Will County Divorce and Family Law Lawyers
Experienced Family Law Representation in Will County, Illinois
Berlin Melzer Law represents individuals and families throughout Will County, Illinois in divorce, family law, parenting, support, and complex financial matters.
Our attorneys understand that a family law case is rarely just a legal problem. Divorce can affect your children, home, business, finances, retirement, and future. We approach every Will County family law matter with a strategy tailored to the individual client—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Whether your case can be resolved through negotiation or mediation or requires significant courtroom litigation, Berlin Melzer Law provides experienced, practical, and strategic representation from the beginning of the case through resolution.
Divorce Lawyers Serving Will County
Our attorneys represent clients in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court in Will County, including divorce and family law matters heard in Joliet.
We assist clients with contested and uncontested divorces involving issues such as:
Division of marital property and debt
High-net-worth and complex divorce
Business ownership and business valuation
Identification and tracing of non-marital property
Executive compensation, bonuses, stock options, and other compensation
Maintenance and spousal support
Child support
Allocation of parental responsibilities
Parenting time
Relocation
Parentage
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Enforcement and modification of existing judgments
Post-decree disputes
Our firm has particular experience with cases in which the financial picture is complicated. Closely held businesses, investment accounts, real estate, inheritances, executive compensation, trusts, and disputed income can significantly affect the outcome of a divorce.
We work with financial experts, business valuation professionals, accountants, and other specialists when appropriate to help ensure that the financial issues in a case are thoroughly analyzed.
Strategic When Settlement Is Possible. Prepared to Litigate When It Is Not.
We do not believe every divorce needs to become a courtroom battle.
Rebecca Berlin Melzer is an experienced family law litigator who is also trained in mediation and collaborative law. That combination is important. Effective family law representation requires knowing when a negotiated solution protects a client—and when litigation is necessary.
Our goal is to identify the issues that truly matter, develop a strategy around your priorities, and avoid unnecessary conflict and expense whenever possible.
But when an important financial issue, parenting matter, or legal right cannot be resolved reasonably, our attorneys are prepared to litigate.
High-Asset and Complex Divorce in Will County
Some divorces require significantly more financial investigation and preparation than others.
Berlin Melzer Law regularly handles sophisticated financial issues involving:
Closely Held Businesses
Determining the value of a privately owned business can become one of the most significant issues in a divorce. We have experience working with valuation experts and analyzing business income, ownership interests, retained earnings, goodwill, compensation, and other issues affecting the marital estate.
Marital and Non-Marital Property
Property may not be entirely marital or entirely non-marital. Assets acquired before marriage, inherited assets, family gifts, investments, businesses, and property that has changed form over time may require detailed tracing and classification.
Complex Income
Determining income for child support or maintenance is not always as simple as reviewing a W-2. Business owners, executives, professionals, and individuals receiving bonuses, distributions, stock compensation, or other forms of compensation may require a more detailed analysis.
Significant Marital Estates
Our attorneys represent clients in cases involving real estate, retirement accounts, investments, businesses, trusts, professional practices, and other significant assets.
Parenting Time and Parental Responsibilities
For parents, the most important part of a divorce or family law case is often what happens with their children.
Illinois law addresses both allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. We work with parents to develop practical parenting arrangements while protecting their relationships with their children.
When parents cannot agree, we are prepared to handle contested parenting cases involving difficult family dynamics, relocation requests, allegations affecting the children's welfare, Guardians ad Litem, child representatives, experts, and other complicated issues.
Our attorneys understand that decisions made during a parenting case can affect a family for years after the litigation ends.
Child Support and Maintenance
Financial support can have a substantial long-term impact on both parties.
Berlin Melzer Law represents clients in matters involving:
Child support
Maintenance or spousal support
Determination of income
Self-employed spouses
Business-owner income
Bonuses and variable compensation
Imputation of income
Modification of support
Enforcement of existing support obligations
Contribution to children's expenses
College contribution issues
We focus not only on the numbers being presented but also on the financial information behind those numbers.
Family Law Representation Throughout Will County
Berlin Melzer Law represents clients throughout Will County, including individuals and families in and around:
Joliet • Plainfield • New Lenox • Frankfort • Mokena • Homer Glen • Lockport • Bolingbrook • Romeoville • Shorewood • Crest Hill • Manhattan • Channahon • Minooka • Wilmington • Peotone and surrounding communities.
You do not need to hire the law firm closest to the courthouse. You need attorneys whose experience, communication style, and approach fit your case.
Our attorneys represent clients throughout Chicagoland, including Will, Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties.
Why Clients Choose Berlin Melzer Law
Berlin Melzer Law was founded on the belief that excellent family law representation requires both sophisticated legal work and a genuine understanding of the person and family behind the case.
Our attorneys bring together:
Extensive family law experience
Courtroom and trial experience
Complex financial and business divorce experience
Mediation and collaborative-law training
Strategic use of technology
Personalized representation
Practical attention to costs
A team approach to complex cases
We believe clients should understand what is happening in their case, why a particular strategy is being recommended, and what their options are.
Looking for a Will County Divorce Lawyer?
Choosing a family law attorney is an important decision.
If you are considering divorce, have been served with divorce papers, are facing a parenting or support dispute, or need advice regarding another family law matter in Will County, we invite you to speak with our team.
The first step is understanding your situation, your priorities, and what you want your life to look like when the case is over.