2026 Articles

2025 Joint Midyear Meeting Photos February 2026 The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association proudly co-hosted the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on December 11–12 at the JW Marriott Chicago, bringing members of the legal community together for two days of connection and collaboration.

An AI “Girlfriend” Is Still a Girlfriend By Jennifer Cunningham Beeler June 2026 While AI has become an increasingly prominent topic as it relates to the practice of law, AI is seeping into family law in a unique way with the introduction of AI girlfriends and potential dissipation claims. AI girlfriend platforms are replacing the Match.com and Bumble monthly subscriptions for seeking romance outside of the marriage.

A Broken Clock Is Right Twice a Day and Other Things Your Mother Tried To Teach You: Tips for Young Lawyers By Kathleen M. Kraft April 2026 The lessons you learned as a child can still be equally applicable in the practice of law.

Chair Column By Staci Balbirer May 2026 Learn more about the new incoming Chair of the Family Law Section Council, Matthew Benson!

Chair Column By Staci Balbirer February 2026 A note from the Chair of the ISBA Family Law Section Council.

Chair Column By Staci Balbirer January 2026 A note from the Chair of the Family Law Section Council.

Chair’s Column By Staci Balbirer March 2026 Budgeting before, during, and after divorce: a roadmap for you and your clients.

Chair’s Column: A Glimpse Into a Family Law Section Council Meeting By Staci Balbirer April 2026 A look into the Family Law Section Council's discussion on companion animals and the role of pets in family law cases.

Changes Are A-Coming: SB3524 Child Support Changes By Nancy Chausow Shafer May 2026 Child support disputes have often been dominated by "the Cliff," or the change in child support if the parenting time of each parent is at least 146 overnights. SB3524 would alter the current child support landscape, by providing additional adjustments for 110 to 146 overnights.

Competing Interests: The Interplay Between Mental Health Protections and the Best Interest Factors By John C. Wroblewski June 2026 The Illinois Legislature adopted the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act in 1979 to protect the confidentiality of mental health treatment records and communications. The Illinois Supreme Court acknowledged the importance of confidential mental health treatment in the case of D.C. v. S.A., and family law attorneys and child advocates should be familiar with the Act, particularly when it comes to examining best-interest factors for child-related issues under the IMDMA.

Deviation From Maintenance Guidelines Is Supported With Sufficient Findings By Christopher W. Bohlen January 2026 When dealing with a deviation from guideline maintenance, the court must make specific findings as to the amount and duration of non-guideline maintenance, as well as justify why the court chose to depart from guidelines.

Emergency Parental Responsibility Remedies By Dana Jakusz April 2026 An exploration of the relationship between the IMDMA and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, focusing on how each statute can be utilized to restrict parental responsibilities. A divergence between the two acts arises when considering the permanency of restrictions under each act.

Federal Student Aid Changes Effective January 1, 2026: Consequences for Family Law Clients By Rebecca Berlin Melzer May 2026 The One Big Beautiful Bill Act's changes to federal student borrowing may have significant impacts on clients relating to contribution to secondary educational expenses under section 513 of the IMDMA. Without additional federal borrowing, true out-of-pocket costs to families are increasing. It is imperative that clients understand the changes, to be able to make more informed decisions on the selection of school based on the child’s and parents’ resources given the new borrowing limits.

From Paper to Practice: Turning Karina’s Law Into Action By Genevieve Miller March 2026 A recap of a recent domestic violence CLE.

GAL Lists Across Circuits By Amy Schellekens February 2026 Even though the Illinois Supreme Court has a rule that specifically governs GAL qualifications, many circuits throughout the State of Illinois have adopted their own rules regarding GAL appointments. The differences between each circuit may pose difficulties in enacting the reciprocity requirement of Supreme Court Rule 906.

Illinois Court Jurisdiction in Allocation Cases: When Does It End? By Matthew A. Kirsh March 2026 While not as obvious as you might think, it does seem that a court in the state of Illinois only has jurisdiction over a child for purposes of allocation issues until the child turns 18.

