Divorce is expensive. Divorce with children is even more expensive. Divorce lawyers in Chicago, Illinois can charge over $400 an hour and ask for $ 5000 retainers. This is far outside the means of many Chicago residents. Yet, lower income Chicago residents still need to get a divorce and resolve their family law issues. There are many reduced-fee and no-fee divorce attorneys in Chicago, Illinois who describe this billing system by the latin term “pro bono” which means “for good.” So, who are the Pro Bono Divorce Lawyers in Chicago?
Many of the pro bono divorce lawyers in Chicago are volunteers who work through the below organizations to provide pro bono free or sliding scale services. These organizations screen potential pro bono applicants to find the pro bono divorce lawyer that is the best fit for that client. This screening system ensures that the right people get the right help.
There is no right to a divorce lawyer. “The sixth amendment [right to an attorney] applies to criminal prosecutions. The very words of the sixth amendment limit its scope to criminal proceedings: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy * * * the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” (U.S. Const., amend. VI.) It would be an extravagant expansion of the sixth amendment to hold that it applies equally to civil and criminal proceedings.” Hermann v. Hermann, 219 Ill. App. 3d 195, 198 (Ill. App. Ct. 1991)
Failure to hire a divorce lawyer means you must represent yourself and have all the responsibilities of a lawyer. The court will not help you out in your divorce case. “Trial courts are not the research assistants of the litigants; the parties have a duty to fully present their legal arguments to the court for its resolution of their dispute.” Walters v. Nadell, 481 Mich. 377, 388, 751 N.W.2d 431, 437 (2008).
So, that being said ***DO NOT CONTACT ME FOR PRO BONO HELP, CONTACT THE BELOW RESOURCES***
Ascend Justice (Formerly Known As The Domestic Violence Legal Clinic. They primarily handle domestic violence cases)
555 W. Harrison St.
Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312-325-9155
info@dvlcchicago.org
www.ascendjustice.org
Apna Ghar
4350 N Broadway, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60613
Uptown Office: (773) 883-4663
help@apnaghar.org
http://www.apnaghar.org/programs-and-services.html
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
740 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60642
Phone: 312-738-2452
info@cgla.net
http://www.cgla.net
Center for Disability and Elder Law
79 W. Monroe Street
Suite 919
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-376-1880
info@probonocdel.org
www.probonocdel.org
Centro Romero
6216 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: 773-508-5300
legald@centroromero.org
https://centroromero.org/legal-services/
Greater Chicago Legal Clinic (they do domestic violence but not divorce cases pro bono. They handle divorces on a sliding-scale basis)
17 N. State St. Suite 1710
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 773-726-2938
info@clclaw.org
https://clclaw.org/
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
100 N. LaSalle St.
Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-332-1624
cvls@cvls.org
www.cvls.org
Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS)
17 N. State St.
Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-738-9200
https://www.carpls.org
Legal Aid Bureau of Metropolitan Family Services
One North Dearborn
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-986-4200
contactus@metrofamily.org
www.metrofamily.org
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
111 W. Jackson Blvd.
Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-341-1070
www.lafchicago.org
Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy
20 E. Jackson Blvd.
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-408-1210
life-span@life-span.org
www.life-span.org
If you only need child support and nothing else, the Cook County State’s Attorney can help you with that matter. The Cook County State’s Attorney will help establish and collect child support but they will not assist in an underlying divorce including any alimony, property division or any parenting/custody issues.
Cook County State’s Attorney
28 N Clark
Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-345-2200
statesattorney@cookcountyil.gov
https://www.cookcountystatesattorney.org/about/locations/child-support-enforcement
In addition, there are many divorce attorneys in Chicago who help people on a limited-scope basis. A limited-scope appearance is a divorce lawyer entering into a contract with you saying “I’m only going to represent you for X not the entire case.” This usually means the lawyer represents the client for one court hearing or to negotiate and draft one document like a marital settlement agreement of an allocation of parenting time and parenting responsibilities.
Limited scope appearances seem to work well for some divorce attorneys and their clients. I, personally, am not a fan of limited scope appearances in family law. The reasons for which I explain here.
If you’re in dire need of a family law or divorce lawyer in Chicago, Illinois but cannot afford a big retainer, please contact the above agencies. If you do not qualify for one of these agencies you are welcome to contact my office to discuss your options with an experienced Chicago divorce lawyer. While I am not a pro bono divorce lawyer, my rates are fair and reasonable. Additionally, I have accommodated people with payment plans after we have established a relationship of mutual trust and respect.
Additionally, your spouse may be responsible for your attorneys fees which would only require you to supply a private Chicago divorce lawyer with the initial retainer which may be reimbursed after an order for attorneys fees is later entered. This is an option that I am eager to discuss with potential divorce clients.
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act now allows a person whose spouse has already filed for divorce to request that the spouse pay their initial retainer.
“A petition for interim fees that seeks an order for the payment of an initial retainer to retain an attorney shall have attached to it an affidavit from the attorney to be retained that the attorney has been contacted by the moving party and the attorney has agreed to enter an appearance if the court grants the relief requested, together with a certificate from the moving party that the interim fees granted will only be used by the moving party to retain the attorney. Any interim fees granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid directly to the identified attorney.” 750 ILCS 5/501(c-1)(1.5)
If you cannot get a pro bono attorney or get your spouse to pay your retainer in advance, you can at least ask an Illinois divorce court to waive your filing fees due to your financial situation.