Divorce & Family
Law Attorneys
Serving Illinois
Divorce
A competent attorney is key in settling your divorce in a timely manner. We can help you navigate your divorce and work towards a fair resolution.
Child Custody
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities, formerly known as child custody in Illinois, refers to the care, maintenance, and control of a minor child.
Paternity
Our firm supports clients who are facing a paternity case. We devise a legal strategy to help protect your parental rights.
Prenups & Postnups
If you and your partner are looking to create a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, our firm is here to help. We work hard to ensure your contract serves your best interests.
Child Support
We offer assistance to those who need to determine child support. Our skilled attorneys are prepared to represent you in court.
Same-Sex Marriage
Our divorce attorneys work with cases involving the dissolution of same-sex marriages and civil unions. We provide you with the guidance that you need.
Domestic Violence
We have extensive experience as advocates for those who experienced domestic violence. You can depend on our attorneys for sound legal advice during this challenging time.
Guardian Ad Litem
As your child’s Guardian Ad Litem, we represent their best interests in child custody cases and fight for the best outcome.
Mediation Services
Divorce can be a complex process. If there is an ongoing dispute between you and the other party, you may benefit from our mediation services.
Property Division
We are experienced negotiators and have successfully settled cases involving marital and non-marital property.
Spousal Support
Spousal support is a complicated area of family law. We will guide you through the steps and help you determine an appropriate amount of maintenance.
Chicago
Divorce Attorneys
WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC was established to provide clients with access to excellent advocates, negotiators, mediators, and experienced litigators. Ms. Ward, a skilled Chicago divorce lawyer and the founder of WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, has exclusively practiced matrimonial and family law nearly 20 years and continues as Adjunct Faculty at The John Marshall Law School teaching family law legal writing to law students since 2005; the legal writing program is ranked #6 in the country for law school writing programs by US News & World Report (2019). Ms. Ward also had the honor of speaking at the “Leaving a Long-Term Marriage” workshop produced by The Lilac Tree, an Evanston-based not-for-profit resource for women contemplating divorce. She has also provided a matrimonial-related lecture series at The Latin School of Chicago Adult Education Program and on more than one occasion has lent her commentary to Chicago Tribune related publications on family law articles and topics of interest. The classroom, lecturing, publishing and courtroom experience provides clients with well-rounded representation, finesse at settlement negotiation, precise drafting skills, and litigation expertise.
The Typical Divorce
Process In Illinois
Consult with an attorney at one week prior to needing to initiate any action.
Signing off on an engagement letter, information intake sheet and payment of a retainer formalizes the attorney-client relationship to commence a case or initiate any action with the court.
Completion and exchange of financial affidavits, preparations of balance sheets, calculations of support, and issuance of formal discovery.
If minor children are involved, these two components are key aspects to an allocation judgment.
Reviewing settlement options with the client to discuss global settlement of terms taking Illinois law into consideration.
If there remain items of concern then sometimes mediation will allow the parties to reach an agreement outside of the courtroom.
Court intervention can occur at any stage wherein the parties are unable to reach an agreement.
Marital settlement agreement and formalization of settlement terms for entry by the Judge.
Formalization of parenting time and decision-making for entry by the Judge.
The parties either proceed to prove-up or the next stage is preparations in setting the case for trial, including formal discovery completion, depositions, subpoenas, witness lists, expert reports and the like.
Our
Practice
Areas
Divorce
Our firm represents clients of various personal and professional backgrounds with each client having their own unique issues and concerns, but all are going through the same divorce process.
Attorney
Profiles
Client
Reviews
Five stars! Jennifer and Emily were responsive, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout my divorce proceedings.
Koby B.
Choosing Ward Family Law was the best decision I made during my paternity case. Their dedication to achieving the best outcome for their clients and the kids is unmatched.
B. M.
A big thank you!! The dedication and professionalism throughout my divorce proceedings - truly grateful. I couldn't have asked for a better legal team.
Carlos B.
A big thank you!! The dedication and professionalism throughout my divorce proceedings - truly grateful. I couldn't have asked for a better legal team.
Diana P.
I appreciated the attention to detail and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome in my case. Highly recommended!
Lionel C.
I cannot thank Jennifer and Emily of Ward Family Law enough for guiding me through a difficult divorce process. Their expertise in family law made all the difference.
Justin S.
Exceptional service from start to finish. The team at Ward Family Law handled my divorce case with professionalism and compassion. Highly recommended.
Glen B.
Jennifer is a strategic thinker with a remarkable ability to anticipate and address potential challenges. Her attention to detail and thorough preparation were evident in every aspect of my paternity case. This meticulous approach translated into a successful resolution of establishing the father-child relationship and financial responsibility that comes with that. I felt well-represented both inside and outside the zoom courtroom.
Saima B.
I was referred to the firm for their expertise in handling complex business divisions during divorce proceedings. As someone entangled in a high-stakes divorce involving substantial business assets, I can attest to their unparalleled skill, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to securing the best possible outcome for their clients. From the business valuation to the creative distribution, thank you.
Jessica T.
If you own a business or an interest in a business or stock options (or anything of real value related to a business) then you need to make sure that your divorce attorney knows what they’re doing. My first attorney had no idea and so I had to start over finding the right team that had extensive family law and divorce experience that I needed in Chicago. Their deep understanding of corporate structures, financial statements, and tax implications showcased a level of competence that instilled confidence throughout the entire process. They collaborated seamlessly with financial experts, forensic accountants, and other…
Harry
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Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis.
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