Family Lawyer Deerfield, IL
If you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or any other family law matter in Deerfield, the decisions you make in the coming weeks can shape your finances, your parenting time, and your stability for years to come. Skilled legal counsel helps you understand your rights and protect them.
Our attorneys bring over 100 years of combined legal experience to family law matters across Illinois. Hurst, Kay, Allen & Stambler, LLC handles the full spectrum of domestic relations cases, from negotiated settlements to complex contested litigation, and we tailor our approach to the facts in front of us rather than fitting every client into the same template.
If you are searching for an experienced Deerfield, IL family lawyer, we are ready to sit down with you, evaluate your situation, and walk you through what comes next.
Why Choose Hurst, Kay, Allen & Stambler, LLC for Family Law in Deerfield, IL?
A Practice Focused Exclusively on Family Law
Our firm specializes in family law. We represent clients in divorce, custody, maintenance, prenuptial agreements, mediation, appeals, and every other area of Illinois family law. That focus shows up in the results.
Partner Olga A. Allen was named a Super Lawyer in 2024 and 2025, a distinction reserved for the top 5 percent of Illinois attorneys. She has handled hundreds of cases through both litigation and negotiated resolutions, and she has prevailed in the Illinois Appellate Courts as well as the Illinois Supreme Court. Partner Olga Stambler brings 30 years of legal experience, serves as a Cook County Domestic Relations Division court-approved mediator, and is trained in Collaborative Practice through Collaborative Divorce Illinois. Her background in complex corporate transactions gives her a real advantage when the case turns on financial analysis.
Proven Results for Our Clients
Our attorneys have helped clients resolve contested divorces, secure fair parenting arrangements, and protect significant assets. We have won on appeal in the Illinois Appellate Courts and argued before the Illinois Supreme Court on issues that shape family law across the state.
A Tailored Strategy for Every Client
No two families are the same. Some clients need an aggressive courtroom advocate. Others need a calm hand guiding them through mediation toward a private resolution. Our family lawyer in Deerfield, IL adjusts their approach to what the case and the client actually require.
Our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, the Illinois State Bar Association, and Collaborative Divorce Illinois.
Clients Who Feel Heard
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I had the privilege of working with Mr. Brian Hurst and his partner, Ms. Olga Allen, for the past eight years. I hired them to handle a very contentious divorce, and it was the best decision I ever made. After experiencing frustration with two ineffective and non-transparent lawyers, working with Olga and Brian restored my faith that lawyers can be trusted, compassionate, and genuinely committed to their clients’ best interests rather than financial gain.” — Izabela Roman
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Family Law Cases We Handle in Deerfield
Family law covers more than divorce. Our Deerfield family attorneys handle the full range of matters that arise when families restructure, grow, or face conflict.
- Divorce: We represent clients in both contested and uncontested divorces, including matters involving significant assets, business interests, and complex financial issues. Our Deerfield divorce lawyers bring decades of trial and negotiation experience to every case.
- Child Custody and Parenting Time: Illinois calls this “allocation of parental responsibilities.” We help parents secure arrangements that reflect the best interests of the child and protect the parent-child relationship through every stage of the case.
- Child Support: Illinois applies income-shares guidelines to calculate child support, but the guideline figure is only the starting point. We handle initial support orders, modifications when circumstances change, and enforcement when the other parent falls behind.
- Maintenance: Maintenance, the Illinois term for what some states call alimony, follows statutory guidelines in most cases. We represent clients seeking support and clients defending against claims for it.
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: A well-drafted agreement protects both spouses and brings clarity to the marriage. A poorly drafted one gets thrown out. We draft agreements that hold up.
- High Net Worth Divorce: When business valuations, executive compensation, or significant real estate are at stake, we coordinate with forensic accountants and valuation experts to build the record that supports a fair outcome. The stakes in these cases demand careful planning around high-asset issues from day one.
- Divorce Mediation and Collaborative Divorce: For clients who want a more private, less adversarial path, we offer mediation and collaborative services led by attorneys with formal training in both.
