ZRFM’s Family Law practice group has over 60 years of divorce litigation experience, having handled over 2,000 divorce cases. The ZRFM Family Law approach to divorce is to assist and counsel the whole person. We realize that divorce is a traumatic experience. You not only require advice as to divorce issues, but also may require advice on reconciliation, taxes, real estate and business valuation, psychological and career counseling and child custody and care. Many of these issues can be handled by the ZRFM Family Law group namely Richard Flood, Melissa Cooney, Vonda Vaughn and Elizabeth Wakeman. In addition, ZRFM, as the largest law firm in McHenry County, also has on its staff other attorneys with expertise in many of these areas. For example, Ryan Farrell is a CPA with an extensive tax and business valuation background. We have several attorneys with extensive real estate experience. In the end, the ZRFM Family Law group is here to help you through the difficulties of a divorce. Our goal is to not only negotiate for you a favorable financial resolution, but also help you through the emotional difficulty attendant to a divorce.

Picure above from Left to Right: Elizabeth Felt Wakeman, Richard G. Flood, Vonda k. Vaughn and Melissa J. Cooney

Dissolution of Marriage/Divorce
Is reconciliation possible or advisable? Would it be better to wait to divorce? Should I file or let my spouse file? How long will it take?
What can I expect to receive in property settlement? Will I be financially better off after the divorce? What is the divorce process?
What reaction can I expect from my spouse? What will my divorce cost? Do I pay for it or will my spouse?

Child Custody and Care and Visitation
Who will our children live with? Do the children get to decide? What is joint custody? What is shared custody? If I need daycare, who will pay for it?

Family, Maintenance, Alimony and Child Support
How will I be able to support my family and pay my bills? Who decides how much money I will get? How is it paid?
Will I be able to stay in my house? Who pays for health insurance for my children? Who pays for the cost of extracurricular activities?

Post Decree - After the Divorce Issues
Have you stopped receiving child support? Are you having problems with visitation? Are you thinking about change of custody?
Can you get help for your child’s college expenses?

Pre-Nuptial Agreements
What are your assets? Which assets do you want to keep separate? Will the proposed Prenuptial Agreement benefit you?
Will you receive your fair share in case of divorce or death?

Adoption
Do you wish to adopt a related or unrelated child? What is the situation with the child’s natural parent or parents?
What do you have to prove to be successful in your adoption? What documents will you need?

Areas of Family Law:

Dissolution of Marriage/Divorce
Going through a divorce can be very emotional and stressful. Throughout the divorce process, our attorneys guide you through your
divorce with an individual approach to address the specific issues in each case. We will make sure you understand your options and
what you can expect to receive. We feel communication is a high priority and our attorneys are available for consultation by telephone,
email or in-office visits.

Child Custody and Care and Visitation
Our firm is sensitive to the emotional stress and rigors of dealing with a child custody or visitation issue.
The attorneys of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle are experienced in handling these difficult and often traumatic events.
We will guide you through court required mediation or custody evaluation if mandated. Our attorneys will actively consult with you about custody
and visitation matters putting your relationship with your child first.

Family, Maintenance, Alimony and Child Support
Many times in a marriage there is one party who has sacrificed a career to provide for the children and family needs at home.
Often this party has been the support to enable the other to flourish in their career. The attorneys at Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle
understand that the party who has provided the at-home support should also be compensated for their contribution to the family through an
award of maintenance. Our attorneys seek to obtain maintenance for those clients who need assistance after the end of their marriage to
enable them to continue in the lifestyle they have enjoyed during the marriage.

Post Decree - After the Divorce Issues
Issues arise in the years following the finalization of a divorce. Whether those issues are related to custody and visitation matters or
financial matters relating to support or maintenance, our attorneys have experience in post-decree matters to get the issues resolved
so clients can once again move on with their lives.

Pre-Nuptial Agreements
We consider all the assets of the parties, discuss which assets you are seeking to protect and which assets you wish to keep separate
in the case of death, divorce or both. We will also advise you how to keep separate those assets obtained after the marriage so they
will not be considered marital property.

Adoption
We will discuss with you all the issues involved in related and unrelated adoptions including whether the natural parent will consent,
what proof is required to have parental rights terminated, and the process for adopting a child. We will also advise you as to implications
for support issues in related adoptions.