MLG LAW GROUP-CHICAGO DIVORCE AND CUSTODY LAWYERS

What is a Guardian Ad Litem? A guardian ad litem (also known as a “GAL”) is an attorney for the parties’ child(ren). The guardian ad litem is required to investigate the facts of the case, interview the child(ren) and the parties, and testify or submit a written report to the court regarding his or her recommendations in accordance with the best interest of the child.  Unlike a child representative, the guardian ad litem may be called as a witness for purposes of cross-examination regarding the guardian ad litem's report or recommendations.  For more information about GALs, please see Section 506 of the  Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/506).

A child representative is an attorney for the parties' child (ren) that advocates what the child representative finds to be in the best interests of the child (ren) after reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case. ... A guardian ad litem (also known as a “GAL”) is an attorney for the parties' child (ren).

Orders of Protection If you would like to request a protective order, but do not know which kind of order is appropriate for your circumstance, you can download a PDF of the  Protective Orders Comparison Sheet , which explains the different legal remedies available. Domestic Violence advocacy organizations may be of assistance to those seeking or responding to Orders of Protection. Advocates may be immediately available at the court house; however, they may also be busy assisting others. If you would like to speak to a Domestic Violence advocate, you can call the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877)863-6339. This is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual 24-hr information service staffed by trained personnel. They can answer any question that you may have as well as refer you to advocates who may be able to provide you with additional help. A.   If you are a seeking a protective order, you may obtain assistance in three ways: Online with assistance, before arriving at

The Mehta Law Group is one of Chicago’s premier law firms. Our team of lawyers and staff are here to serve you and to help build a better future for yourself and your family. We represent individuals, families, and children in every aspect of the legal process from beginning to end. Our attorneys bring with them over 30 years of combined experience, we are professional, and treat every individual with the respect they deserve. We are hardworking and don’t back down, our goals is always to advocate for our clients, to ensure a positive end result. Whether you are contemplating filing a lawsuit, or whether you have had a lawsuit filed against you, our team can provide superior representation with the goal toward obtaining the best possible outcome. The Mehta Law Group’s mission is to ensure that your case takes priority. It is our belief that every case deserves the utmost care, regardless of the issues presented. We have successfully served our clients throughout the years and will d

Things To Know About Illinois Divorce Law   Here are 40 things we think everyone should know about divorce. 1. You can’t use the same lawyer as your spouse. 2. Annulments are rare and typically a religious term. 3. File for divorce locally in the county you or your spouse lives in. 4. You have to live in Illinois for at least 90 days to file here. 5. The case will last as long as it takes you to agree on all issues. 6. It is possible to ask your spouse to be responsible to pay your attorney’s fees if there is a disparity in income. 7. While you can dispute the contents or grounds of a divorce and delay it., typically you cannot stop a divorce from happening. 8. For the most part, it doesn’t matter who did what to cause the divorce. 9. Children don’t get a say in custody, but as they get older they have more influence. 10. Most cases settle and don’t go to trial. 11. There is a difference between legal separation and divorce. 12. If you change your m

Parental Alienation One of the hallmarks of my practice is the ability over the years to manage, and aggressively attack, Parental Alienation cases.  In order for an attorneys to effectively manage a case involving HCPs (High Conflict Personalities), personality disorders, and PA ( Parental Alienation), the attorney should have years of experience dealing with these cases, along with years of experience interfacing with clinicians that not only understand PA, but that are also willing to bring that expertise to the case and create, along with my work, and effective strategy to deal with the alienated children (through both legal and clinical channels), to create reintegration plans for the targeted parent, and to devise court orders that set sanctions and appropriate boundaries on the alienating parent. Dr. Bone is a reliable expert commentator of PA and the issues surrounding litigating these cases: __________________________________ From J. Michael Bone, Ph.D. ______

The Mehta Law Group is one of Chicago’s premier law firms. Our team of lawyers and staff are here to serve you and to help build a better future for yourself and your family. We represent individuals, families, and children in every aspect of the legal process from beginning to end. Our attorneys bring with them over 30 years of combined experience, we are professional, and treat every individual with the respect they deserve. We are hardworking and don’t back down, our goals is always to advocate for our clients, to ensure a positive end result. Whether you are contemplating filing a lawsuit, or whether you have had a lawsuit filed against you, our team can provide superior representation with the goal toward obtaining the best possible outcome. The Mehta Law Group’s mission is to ensure that your case takes priority. It is our belief that every case deserves the utmost care, regardless of the issues presented. We have successfully served our clients throughout the years and will d

Orders of Protection If you would like to request a protective order, but do not know which kind of order is appropriate for your circumstance, you can download a PDF of the  Protective Orders Comparison Sheet , which explains the different legal remedies available. Domestic Violence advocacy organizations may be of assistance to those seeking or responding to Orders of Protection. Advocates may be immediately available at the court house; however, they may also be busy assisting others. If you would like to speak to a Domestic Violence advocate, you can call the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877)863-6339. This is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual 24-hr information service staffed by trained personnel. They can answer any question that you may have as well as refer you to advocates who may be able to provide you with additional help. A.   If you are a seeking a protective order, you may obtain assistance in three ways: Online with assistance, before arriving at

