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State research · Illinois

Child-centered divorce and custody lawyers in Illinois.

Three lawyers whose public records show meaningful child-focused work, substantial family-law depth, professional stature, and a useful first-party online presence.

Research reviewedAugust 17, 2026
01Editorial score98/100

Chicago · Illinois

Maxine Weiss Kunz

Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC

Kunz is Illinois's strongest match because she combines exclusive parent-side family practice with formal service as both child representative and guardian ad litem in Cook County. A psychology degree, mediation and collaborative credentials, and AFCC leadership add a multidisciplinary foundation for understanding high-conflict families. She remains a trial lawyer, so a child-focused client is not being steered toward settlement regardless of safety or leverage. AAML fellowship, teaching, writing, and firm leadership supply excellent professional corroboration. The website is especially effective for this project because it includes a dedicated child-representation page as well as a substantial biography and direct contact. Illinois ARDC's search did not produce a durable individual result URL, so the ranking is contingent on a fresh official registration and discipline check before publication and periodic reverification afterward.

Why the children-first signal is real

Kunz's profile documents Cook County appointments as child representative and guardian ad litem, AFCC leadership, a psychology degree, mediation and collaborative credentials, and an exclusive family-law practice.

Divorce and custody depth

She has practiced exclusively in family law since 2005 and handles complex divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities, trial, child representation, mediation, and collaborative cases.

Professional stature

AAML fellowship, AFCC board and officer service, court appointments, certified mediation, teaching, professional writing, and firm leadership establish exceptional stature.

Children 30/30Case depth 25/25Stature 20/20Online presence 15/15License confidence 8/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: The Illinois ARDC official lawyer-search portal was identified, but its interactive results did not yield a stable individual record for citation. Recheck registration and discipline through ARDC before publication.

Child-representative appointments can create conflicts. Confirm current appointment volume, personal case handling, fee structure, county reach, and official ARDC record.

02Editorial score97/100

Chicago · Illinois

David H. Levy

Berger Schatz

Levy pairs child-representation experience with extraordinary command of Illinois family law. His profile describes service as a child representative and an approach focused on durable outcomes for children, not merely winning the next hearing. He has tried and appealed major family cases, served as an arbitrator, and helped author the state's revised marriage and dissolution statute. National AAML leadership, editorial work, teaching, and lifetime recognition place him among Illinois's most influential practitioners. Berger Schatz's website is extensive and gives consumers detailed custody content and direct contact. He ranks second because Kunz presents a broader current mix of child representative, GAL, psychology, mediation, and collaborative credentials, while Levy's child-centered case relies more on long practice and stated philosophy. ARDC status and discipline must be freshly checked because no stable individual result URL was available.

Why the children-first signal is real

Levy's profile documents service as a child representative and emphasizes long-run outcomes for children; it also identifies sustained teaching and writing on custody and children's issues.

Divorce and custody depth

He handles high-stakes family trials and appeals, is a certified arbitrator, and was a principal author of Illinois's revised marriage and dissolution statute.

Professional stature

National AAML leadership and editorial work, statutory authorship, lifetime professional recognition, extensive teaching, and senior practice at a major family-law firm establish extraordinary stature.

Children 29/30Case depth 25/25Stature 20/20Online presence 15/15License confidence 8/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: Illinois ARDC's official lawyer-search was identified, but a stable individual result URL could not be captured. Reverify active registration and discipline through ARDC immediately before publication.

Confirm whether Levy personally handles new custody matters, present child-representative activity, case staffing, fees, and official ARDC status/discipline.

03Editorial score95/100

Chicago · Illinois

Erin M. Wilson

Law Office of Erin M. Wilson LLC

Wilson's public record is exceptionally aligned with KIDD1Divorce.com's purpose. She frequently serves as guardian ad litem and child representative, accepts pro bono child appointments, works as a Parenting Coordinator, and holds a psychology degree. Her stated child-centric, lower-conflict philosophy is therefore supported by formal roles and multidisciplinary involvement rather than marketing alone. She also has extensive trial experience and offers mediation and collaborative representation, allowing strategy to match the family's risk level. AFCC leadership, teaching, and professional recognition add stature. Her website is detailed, personal, and easy to contact. Wilson ranks third because Kunz has AAML fellowship and Levy has unmatched statewide doctrinal influence, but her child-centered evidence is arguably the most direct. The Illinois ARDC record must be independently checked before publication because a stable individual result was unavailable.

Why the children-first signal is real

Wilson's biography documents frequent GAL and child-representative appointments, Parenting Coordinator service, pro bono child representation, psychology education, AFCC leadership, and an express child-centric approach aimed at reducing conflict.

Divorce and custody depth

Her practice is dedicated to family law and combines extensive trial work with mediation, collaborative representation, parenting coordination, divorce, and contested parenting matters.

Professional stature

AFCC board service, court appointments, trial experience, mediation/collaborative credentials, pro bono child representation, teaching, and cited peer recognition support excellent stature.

Children 30/30Case depth 24/25Stature 18/20Online presence 15/15License confidence 8/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: The official Illinois ARDC lawyer-search portal was located, but a persistent individual result was not available for citation. Recheck active registration and any discipline directly through ARDC before publication.

Confirm current parent-side capacity, conflicts arising from prior child appointments, county reach, fee structure, and full ARDC registration/discipline history.

Before you hire anyone

A shortlist is the beginning of diligence, not the end.

Kids First Divorce is an independent editorial publication. We do not represent you, refer you to counsel, certify any lawyer, or predict any result. Selection is based on publicly available information reviewed as of the date shown.

Confirm the lawyer’s current license and disciplinary history with the official state authority. Interview the lawyer about conflicts, fees, availability, geographic coverage, relevant experience, strategy, and whether their approach fits your family’s actual facts.

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