Family Law and Divorce Attorney in Naperville, IL
Experienced. Local. On Your Side.
Naperville has grown into one of the largest suburbs in Illinois, home to dual-career professionals, tech and corporate executives, and families spread across two counties and two major school districts.
Family law matters here are often complex—but the Naperville divorce attorneys at Mulyk Laho Law bring 55 years of combined experience in both DuPage and Will County courts. Our team is supported by child welfare specialists, forensic accountants, and investigators to take on even the toughest cases.
55 Years of Combined Experience
Services in English, Spanish, and Arabic
Fair and Transparent Billing
Free Attorney Consultation
Our Family Law and Divorce Attorneys
Rebecca A. Laho
Partner
Sharon R. Mulyk
Partner
Patrick P. Azer
Attorney
Caroline M. Smith
Attorney
Client Reviews
Serving Naperville, IL and Nearby Communities
Naperville is unusual among Chicago suburbs in that it straddles the DuPage County/Will County line, which means the very first question in many Naperville cases is which courthouse it belongs in.
Each circuit has its own judges, local rules, and scheduling practices, and couples who live on opposite sides of the line raise a genuine venue question that has to be sorted out before anything else moves forward. Our attorneys are based in Glen Ellyn (DuPage County) and practice in both circuits, so wherever you fall, we know your local procedures inside and out.
We also represent clients throughout the surrounding area—including Lisle, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Plainfield, and Woodridge—from our office in Glen Ellyn, about 25 minutes from downtown Naperville.
Your Local Courthouses
If you live on the DuPage County side, your case is heard at the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Wheaton, located at:
505 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
If you live on the Will County side, your case is heard at the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Joliet, located at:
100 West Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Divorce in Naperville – What to Expect
Naperville families tend to look different case to case, but a few things come up constantly: two incomes, often from corporate, tech, or medical careers; stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), or bonus-heavy compensation that complicates support and asset division; and kids enrolled in either Naperville CUSD 203 or Indian Prairie CUSD 204, two of the strongest school districts in the state and a serious factor in where parents want to keep their children rooted.
The shape of your case depends on the issues under dispute, how well spouses can agree, and how well financials can be documented. Our Naperville family law attorneys take the time to understand your family’s situation and recommend a path that works for you.
Uncontested divorces are common among Naperville couples who've reached their own agreement and want it drafted correctly, filed in the right county, and finalized without unnecessary back-and-forth.
Mediated divorces work well for professional couples who'd rather resolve disputes over compensation, equity, or parenting time privately and efficiently than in open court.
Contested divorces in Naperville often center on business or equity compensation, a disagreement over relocation, or a parenting schedule that has to work around two demanding careers.
High-asset and complex divorces are a significant part of our Naperville practice. Stock options, deferred compensation, closely held businesses, and multiple properties all require careful valuation, and we bring in forensic accountants to make sure nothing is mischaracterized.
Whether your case is straightforward or financially complex, our Naperville divorce lawyers know both the DuPage and Will County systems, and we have a full support team—including child welfare specialists, forensic accountants, and investigators—ready to build your strongest possible case.
Divorce with Children
For many Naperville families, the hardest part of a divorce isn’t dividing what you own—it’s figuring out what daily life looks like for your kids afterward. Which parent handles day-to-day parenting decisions? Which district will they attend? What does the parenting schedule look like when both parents work demanding jobs?
Child Custody and Parental Responsibilities
With two large, high-performing school districts serving the city, school enrollment is often one of the first questions Naperville parents raise in a divorce. Illinois law refers to child custody as the “allocation of parental responsibilities,” which covers both decision-making authority (school, medical care, religion) and the actual parenting time schedule.
We help Naperville parents build parenting plans that account for two demanding careers, extracurricular schedules, and—when families live near the county line—questions about which district a child will attend going forward.
Child Support
Illinois follows an income-shares model to calculate child support, combining both parents’ net incomes into a base obligation. It also accounts for childcare costs, parenting time, and other factors.
In Naperville, income calculation is frequently complicated by bonus structures, stock compensation, or a parent who owns a business—exactly the kind of income that’s easy to understate and hard to verify without experienced counsel.
Mulyk Laho Law regularly handles child support agreements with complex finances for families in Naperville and beyond.
Divorce and Your Finances
Naperville divorces frequently involve financial pictures that go well beyond a paycheck. Stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), deferred compensation, closely held businesses, and multiple homes all require careful valuation. Disagreements over how to value or divide them are often what turns a straightforward case into a contested one.
Illinois is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital assets are divided fairly, not necessarily equally. What that looks like in practice depends on what you own, how it’s titled, how well each spouse’s finances can be documented, and other factors like parenting time.
