Family Law Attorney in Chicago

Nearly 30 Years Serving Chicago Families Through Divorce & Custody

Family law matters carry consequences that follow clients for years. At Leonard Law Group, we bring nearly 30 years of legal experience in Chicago to clients navigating divorce, custody disputes, child support, and related family matters. Our practice is built on direct partner relationships and individualized strategy, not case handoffs to associates.

Chicago Family Law Services We Handle

We represent clients across the full range of family legal matters, whether a situation calls for negotiation or courtroom advocacy.

Divorce (Amicable & Contested)

We handle both uncontested divorces where spouses have reached agreement and contested divorces where terms are in dispute, including asset division, spousal maintenance, and related financial issues.

Child Custody

We help parents pursue arrangements that reflect their involvement and protect their relationship with their children throughout the legal process.

Child Support

We assist clients in establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support orders under Illinois statutory guidelines.

Child Visitation

We work with parents to develop parenting schedules that serve the child’s routine and each parent’s role in their life.

Prenuptial Agreements

We draft and review prenuptial agreements that clearly define financial rights and responsibilities before marriage.

Orders of Protection

We assist clients in obtaining orders of protection when safety and security require immediate legal intervention.

How Illinois Divorce Law Works

Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. The only ground for divorce under Illinois law is irreconcilable differences that have caused an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. There is no requirement to establish fault or misconduct, and at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before a court can enter a final divorce judgment.

Marital property is divided through equitable distribution, meaning the court allocates assets fairly based on the circumstances of the marriage rather than splitting everything equally. Post-divorce financial support paid from one spouse to the other is called maintenance under Illinois law. Family law cases originating in Chicago are heard in the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, located at the Richard J. Daley Center.

Child Custody & Parenting Time in Illinois

Illinois courts no longer use the terms “custody” and “visitation” in the traditional sense. A 2016 amendment to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act replaced them with allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making authority over education, health care, and religion) and parenting time (the schedule each parent spends with the child). Our child custody and child visitation services address both dimensions.

Courts base all decisions on the best interests of the child, weighing factors that include each parent’s caretaking history, the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community, the mental and physical health of the parties, and each parent’s willingness to support the other parent’s relationship with the child. Parents are generally required to submit a parenting plan for court approval within 120 days of a custody petition being filed or served.

Why Chicago Families Work With Leonard Law Group

Family law cases require sustained attention. When you retain Leonard Law Group, you keep a direct relationship with the partner who takes on your case. Your matter isn’t reassigned to an associate as it moves forward. That continuity shapes how we communicate, how we prepare, and how we respond when circumstances change.

• Partner-level continuity: The attorney you hire stays on your case from opening through resolution
• Tailored strategy: We build an approach around the facts of your situation, not a template
• Invested from day one: We commit significant time and resources at the evaluation stage, not just at the courtroom door
• Established Chicago presence: Nearly three decades of legal work in this city, with the professional relationships and local knowledge that come with it

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Chicago Family Law Team

Family law decisions don’t wait, and neither should your legal representation. A free initial consultation gives you a candid conversation about your situation, your options, and what to expect moving forward. We work with clients at every stage of a Chicago family law matter, from initial filings to post-decree modifications.