Kogut & Wilson congratulates Eva M. Kogut on being featured on the 2025 Super Lawyers Illinois’ Top 50 Women and Top 100 Attorneys lists. This is Eva’s third consecutive year being featured on the Top 50 list, and her first year being named to the Top 100 list. Eva joins five other firm attorneys that were named to Super Lawyers Illinois lists for 2025.
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes exceptional attorneys from across the country in their Top Lists. Candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of professional achievement and peer recognition, with selections made on a state-by-state basis annually.
Continue Reading Eva M. Kogut Once Again Honored on Illinois Super Lawyers Top 50 Women List; Named to Top 100 Attorneys List for First Year

Kogut & Wilson is excited to announce the elevation of Kirsten L. Meeder to partner.
Since joining Kogut & Wilson in 2021, Kirsten has represented clients in a wide array of family law aspects, including complex pre-decree and post-decree matters. Her practice encompasses the identification and distribution of marital and non-marital property, maintenance, child support and allocating parental rights and responsibilities, offering clients strategic advice tailored to their unique circumstances. 
“Kirsten has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to our clients and the practice of family law,” said founding partner Eva M. Kogut. “Her ability to navigate the intricacies of family…
Continue Reading Kirsten L. Meeder Advances to Partner at Kogut & Wilson

Kogut & Wilson partner Cailee J. Alderman has once again been appointed as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for adoption cases by the Circuit Court of Cook County. This marks her third consecutive appointment, reflecting her exceptional contributions to family law. Effective December 1, 2024, Cailee will serve a two-year term, continuing until November 30, 2026.
To become a GAL, the Circuit Court of Cook County requires individuals to have deep experience handling adoption cases and undergo a screening process.
Drawing from her extensive experience in adoption matters, Cailee will continue to advocate for the best interests of children throughout…
Continue Reading Cailee J. Alderman Reappointed as Guardian ad Litem for Adoption Cases by Circuit Court of Cook County for 2024-2026 Term

For married couples facing separation and/or divorce, filing a joint income tax return can offer significant financial advantages and can be a powerful tool for couples looking to optimize their tax outcomes. While individual tax circumstances vary, many couples find that this method of filing can result in considerable tax savings and benefits that help them manage their finances more effectively including:

• Potential for various tax deductions and credits
• Expediting due refund(s)
• Lower overall tax rates
• Shared expenses that qualify for deductions are easier to track

This route is legally sound as encountered in In re Marriage of Solis-Cantrill and…
Continue Reading Should Separating or Divorcing Couples File Joint Tax Returns?

Second parent adoption allows a non-biological parent to gain the same rights as a biological parent. Following recent political decisions, including the 2024 election and the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs in June 2022, discussions surrounding second parent adoption have increased, as many same sex couples are concerned about their future parenting rights.
What is Second Parent Adoption?
In a second parent adoption, a second adult establishes themselves as a legal parent of a child.  In the case of a LGBTQ+ couple, this often takes the form of a spouse adopting:

• The child born biologically to their partner during

…
Continue Reading Protecting LGBTQ+ Family Rights in Upcoming Years

Kogut & Wilson is thrilled to announce Cailee J. Alderman’s recognition in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s fifth annual Women in Law List. This list recognizes and honors influential women in law who work to mentor and promote other women in the field, act as shining examples of leadership and achieve success in the legal community. 
As a partner, Cailee has been instrumental in expanding the firm’s practices, especially in adoption, guardianship and special immigrant juvenile status cases. Her efforts have not only enhanced the firm’s capabilities, but her extensive knowledge and compassionate advocacy have also transformed how the entire team…
Continue Reading Cailee J. Alderman Honored in 2024 Women in Law List

Kogut & Wilson is proud to announce that the firm has been honored as a 2025 Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers®. The firm was ranked in Chicago Metropolitan Tier 1 for its practice in Family Law and Tier 2 for Family Law Mediation.
This honor comes after seven firm attorneys were named to the 2025 “Best Lawyers” and “Ones to Watch” lists earlier this year.
To determine the Best Law Firms list, Best Lawyers® utilizes a rigorous industry driven selection process, analyzing numerous client evaluations and peer evaluations from legal professionals to place the most prestigious firms on the list.
Kogut…
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Kogut & Wilson partner Bryan J. Wilson has been appointed to serve another term as a member on the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Standing Committee on Legislation for 2024-2025. Bryan was initially appointed to the role in 2020.
The Legislation Committee serves members by monitoring and reviewing legislation introduced in the Illinois General Assembly. Based on this review, the ISBA may support, oppose or suggest amendatory language to legislation. The ISBA also proposes legislation for introduction that has been suggested by its sections or committees and monitors federal legislation.
Bryan will serve as one of 16 members who have…
Continue Reading Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Legislation Reappoints Bryan J. Wilson for Fifth Term

Within A Divorce, Adoption or Other Legal Proceeding
In many court proceedings, including the finalization of an adoption or the dissolution of a marriage or a civil union, the ability to create a new last name or resume the use of a former last name is included as part of the final order. After entry of the order, the parents of the minor can provide documentation to the proper entities to enact the name change legally and obtain new documentation, including a new birth certificate, driver’s license or social security card, as applicable.
Minor Name Change Eligibility for a Separate…
Continue Reading When Can a Minor’s Name Legally Be Changed in Illinois?

Divorce is often an emotional, tense process for couples as they try to dissolve their marriage. However, for couples searching for a more amicable approach, a collaborative divorce may be ideal as it provides parties more control over the process.
How the Collaborative Law Approach Works
In a collaborative divorce, the couple is given control to decide the terms of their divorce, working together with a team of professionals to determine the distribution of their estate, spousal support, parenting time and so on.
Each spouse has their own collaborative attorney for this process and can enlist collaborative experts to help…
Continue Reading What is Collaborative Divorce and How Can I Utilize it in My Divorce?

Kogut & Wilson is pleased to announce two new additions to the team as associates: Darby Groberman and Nike Román. Both attorneys focus their practices in all areas of family and matrimonial law.
Darby has experience in conducting, compiling and organizing research for a variety of causes, as well as creating and drafting documents for a multitude of agreements. Her experience from different legal disciplines grants her a more comprehensive perspective on family law matters.
Prior to joining Kogut & Wilson, Darby served as a legal intern at a coalition aiming to reform the Michigan immigration system, eliminate the…
Continue Reading Kogut & Wilson Welcomes Darby Groberman and Nike Román to the Firm

Most family law cases are settled before trial, as both sides can often come to an agreement without the court’s interaction or because the time, effort and money needed for trial outweigh the benefits. However, in certain cases, trial is necessary.  
Family law cases proceed to trial for various reasons, typically regarding critical issues such as property division, allocation of parenting time or spousal support failure. These are often complex cases with emotional factors that can make it challenging to come to an agreement without a third-party judge’s ruling.
How to Prepare for a Divorce Case
Parties should consult…
Continue Reading How to Prepare for a Divorce Trial

During a divorce, couples with children often find themselves in disagreement regarding what actions or decisions are in the best interests of their children amid emotionally charged proceedings, sometimes losing sight of their priorities. In such cases, understanding the roles of certain third-party advocates is crucial.
What Are Third-Party Advocates?
Third-party advocates, appointed by the court or motioned by the parties’ attorneys, ensure the children’s needs are prioritized during a contested family law proceeding. This is important because the court’s decision regarding parental responsibility (formerly known as “custody”) and parenting time (formerly known as “visitation”) is based on the best…
Continue Reading What is the Difference Between (1) an Attorney for the Child, (2) a Child Representative, and (3) a Guardian ad Litem?