Our team includes forensic accountants and investigators who work alongside our divorce lawyers to make sure the financial picture is complete—including equity compensation that hasn’t fully vested and business interests that aren’t always easy to value on paper.
Additional Family Law Services in Naperville, IL
Divorce is the most common reason families come to us, but it’s far from the only one. Mulyk Laho Law handles the full range of family law matters for clients in Naperville, DuPage and Will Counties, and surrounding communities.
Adoption
We guide families through agency, private, stepparent, and relative adoptions with care and efficiency.
Paternity
Establishing, contesting, or modifying paternity to protect the legal rights of children and parents alike.
Civil Unions
Helping couples establish civil unions and understand their legal rights and protections under Illinois law.
Guardian ad Litem
Experienced representation in cases where the court appoints an independent advocate for your child’s best interests.
Orders of Protection
When safety is at stake, we move quickly. Our attorneys are experienced in obtaining emergency orders of protection and temporary restraining orders for clients and their children.
Prenuptial Agreements
Drafting and reviewing agreements that protect your individual assets and clarify financial rights before they become a source of conflict.
Why Choose Mulyk Laho Law for Your Naperville Divorce?
We know that hiring an attorney can feel like a leap of faith. When you work with Mulyk Laho Law, you can feel confident that you made the right choice.
55 Years of Combined Experience: Our attorneys have practiced in both the DuPage County and Will County courts for decades. We know the judges, the procedures, and how to keep a case moving—experience that translates directly into better outcomes.
Mediation and Litigation: We take the time to understand all the details of your case and recommend the right legal pathway for your family. If a mediated resolution serves your interests, we pursue it efficiently. If a fight is necessary, our experienced divorce attorneys are ready for trial.
A Full Support Team Behind Every Case: Every case is backed by skilled investigators, forensic accountants, child psychologists, and social workers to help us build your strongest possible position.
Your Children Come First: We understand that both the outcome of your case and the process itself will impact your family for life. We pursue resolutions that protect your kids now and set them up for stability in the years ahead.
Multilingual Services: We serve Naperville and surrounding communities in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Free Initial Consultation: Speak with one of our attorneys at no charge, with no obligation. Everything discussed is confidential. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of your options and what comes next.
Naperville Family Law FAQ
Where do I file for divorce if I live in Naperville, IL?
It depends on which county you live in. Naperville stretches across both DuPage and Will Counties, so your case is filed either in the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Wheaton (DuPage County) or the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Joliet (Will County). If you’re not sure which applies to you, we’ll confirm it in your consultation.
What does the divorce process look like in Naperville?
- Illinois is a no-fault state, meaning the only grounds required for divorce are irreconcilable differences. Unlike other states, Illinois does not require a mandatory waiting period before filing for divorce.
- After filing, your spouse is served and the court schedules an initial case management conference. A judge sets timelines and identifies disputed issues.
- Contested parenting cases are routed through mandatory mediation before a full hearing is scheduled.
- Many cases resolve through a negotiated settlement agreement; those that don’t proceed to trial.
- Routine hearings can often be handled via Zoom, though our attorneys will always advise you when your presence in person matters.
- A divorce is finalized when a judge signs a divorce decree. The terms of your divorce order can still be modified later, especially if circumstances such as finances or living arrangements have changed.
How long does a divorce take in Naperville?
An uncontested divorce with a complete agreement can often be finalized within a couple of months. Contested cases—particularly those involving business valuation, equity compensation, or custody disputes—commonly take a year or more, depending on the complexity and the assigned court’s schedule.
Will a divorce affect which school district my kids attend—203 or 204?
Not automatically, but it’s a real issue in Naperville because the city is served by two separate school districts, and the children’s primary residence will determine which school they attend. Your parenting plan should specifically address primary residence and school-related decision-making, which is something we build into custody agreements for Naperville families as a matter of course.
Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?
Illinois doesn’t require an attorney to file for divorce, but even a fully agreed case involves details that are easy to get wrong—especially in Naperville, where equity compensation, retirement accounts, and business interests come up often. Since your first consultation with us is free, there’s little reason not to have your agreement reviewed before you file.
Can a divorce decree be modified later?
Yes. Significant changes in circumstances—a job change, a relocation, remarriage, or a shift in a child’s needs—can be grounds to modify child support, maintenance, or a parenting plan. We represent Naperville-area clients on both sides of modification requests, in DuPage and Will County alike.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Our attorneys are ready to hear your story, explain your options clearly, and put our experience across Naperville family courts to work on your behalf.
This call is free and confidential.