The Mehta Law Group is one of Chicago’s premier law firms. Our team of lawyers and staff are here to serve you and to help build a better future for yourself and your family. We represent individuals, families, and children in every aspect of the legal process from beginning to end. Our attorneys bring with them over 30 years of combined experience, we are professional, and treat every individual with the respect they deserve. We are hardworking and don’t back down, our goals is always to advocate for our clients, to ensure a positive end result. Whether you are contemplating filing a lawsuit, or whether you have had a lawsuit filed against you, our team can provide superior representation with the goal toward obtaining the best possible outcome. The Mehta Law Group’s mission is to ensure that your case takes priority. It is our belief that every case deserves the utmost care, regardless of the issues presented. We have successfully served our clients throughout the years and will d

Things To Know About Illinois Divorce Law   Here are 40 things we think everyone should know about divorce. 1. You can’t use the same lawyer as your spouse. 2. Annulments are rare and typically a religious term. 3. File for divorce locally in the county you or your spouse lives in. 4. You have to live in Illinois for at least 90 days to file here. 5. The case will last as long as it takes you to agree on all issues. 6. It is possible to ask your spouse to be responsible to pay your attorney’s fees if there is a disparity in income. 7. While you can dispute the contents or grounds of a divorce and delay it., typically you cannot stop a divorce from happening. 8. For the most part, it doesn’t matter who did what to cause the divorce. 9. Children don’t get a say in custody, but as they get older they have more influence. 10. Most cases settle and don’t go to trial. 11. There is a difference between legal separation and divorce. 12. If you change your mind during the

The Mehta Law Group is one of Chicago’s premier law firms. Our team of lawyers and staff are here to serve you and to help build a better future for yourself and your family. We represent individuals, families, and children in every aspect of the legal process from beginning to end. Our attorneys bring with them over 30 years of combined experience, we are professional, and treat every individual with the respect they deserve. We are hardworking and don’t back down, our goals is always to advocate for our clients, to ensure a positive end result. Whether you are contemplating filing a lawsuit, or whether you have had a lawsuit filed against you, our team can provide superior representation with the goal toward obtaining the best possible outcome. The Mehta Law Group’s mission is to ensure that your case takes priority. It is our belief that every case deserves the utmost care, regardless of the issues presented. We have successfully served our clients throughout the years and will d

Parental Alienation One of the hallmarks of my practice is the ability over the years to manage, and aggressively attack, Parental Alienation cases.  In order for an attorneys to effectively manage a case involving HCPs (High Conflict Personalities), personality disorders, and PA ( Parental Alienation), the attorney should have years of experience dealing with these cases, along with years of experience interfacing with clinicians that not only understand PA, but that are also willing to bring that expertise to the case and create, along with my work, and effective strategy to deal with the alienated children (through both legal and clinical channels), to create reintegration plans for the targeted parent, and to devise court orders that set sanctions and appropriate boundaries on the alienating parent. Dr. Bone is a reliable expert commentator of PA and the issues surrounding litigating these cases: __________________________________ From J. Michael Bone, Ph.D. _______________

My divorce and post decree clients that have people with traits of toxic narcissism often struggle with trying to explain or discuss what it can be like living with someone with such toxic traits, especially when the person is able to maintain a facade of normalcy on their work or neighborhood relationships.  Sometimes, I have to coach clients to understand that it can be difficult persuading others as to how emotionally damaging these relationships are, especially when the narcissist is “high functioning,” or otherwise able to disguise their abusive behaviors from the rest of the world.  Living with someone with a toxic narcissistic personality disorder can be brutal, especially when the narcissist uses the relationship to emotionally abuse their partner, and tries to turn children, neighbors, and even family members against the otherwise healthy partner. Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder and the severity of symptoms vary. People with the disorder can: Hav

The Mehta Law Group is one of Chicago’s premier law firms. Our team of lawyers and staff are here to serve you and to help build a better future for yourself and your family. We represent individuals, families, and children in every aspect of the legal process from beginning to end. Our attorneys bring with them over 30 years of combined experience, we are professional, and treat every individual with the respect they deserve. We are hardworking and don’t back down, our goals is always to advocate for our clients, to ensure a positive end result. Whether you are contemplating filing a lawsuit, or whether you have had a lawsuit filed against you, our team can provide superior representation with the goal toward obtaining the best possible outcome. The Mehta Law Group’s mission is to ensure that your case takes priority. It is our belief that every case deserves the utmost care, regardless of the issues presented. We have successfully served our clients throughout the years and will d