- Orders of Protection and Domestic Violence: We help clients secure emergency relief and defend against petitions that lack merit.
- Family Law Appeals: Our attorneys have successfully argued appeals in the Illinois Appellate Courts and the Illinois Supreme Court, and we take on appeals from cases handled by other firms.
- Paternity and Grandparent Visitation: We represent fathers, mothers, and grandparents in cases involving parentage and visitation rights.
Illinois Legal Requirements for Family Law Matters
Illinois family law is outlined primarily within the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Understanding the basic rules helps clients know what to expect before they walk into court.
Residency for Divorce. To file for divorce in Illinois, at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for 90 days before the final judgment is entered. Lake County courts enforce this requirement strictly.
Grounds for Divorce. Illinois is a no-fault state. The only ground for divorce is irreconcilable differences, and a six-month period of living separate and apart creates an irrebuttable presumption that those differences exist.
Property Division. Illinois follows equitable distribution, not community property. Courts divide marital assets in “just proportions” based on factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s economic circumstances, and contributions to the marital estate. Non-marital property generally stays with the spouse who owned it before the marriage or received it by gift or inheritance.
Child Support. Illinois applies the income-shares model, which calculates support based on the combined net income of both parents and the number of overnights each parent has with the child. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services administers child support enforcement statewide.
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities. Since 2016, Illinois has replaced traditional custody terminology with “allocation of significant decision-making” and “parenting time.” Courts decide these issues based on the best interests of the child, evaluated through a detailed list of statutory factors.
Maintenance. Courts apply statutory guidelines to calculate maintenance, considering both parties’ incomes and the length of the marriage. Judges retain discretion to deviate when the facts warrant.
Important Aspects of a Deerfield Family Law Case
Every family law case carries weight beyond the legal filings. The following elements often determine how the case unfolds, and clients who understand them early put themselves in a stronger position.
Honest Financial Disclosure
Illinois requires full financial disclosure from both parties in divorce and support matters. Inaccurate or incomplete disclosures can unravel a settlement and expose a party to sanctions. We help clients gather the right documents, complete the financial affidavit correctly, and press for complete disclosure from the other side.
Valuation of Complex Assets
Business interests, stock options, deferred compensation, retirement accounts, and real estate rarely have an obvious value. Getting the valuation right, and presenting it persuasively, can change the outcome of the case. Our attorneys have worked alongside forensic accountants and valuation experts on closely held companies, investment portfolios, and high-end residential real estate.
A Parenting Plan That Works
The parenting plan governs daily life, including school decisions, medical care, holiday schedules, religious upbringing, and out-of-state travel. A well-drafted plan anticipates conflict and reduces it. A vague plan creates litigation later.
Maintenance and Support Analysis
Running the numbers on maintenance and child support requires more than plugging figures into a guideline calculator. Income can be complicated. Bonuses, self-employment income, and investment income all factor into the analysis. We build the financial picture carefully so the number that comes out reflects reality.
Post-Judgment Modifications
Family law cases rarely end at the judgment. Incomes change. Children grow. Parents relocate. We help clients modify existing custody orders and support obligations when circumstances shift, and we defend against modification petitions when the other side overreaches.
Avoiding Common Missteps
Family law cases can go sideways quickly, and mistakes lead to unnecessary delays. Posting on social media, hiding assets, speaking poorly of the other parent in front of the children, and signing agreements without understanding them can negatively impact the outcome of your case. We help clients avoid mistakes during divorce that can undermine their results.
Contact Hurst, Kay, Allen & Stambler, LLC
Whatever family law matter you are facing, you deserve a legal team that listens carefully, explains clearly, and fights hard for the outcome you need. Our Deerfield family attorneys have helped clients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and we are ready to do the same for you.
When you sit down with us, we will walk through your situation, identify the key issues, and lay out a path forward. We respond to client questions quickly and keep you informed at every stage of the case.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