Illinois Family-Lawyers Ethical Obligation to Our Clients’ Children By Sandra Crawford, J.D. March 2026 While Illinois attorneys may not have an explicit ethical duty to protect a client's child, ethical rules governing an attorney's behavior establish responsibilities to promote, safeguard, and avoid harm to children involved in family law matters.

The Illinois Supreme Court Wants Parents To Resolve Parenting Disputes By Sandra Crawford, J.D. April 2026 Mediation is a requirement when parents are involved in a parenting allocation dispute. The sooner that you explain this requirement to clients, as well as the benefits of mediation, the less clients will feel defeated or caught off guard when a court inevitably orders the parties in a parental allocation matter to mediation.

The Impact of In Re Marriage of Tronsrue on the Equitable Division of Certain Federal Pensions and Payments By Judge Arnold F. Blockman, (ret.) June 2026 There are certain federal pension and other payments that by federal statute and federal law are not divisible by state courts in family law proceedings, including military disability retirement payments, V.A. disability pensions, social security benefits, certain railroad retirement benefits, and other payments. However, the Illinois Supreme Court analyzes this issue in In re Marriage of Tronsrue, 2025 IL 130596.

Member Appreciation & Recognition Reception Highlights June 2026 On May 14, 2026, ISBA members and colleagues gathered at the beautiful Morton Arboretum in Lisle to celebrate the 2025–26 ISBA Award Recipients, connect with fellow legal professionals, and enjoy an evening of meaningful conversation and camaraderie.

Motion to Adjourn…Permanently By Staci Balbirer June 2026 Closing remarks from the outgoing Chair of the Family Law Section Council for the 2025-2026 bar year.

The Pre-Trial Conference in Family Law: Why It Matters, How It Works, and How To Make It Better By Hon. Bernadette Barrett & Rhonda J. Thompson January 2026 Pre-trial conferences are an integral part of family law, built into the statutes that govern domestic relations matters. Judges and attorneys can take steps to ensure that pre-trials are as successful as possible in protecting children, resolving financial issues fairly, and reducing the collateral damage of litigation.

Preparing Your Clients for Court Ordered Mediation and Interviews With the Guardian ad Litem By Laura Miroballi April 2026 Be sure to educate your clients about the purpose, role, and scope of Guardian ad Litems and mediators. Not only does this allow your client to feel more secure and educated going into the initial meeting, but the sessions can be more productive if the Guardian ad Litem or mediator does not have to waste time educating the client on the purpose of the meeting.

Putting the Cart Before the Divorce: Pre-Decree Relocation Under 750 ILCS 5/603.5 and 5/609 By John P.M. Peskind February 2026 The relocation statute presumes that an Allocation Judgment has already been entered in a matter; however, family law practitioners know that seeking relocation during the pendency of a proceeding is sometimes necessary. If, after considering the potential impact of a relocation on the non-relocating parent, a court finds that a relocation would serve the children’s best interest—then the children should relocate. It is difficult to see why the pre- or post-decree status of the case should have any bearing on this analysis.

Restriction of Parental Responsibilities By Judge Maureen Schuette March 2026 An overview of the statutes, legal standards, and necessary language to include in orders to restrict parental responsibilities from the perspective of a sitting judge.

The Women by Kristin Hannah—A Reflection of Our Times By Naomi Schuster June 2026 The Women by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel highlighting the overlooked contributions of women—especially nurses—during the Vietnam War. Through the fictional character Frankie McGrath, based on real accounts, the story reveals the harsh realities faced by female veterans, including trauma, lack of recognition, and poor treatment upon returning home. Despite 10,000 women serving in Vietnam, mostly as volunteer nurses, their roles were long ignored. Efforts to honor them culminated in the 1993 dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., thanks to advocacy led by former nurse Diane Carlson Evans.