just to name a few.
Kourosh Arami received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Economics, his M.B.A. degree from Loyola University School of Business in marketing and finance, and his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law. His roots in the Chicago community run deep, and he is proud to utilize his skills and experience to help people in this community. With degrees in both economics and finance, Attorney Arami is uniquely capable of understanding the significant impact of the provisions of a marital settlement agreement or child support agreement on a family’s finances for years to come, and he appreciates the importance of fiercely advocating for the best interests of his clients.
Today, he has dedicated himself to the unique practice of family and matrimonial law. The Firm has been highly selective in adding lawyers, choosing only litigators, and attorneys who represent clients in court on a daily basis. Attorney Arami is also capable of aiding his bilingual clients as he is fluent in Farsi. Arami Law, Inc. is dedicated to providing the finest representation available for litigants in the Chicagoland area. And, yet, even as Arami Law, Inc. continues to grow, each and every client still receives personal attention and representation from Attorney Arami.
Jonathan Merel
Divorce Lawyers
Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney who advocates for his clients in all divorce and family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago. Through his hard work and unwavering dedication to his clients, Jonathan has quickly grown the firm to become one of the premier divorce and family law firms in the Chicagoland area.
Jonathan has a great deal of experience in obtaining favorable outcomes for his clients in multi-million dollar marital estates and contested custody suits (custody is now known as the allocation of parental responsibilities in the State of Illinois). His ability to settle heated divorces and custody disputes has gained him a great deal of respect from fellow attorneys and judges within the Chicagoland legal community. When settlement is not a viable or reasonable option, Jonathan’s experience as a zealous litigator in the courtroom has produced outstanding results for his clients.
Always committed to his clients and their causes, Jonathan’s philosophy is to build strong, trusting relationships with his clients, founded on compassion, sound legal strategy, and open and frequent communication. Known as a skillful and aggressive negotiator with strong tenacity, Jonathan has an impressive track record of protecting his client’s best interests and helping them meet their legal goals.
Maxine Weiss Kunz
Divorce Lawyers
Maxine Weiss Kunz is a Founding Member and Principal of Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC. She has concentrated her practice solely in family law since 2005, including: traditional litigation, adoptions, and collaborative law. Maxine also has a wealth of experience in drafting, negotiating, and prosecuting Premarital Agreements (and Postnuptial Agreements). She is also certified to practice collaborative law in Illinois. Maxine has been recognized many times in the legal community for her achievements, including her selection as a Super Lawyer for years 2017-2023 and in 2019 as one of 40 Under 40 Attorneys to Watch by the American Society of Legal Advocates. In 2023 Maxine became a Fellow of the prestigious AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers), both in Illinois and nationally.
Maxine has been known to say that she treats her clients like family. She sees divorce as an opportunity to make her clients whole again, to forge a positive future for themselves, and to reclaim their financial and emotional security. The outcomes of her clients’ cases are important to her, not only due to her professional reputation as an attorney, but also as someone who wants to see justice served and families healed. She recognizes that successful settlements are made through careful preparation and attention to detail, which is why she works tirelessly behind the scenes. Maxine has also built a reputation for being fierce in the courtroom. In her own words, “Even when a case is working toward settlement, I am simultaneously preparing it for trial, because that’s the best way to settle a case effectively; and if it does not settle, you need to be prepared to try the matter and not be taken by surprise.”
Kimberly J. Anderson
Divorce Lawyers
Kimberly Anderson is the founding partner of Anderson & Boback, with vast experience as a prior prosecutor, family lawyer, and respected leader in the Illinois legal community having served as Chair over both the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Associations Family Law Section Councils. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, which only 5% of Illinois lawyers qualify for, by her peers every year since 2008.
She enjoys advocating for people’s rights, with a long history of satisfied clients and successful settlements. Her achievements include fighting for the rights of an 80-year-old man to keep his home and successfully reversing a prior order that would have caused him to lose his house and all equity. Kim stayed with him all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court where she was successful in helping him keep his home.
Kimberly Anderson was also successful in helping a mother to overcome her struggles and retain custody of her young daughter through a battle over adoption by the child’s grandparents. It took three years, and with Kim’s dedication to her client, this mother and child were reunited with her parental rights and family remaining intact.