Things To Know About Illinois Divorce Law   Here are 40 things we think everyone should know about divorce. 1. You can’t use the same lawyer as your spouse. 2. Annulments are rare and typically a religious term. 3. File for divorce locally in the county you or your spouse lives in. 4. You have to live in Illinois for at least 90 days to file here. 5. The case will last as long as it takes you to agree on all issues. 6. It is possible to ask your spouse to be responsible to pay your attorney’s fees if there is a disparity in income. 7. While you can dispute the contents or grounds of a divorce and delay it., typically you cannot stop a divorce from happening. 8. For the most part, it doesn’t matter who did what to cause the divorce. 9. Children don’t get a say in custody, but as they get older they have more influence. 10. Most cases settle and don’t go to trial. 11. There is a difference between legal separation and divorce. 12. If you change your mind during the

The 8 Symptoms Of Parental Alienation Denigration. The campaign of denigration is when the child repeatedly complains about the parent over and over again. ...  Frivolous rationalization for the complaint. ...  Lack of ambivalence. ...  Independent thinker phenomenon. ...  Automatic support/Reflexive support. ...  Absence of guilt. ...  Borrowed scenarios. ...  Spread of animosity.

Things To Know About Illinois Divorce Law   Here are 40 things we think everyone should know about divorce. 1. You can’t use the same lawyer as your spouse. 2. Annulments are rare and typically a religious term. 3. File for divorce locally in the county you or your spouse lives in. 4. You have to live in Illinois for at least 90 days to file here. 5. The case will last as long as it takes you to agree on all issues. 6. It is possible to ask your spouse to be responsible to pay your attorney’s fees if there is a disparity in income. 7. While you can dispute the contents or grounds of a divorce and delay it., typically you cannot stop a divorce from happening. 8. For the most part, it doesn’t matter who did what to cause the divorce. 9. Children don’t get a say in custody, but as they get older they have more influence. 10. Most cases settle and don’t go to trial. 11. There is a difference between legal separation and divorce. 12. If you change your mind during the

What is considered marital property in Illinois? Illinois  is not a community  property  state – it is an “equitable division” state. That means  marital property  and debts need not be divided 50 / 50. Rather, the law requires  property  to be divided "equitably." Many cases are resolved with 60/40, 70/30 splits and some even allocate ALL  marital property  to one spouse.

Parental Alienation One of the hallmarks of my practice is the ability over the years to manage, and aggressively attack, Parental Alienation cases.  In order for an attorneys to effectively manage a case involving HCPs (High Conflict Personalities), personality disorders, and PA ( Parental Alienation), the attorney should have years of experience dealing with these cases, along with years of experience interfacing with clinicians that not only understand PA, but that are also willing to bring that expertise to the case and create, along with my work, and effective strategy to deal with the alienated children (through both legal and clinical channels), to create reintegration plans for the targeted parent, and to devise court orders that set sanctions and appropriate boundaries on the alienating parent. Dr. Bone is a reliable expert commentator of PA and the issues surrounding litigating these cases: __________________________________ From J. Michael Bone, Ph.D. _______________

What is considered marital property in Illinois? Illinois  is not a community  property  state – it is an “equitable division” state. That means  marital property  and debts need not be divided 50 / 50. Rather, the law requires  property  to be divided "equitably." Many cases are resolved with 60/40, 70/30 splits and some even allocate ALL  marital property  to one spouse.

Things To Know About Illinois Divorce Law   Here are 40 things we think everyone should know about divorce. 1. You can’t use the same lawyer as your spouse. 2. Annulments are rare and typically a religious term. 3. File for divorce locally in the county you or your spouse lives in. 4. You have to live in Illinois for at least 90 days to file here. 5. The case will last as long as it takes you to agree on all issues. 6. It is possible to ask your spouse to be responsible to pay your attorney’s fees if there is a disparity in income. 7. While you can dispute the contents or grounds of a divorce and delay it., typically you cannot stop a divorce from happening. 8. For the most part, it doesn’t matter who did what to cause the divorce. 9. Children don’t get a say in custody, but as they get older they have more influence. 10. Most cases settle and don’t go to trial. 11. There is a difference between legal separation and divorce. 12. If you change your mind during the

I have included below most of the text of the amended Illinois SB 4113, which seeks to establish a rebuttable presumption that an award of equal parenting time to each parent is in the best interests of the minor child(ren) in a divorce case. For many years, my firm has represented Fathers in complex child custody cases, and in many cases  my Dad clients were rightfully awarded the primary custody of their children.  I have fought vigorously to level the playing field for my Dad clients through the years, some who faced false allegations, false OPs and other challenges in their divorce cases. These cases can be battles, but with the right strategy and management, the right decisions can be reached in these cases. Equally so, I have fought for women, in their own custody cases, some facing false allegations of parental alienation from a narcissistic husband.  My goal has always been to develop strategies for both my male and female clients to combat parental alienation, false alle