Always get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day.

Mickey Rooney

Admitted to bar, 1983, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

EDUCATION DePaul University (B.S., with highest honors, 1979; J.D. 1983).  Delta Mu Delta.  Author:  "Representing the Prodigious Spouse in Divorce," Illinois Bar Journal, (anticipated date of publication 2003/2004); "Distribution at Divorce of Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, and Disability Awards," Illinois Bar Journal, September 1999: "Change of Custody Proceedings &endash; Temporary and Permanent IICLE Child Custody," Litigation Handbook, 1992, IICLE Supplement, 1995: "Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation and Disability Awards in Illinois Divorce Cases."  Illinois Bar Journal, October 1990; "The Non-Dischargeability of Maintenance, Child Support and Attorney's Fees under Section 523(a)5 of the Bankruptcy Act," Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter, June, 1988; "Post-Nuptial Agreements," Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter, December, 1985.  Speaker:  Coordinated program and presented "Family Law Basic Update," for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), May, 1994 in Collinsville, Springfield and St. Louis, MO; "Change in Custody Proceedings&emdash;Temporary and Permanent: "How to Depose an Expert," IICLE, November, 1992; "Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation and Disability Awards in Illinois Divorce Cases," Illinois State Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, November, 1990; "Family Law," Young Lawyers Division, Illinois State Bar Association, Lawyering Skills Seminar, January, 1990; "Adding Insult to Injury.  The Characterization and Apportionment of Personal Injury Awards, Workers Compensation Awards and Disability Benefits in marriage Dissolution Cases."  North Suburban Bar Association, October, 1989; "a 'Look-See' at Rehabilitative Maintenance," Illinois State Bar Association Update Program, October, 1987; "Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements."  Northwest Suburban Bar Association, March, 1986; "The Parentage Act," Illinois State Bar Association, January, 1986.  Honors:  Authored and lobbied for the passage of Section 607(b)(1) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) which affords siblings in Illinois visitation rights.  Co-authored the Statute and lobbied for Senate Bill 934, modification of maintenance statute.  Appointed Attorney for the Child by the Bar Relations Sub-Committee of the Domestic Relations Advisory Committee, Cable Television Appearance.  Law Day Program, "You and The Law," May 6, 1995.  Cook County Court Facilitation Program Volunteer, 2002.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT Cancer Treatment Research Foundation Board appointed to serve on Board of Directors -- 2003; Chris Chelios Charity Golf Classic Committee, 1989 -- AON / Maryville Golf Classic Committee, 1989 -- Committees to raise funds for Maryville City of Youth to aid Father Smyth with care of physically and sexually abused children. 

MEMBER Chicago Special Olympics, Listed in Who's Who, International Executive Guild.  Member:  Chicago (Chairman, Ethics and Fees Subcommittee, 1990-1991; Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1987-1991; Matrimonial Law Committee since 1983); Illinois State (Elected:  Board of Governors, 1991-1997 and 1999-present); Assembly, 1990-1996; 1998-2001; Special Committee on Employment of New Lawyers, 1992; Ad Hoc Committee on Merit Selection, 1992; Appointed:  Illinois Bar Foundation, 1991-1993; Membership Committee, 1992-1993; By-Laws Committee, 1992-1993; Family Law Section Council, 1985-1989; Associate Member, 1989-1990 and American (Vice-Chair, Family Law Committee, General Practice Section, 1990-1992) Bar Associations; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Member:  Admissions Procedure Committee, 1992 and 1998; Attorney's Fees Study Committee, 1992; Illinois Chapter Board of Managers, 1989-1994); Appellate Lawyers Association of Illinois, Justinian Society of Lawyers.

PRACTICE AREAS Family Law; Matrimonial Law; Litigation; Finance; Financial Law; Divorce; Taxation; Retirement Benefits Plan; Negotiation; Mediation; Child Custody; Visitation Rights; Premarital Agreements; Postnuptial Agreements; Parentage Actions; Adoption; Entertainment Law; Residential Real Estate.

FIRM ARTICLES

The Prodigious Spouse: Equitable Distribution and Wealthy Wage Earner

Distribution at Divorce of Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, and Disability Awards

Admitted to bar, 2009, Illinois, Northern District of Illinois. Ms. Howard is a candidate for admission to the North Carolina Bar (July, 2012).

EDUCATION University of Arizona, B.A. (2005) DePaul University College of Law, J.D. (2008) She received a Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul University College of Law where she also earned a Certificate in Family Law. During law school, Ms. Howard volunteered for Lawyer’s in the Classroom and was a member of DePaul’s Family Law Society. Ms. Howard attended the 2011 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) associate training program.

BACKGROUND Ms. Howard has successfully negotiated settlements and/or litigated issues involving complex financial matters, custody, support, and division of property. Ms. Howard utilizes creati vity and compassion to resolve complicated divorce and custody disputes. Whether collaborative settlement or traditional litigation, Ms. Howard customizes her approach to best serve her client’s needs.

Admitted to bar, 2008, Illinois, Northern District of Illinois.

EDUCATION Skidmore College (2003) Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. (2008) On track to receive an LLM from the Chicago-Kent College of Law (2012)

BACKGROUND Prior to joining the Law Offices of Debra DiMaggio, Jonathan previously worked as an associate attorney at Griffin McCarthy & Rice LLP and Stein & Stein, Ltd. Jonathan also worked as an extern and a law clerk at Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove LLP both during and following his graduation from law school where he gained valuable experience in the areas of family law and civil and commercial litigation. Jonathan's practice specializes in all areas of family law including but not limited to the valuation and disposition of marital and nonmarital property, maintenance, child support, parentage, custody, visitation and post-decree litigation. Jonathan’s client-driven nature and aptitude for globally resolving multi-layered family issues is a testament to his versatility and empathy for his clients during both the negotiation and litigation stages of a divorce. Jonathan also has legal experience with the mediation and collaborative processes. Jonathan was named a "Rising Star" in the 2012 edition of Super Lawyers magazine, a distinction reserved for the top 2.5% of Illinois attorneys under the age of 40.