Chicago family law
Steady. Private. Yours.
Family law counsel for separation, divorce and parenting decisions in Chicago — beginning with one private conversation, at your pace.
You don’t have to have it all figured out today. We explain, privately and in plain words, where you actually stand — and you set the pace from there.
Our focus areas
How we can help
Separation and divorce
From the first filing to the final decree, with honest expectations about timing and cost at every step.
Custody and parenting time
Parenting plans built around your children’s actual routines — school, activities, both homes.
Child and spousal support
What the Illinois guidelines really produce for your numbers, and when a court will depart from them.
Mediation and collaborative divorce
Settling matters without a courtroom when both of you are willing — usually calmer, faster and less expensive.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Clear agreements made while things are good, so they never have to be argued about later.
Changing an existing order
Support, parenting time and relocation orders can be revisited when life genuinely changes. We tell you first whether yours can.
In their words
From people who sat where you are
“I called on my worst day and hung up feeling like I could breathe. Every step after that was explained before it happened.”
“What I remember most is that nobody ever pushed. I took four months to decide, and when I was ready, they were.”
“They kept my kids’ school schedule at the centre of the parenting plan. The judge commented on how workable it was.”
Why families choose us
At a glance
- of Chicago family law practice
- 14 years
- every conversation is confidential
- Private
- nothing is filed until you decide
- Your pace
Straight answers
The questions people are afraid to ask
Will anyone find out I contacted you?
No. The conversation is confidential and legally privileged, and nothing is filed or served unless and until you decide to move forward. Contacting a lawyer is not a legal step; it is how you find out what your legal steps are.
Do I have to go to court?
Often not. Many matters resolve through negotiation, mediation or collaborative process, and uncontested divorces reach a judge only for a short final approval. If your case does need a courtroom, we prepare you for exactly what each appearance involves — most are shorter and quieter than people fear.
What does a divorce cost?
It depends almost entirely on how much the two of you can agree on. At the first meeting we give you a realistic range for your situation, explain what drives the number, and point out the choices that keep it down. You will never see an invoice you weren’t expecting.
How long does it take?
In Cook County, an uncontested divorce can finish in a few months; a contested one commonly takes a year or more. The honest answer for your situation depends on your facts, and we will give it to you at the first conversation rather than a hopeful average.
Will I lose time with my children?
Illinois law starts from your children’s best interests, not from one parent’s advantage. Courts want workable schedules with meaningful time for both parents, and most parenting plans are agreed rather than imposed. We will tell you plainly what is realistic for your circumstances.
What if my spouse and I mostly agree?
Then keep it that way — it is the single best cost and stress decision you can make. We can mediate, or represent one of you and put the agreement into proper form, so that what you decided at the kitchen table holds up in court.
Your counsel
Meet the attorneys
John Jarndyce
Founding attorney
John has practised family law in Chicago for fourteen years, the first six in the domestic relations group of a Loop litigation firm. He founded Arguendo to work the way he wished that firm had: fewer cases, more conversation, no surprises on an invoice. He is admitted in Illinois and appears regularly in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Domestic Relations Division.
Dorothea Brooke
Attorney and mediator
Dorothea joined Arguendo after eight years handling custody and support matters for Chicago families, and now leads the firm’s mediation and collaborative practice. She is admitted in Illinois and trained as a family mediator. Clients tend to use the same word about her that opposing counsel do: fair.
Speaks English and Spanish.
Clear from day one
What happens next
A private conversation
You call or write, and we listen. Thirty minutes, confidential, no paperwork. You tell us what is happening; we tell you what Illinois law actually says about it. If you never call again, nothing ever comes of it.
A plan in plain words
If you want to go further, we map your situation: what is likely, what it costs, what you can do now to protect yourself and your children. You get it in writing, in language you can read without a lawyer beside you.
You decide the pace
Nothing is filed until you say so. Some clients act the same week; some wait months while they get ready. Both are normal, and we will never rush you into a step you can’t take back.
Visit
Find us in the Loop
Address
The Rookery209 S LaSalle St, Suite 940Chicago, IL 60604USHours
- Monday–Friday: 08:30–17:30