Olga A. Allen
Divorce Lawyers
Since 2007, Olga A. Allen has concentrated her practice on all areas of family law, including complex settlement and litigation, negotiating marital settlement and custody agreements, preparing prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, financial issues including dissipation and asset tracing, and appellate practice. Having handled hundreds of cases, Ms. Allen recognizes that each situation has its own unique set of circumstances, so a “one size fits all” approach will not work. Instead, she seeks to help clients pursue their goals and reach resolutions that provide financial, as well as emotional, satisfaction. Ms. Allen’s successes are both in and out of the courtroom, due to her belief that an experienced practitioner should first explore settlement as an option, but be prepared to litigate at a moment’s notice. Ms. Allen received a “Rising Star” award from Super Lawyers for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, which is a distinction reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys in Illinois under the age of 40.
Ms. Allen is a 2007 graduate of Michigan State University College of Law, where she concentrated in family law. Ms. Allen received her bachelor’s degree from Alma College in Alma, Michigan, in 2004, where she graduated cum laude with a double major in psychology and interpersonal communications.
In addition to her success in the courtroom, including prevailing in a number of complex custody cases as lead counsel, Ms. Allen has had many successes in both the First and Second District Appellate Courts, as well as in the Illinois Supreme Court.
Ms. Allen is admitted to practice in Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
She is fluent in Polish.
Charlotte Christian
Divorce Lawyers
Charlotte Christian, Esq. is a family and divorce lawyer and founder of The Law Offices of Charlotte Christian and Associates. Born and raised in the Yellowhammer State she still calls home, Charlotte is committed to helping those who experienced loss overcome their hardships and build a new life, stronger and more resilient than they were before. No stranger to trauma herself, including enduring the sudden losses of her father while a young child and husband after 10 years of marriage, Charlotte knows what it means practically and legally to put the pieces in place to create a future filled with security, hope, and opportunity, and find happiness once again. An avid sports fan, you can find Charlotte supporting SEC Athletics.
BAR ADMISSIONS
- State Bar: Alabama
- U.S. District Court: Alabama (Northern, Middle, Southern)
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
EDUCATION
Temple University
- James E. Beasley School of Law – LLM, Trial Advocacy.
Faulkner University
- JD, Legal
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Chicago can be crucial for several reasons, given the complexities and potential challenges that often arise during divorce proceedings. Here are some reasons why having top-notch legal representation is important:
Complex Legal Matters: Divorce cases can involve a wide range of legal issues, such as asset division, child custody, spousal support, and child support. The best divorce lawyers have a deep understanding of Illinois family law and can navigate these complex matters with expertise.
Asset and Property Division: High net worth divorces and cases with substantial assets can be particularly intricate. A skilled lawyer can protect your financial interests and ensure a fair distribution of marital property, including businesses, real estate, investments, and retirement accounts.
Child Custody and Support: If children are involved, custody and support arrangements can be emotionally charged and legally intricate. A top divorce lawyer can advocate for your parental rights and work towards a solution that serves the best interests of your children.
Negotiation Skills: Many divorce cases are resolved through negotiation rather than going to trial. An experienced lawyer can negotiate on your behalf, aiming to achieve a favorable settlement that meets your needs and priorities.
Court Representation: In cases where negotiation fails and litigation becomes necessary, a skilled divorce lawyer can represent you in court, presenting your case persuasively and advocating for your interests before a judge.
Thorough Documentation: Divorce involves a substantial amount of paperwork and documentation. A knowledgeable lawyer will ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed accurately and on time, preventing delays and potential legal issues.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution: The best divorce lawyers can guide you through mediation or other alternative dispute resolution methods, which can lead to more amicable and cost-effective divorce resolutions.
Emotional Support: Going through a divorce can be emotionally taxing. A compassionate and understanding lawyer can provide support during this challenging time and help you make well-informed decisions.
Protection from Unfair Settlements: Divorce can be emotionally charged, leading to hasty decisions. The best divorce lawyers act as objective advisors, protecting you from accepting unfair or unfavorable settlements.
Local Legal Knowledge: Each jurisdiction may have unique divorce laws and procedures. Hiring a local attorney who is well-versed in Chicago’s family law can be advantageous as they understand the local court system and judges’ preferences.
Privacy and Confidentiality: A reputable divorce lawyer will prioritize your privacy and confidentiality, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure throughout the legal process.
In summary, the complexities of divorce proceedings, especially in a major city like Chicago, make hiring the best divorce lawyer essential. They can provide expert legal guidance, protect your rights and interests, and help you navigate the complexities of the divorce process with skill and efficiency.