When Agreement Is Not Possible, Strategy Matters.
Some divorces can be resolved through cooperation and negotiation. Others involve serious disputes over property, finances, parenting, support, business interests, or other important issues that require stronger advocacy and court involvement.
Attorney Joerika Stitt provides strategic representation in contested Illinois divorce and family-law matters, with a focus on protecting your interests, identifying the issues that matter most, and moving the case toward resolution.
Strong advocacy does not require unnecessary escalation. It requires careful preparation, sound judgment, and knowing when to negotiate, when to seek court intervention, and when litigation is necessary.
Getting Started
01 Submit your intake
Complete the firm’s intake form with key information about your situation, your goals, and the issues currently in dispute.
02 Review Your Options
A member of the firm will review your intake and respond within 30 minutes of submission during normal business hours.
If the matter appears to be a potential fit, the firm will explain the next step. Depending on your situation, you may be asked to schedule a paid Attorney Case Assessment to discuss the legal issues, available options, and potential strategy before deciding whether to retain the firm.
03 Retain the Firm
If the firm accepts your matter and you decide to move forward, you will receive an engagement agreement and retainer instructions.
Once representation begins, Attorney Stitt may handle matters such as pleadings, discovery, settlement negotiations, court appearances, evidentiary hearings, and litigation as required by the circumstances of your case.
How Contested Matters are Billed
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Overview
Unlike the firm’s fixed-fee uncontested and Navigator services, contested matters are generally billed hourly against an initial evergreen retainer because the scope and complexity of litigation can change as a case develops. Billing is itemized, and the retainer is applied to legal work performed on your matter
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Evergreen Retainer
Starts at $4,500
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Attorney Hourly Rate
$300
Frequently Asked Questions
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Your divorce is contested when you and your spouse can't agree on one or more key issues — how property and debt are divided, support, or arrangements for your children — or when a spouse won't cooperate at all. If a real dispute stands between you and a signed agreement, your matter is contested, and you'll want an attorney who can both negotiate and litigate.
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Usually not. Most contested divorces settle before a judge ever rules. The firm prepares every matter as though it could go to trial — which is often exactly what moves the other side toward a fair agreement — while working to resolve yours as efficiently as possible. Trial is the tool when it's needed, not the default.
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It depends on how much is in dispute and how cooperative the other side is. Your attorney works to keep your case moving at every stage rather than letting it drift.
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Contested divorces are billed hourly against an initial retainer, unlike the firm's fixed-fee services — because no one can predict at the start how hard the other side will fight. You'll receive clear, itemized billing, and your retainer is applied to the work done on your matter.
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Illinois law provides clear paths forward when a spouse stalls, refuses to participate, or hides assets, and your attorney uses every tool available to keep your case moving. A resolution-first approach is not a soft one: it means holding firm and refusing to be pushed around, while never running up conflict — or your bill — for its own sake.
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When a divorce is contested, it simply means you and your spouse do not currently agree on the path forward. When children are involved, a contested divorce means the court will require a structured process to ensure their well-being is protected while you work toward a resolution.
Here is exactly what happens:
Mediation is the First Step: In Illinois, if parents cannot agree on a parenting schedule or decision-making responsibilities, the court will almost always order you to attend mediation. This is a private process designed to help you reach an agreement without a judge making the choices for your family.
Establishing a Temporary Routine: Because your children need stability right now, we can ask the court for a temporary order. This sets up a legally binding, temporary schedule for parenting time and child support while the rest of your divorce is being resolved.
Shifting Focus to "Parenting Functions": Illinois law no longer awards vague "custody." Instead, it divides the process into Parenting Time (the physical schedule) and the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (decision-making power for education, healthcare, and religion). The court looks at who has historically handled these day-to-day caretaking tasks over the last two years.
The Court’s North Star: If you cannot reach an agreement through mediation or negotiation, a judge will make the final decision based strictly on the "best interests of the child." In high-conflict cases or cases involving a steep imbalance of power, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL)—an independent attorney whose sole job is to investigate and advocate for what is best for your children.
Our Philosophy: We do not believe in performative courtroom battles that traumatize children and drain your family's savings. We protect your children by being the most strategic, prepared advocates in the room—holding firm against an uncooperative spouse in court precisely so we can secure a stable, safe, and resolution-first future for your family.