How to Choose a Family Lawyer in Chicago

Start with the court your case will be in

Family cases are heard in the county where they are filed, and each court has its own local rules, calendars and procedures. Ask any lawyer you consider whether they regularly appear in that court and how its remote hearings work.

Cook County Domestic Relations Division

In Cook County, divorce, parentage, child support and parenting cases are heard by the Domestic Relations Division, based at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St. Filings are electronic, and new cases are randomly assigned to a judge or judicial team. Mediation is mandatory for most parenting disputes unless the court finds an impediment, such as domestic violence (750 ILCS 5/602.10(c)). In Chicago, orders of protection are usually heard in the Domestic Violence Division at 555 W. Harrison St., unless they are filed in a pending divorce or parentage case.

DuPage, Will and Lake County courthouses

Outside Cook County, DuPage County family cases are heard by the 18th Judicial Circuit in Wheaton, Will County cases by the 12th Judicial Circuit in Joliet and Lake County cases by the 19th Judicial Circuit in Waukegan. Ask which of these courts a lawyer appears in. For DuPage, see our DuPage County courthouse and Zoom page.

Check focus, licensing and discipline records

Family law has its own statutes, forms and procedures. Ask what share of the lawyer's practice is family law and how often they handle matters like yours, such as a contested parenting case, a business owner's divorce or an order of protection hearing.

ARDC lawyer search

The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) provides free online access to registration and discipline information about Illinois lawyers. Use the ARDC lawyer search to confirm that a lawyer is authorized to practice and to look for public discipline. Then compare the ARDC record with what the lawyer's website says.

Ask how fees and retainers work

Ask for the fee structure in plain terms before you sign. It may be hourly billing, a flat fee for a defined task, or an initial payment followed by monthly payments. Ask what the fee covers, which costs are separate and what happens if the case becomes contested. Separate costs can include court filing fees, service costs, transcripts and evaluator fees.

Illinois law sets out a Statement of Client's Rights and Responsibilities for written engagement agreements in divorce cases (750 ILCS 5/508(f)). Among other points, it says:

• The fee may not depend on getting a divorce or being allocated parental responsibility, or be based on the amount of support or property received, except as Supreme Court rules allow.
• The lawyer may not require a non-refundable retainer and must return any overpayment at the end of the representation.
• The lawyer cannot promise results.

Also ask whether the other side could be ordered to contribute. Under section 508(a), a court may order a party to pay a reasonable amount toward the other party's fees after notice and a hearing and after considering both parties' finances.

At Chicago Family Attorneys, fees are published on the family law pricing page. An attorney-handled uncontested divorce is a $1,500 flat fee, not including court filing fees. Limited-scope drafting starts at $500, and one hearing appearance starts at $1,200. Full representation is an initial payment of $1,500 to $2,500, then $500 to $650 per month beginning 30 days after the initial payment while representation remains active. Self Represented Documents is a $399 flat fee.

Language access and communication

You need to understand your lawyer and your case. If Spanish or another language is more comfortable for you, ask whether the lawyer or staff can communicate in that language and how documents will be explained. Chicago Family Attorneys offers services in English and Spanish. See abogados de familia en Chicago.

Ask practical communication questions too:

• How will we communicate: phone, email, text or a client portal?
• How quickly do you usually respond?
• Who else will work on my case?
• Will I see drafts before anything is filed?
• How will I learn about court dates?

Questions to ask at the first consultation

1. How much of your practice is family law, and how often do you appear in my court?
2. What are the main issues you see in my case?
3. What would the first steps be, and what deadlines apply right now?
4. Is limited-scope help an option for part of my case?
5. How is the fee structured, and what does it cover?
6. Which costs would I pay separately?
7. What documents should I gather?
8. How do you handle cases involving safety concerns?

Bring a short summary of your situation, any court papers and your main questions. For divorce consultations, see our 25 questions for a divorce consultation.

How to compare two or three firms

After your consultations, compare the answers side by side instead of relying on a general impression.

• Did the lawyer understand your goals and the court your case is in?
• Did they explain the process and the law clearly?
• Was the fee structure clear, and will it be in writing?
• Did they promise a result? Be cautious, because no lawyer can promise how a judge will rule.
• Did they ask about safety, children and deadlines?
• Do you feel comfortable working with them through a hard case?

Online reviews and directories can be one data point, but read them with care. A review describes one person's experience, and the right fit depends on your case.

Timing and common mistakes

If you were served with court papers, start contacting lawyers right away. The summons or notice tells you when you must respond, and some motions are set quickly. If you are planning to file, a consultation before filing gives you time to gather records.

• Choosing a lawyer based only on price or only on advertising.
• Not asking what the total cost could include.
• Waiting until the day before a court date.
• Leaving out facts your lawyer needs, even embarrassing ones.
• Hiring a lawyer who promises a specific outcome.

If you cannot afford a private lawyer

Free legal help is limited and depends on eligibility. Legal Aid Chicago runs clinics, and the Circuit Court of Cook County lists court help desks. Our page on pro bono and low-cost family law help in Chicago lists options. Some private firms, including ours, offer a free initial consultation for people seeking to hire a lawyer. Limited-scope help, where a lawyer handles one defined task, can also cost less than full representation.

How Chicago Family Attorneys can help

Chicago Family Attorneys, LLC practices only Illinois family law. Managing Attorney Aaron Korson has been licensed in Illinois since 2019. The firm's office is at 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 752, Chicago, and it serves Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake Counties in English and Spanish. Learn more about the firm or visit our Chicago family lawyers page. The firm handles:

• Contested and uncontested divorce.
• Parenting time, decision-making and relocation.
• Child support and maintenance.
• Orders of protection for petitioners and respondents.
• Post-judgment modification and enforcement.
• Limited-scope tasks and Self Represented Documents.

Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney, and the written agreement confirms the fee and covered work before you engage the firm. Related reading: what a divorce lawyer does, what a child custody lawyer does and why people hire a family lawyer in Chicago.