A conversation about what comes next
Charles M. Wright is a Divorce and Family Law Attorney at Beermann LLP, serving Long Grove residents. Start with the questions that matter to you: the home, finances, parenting, or what life could look like after a long marriage. You do not need a complete file before asking for a conversation.
Charles’s listed office is at 161 N. Clark St., Suite 3000, Chicago, IL 60601. This is a service-area page, not a claim of an office in Long Grove. Contact the team to discuss meeting arrangements. When calling 312-621-9700, ask for Charles Wright.
Which county and court should I start with?
Long Grove is in Lake County. Official local geography reference.
Illinois generally places a divorce proceeding in the county where either spouse resides, with a statutory process for seeking a waiver if neither resides in the chosen county. Discuss venue before filing; a town name or an attorney’s office address does not settle that question. 750 ILCS 5/104.
For an existing case, use the county, case number, hearing notice and orders on your papers. Confirm the assigned courtroom, appearance method and any current instructions before a hearing.
What if the home is valuable but expensive to maintain?
List the full annual carrying cost, including taxes, insurance, utilities, landscaping and foreseeable repairs. Identify whether savings or variable income have been covering those costs. A home’s estimated equity does not show whether one household can comfortably maintain it. Ask how a proposed housing choice would affect accessible funds, retirement savings and the ability to respond to unexpected expenses.
What if family finances include a closely held business?
Start with the entity names, ownership records, tax returns and available financial statements. Note any ownership restrictions, loans or personal guarantees. Keep business cash flow separate from assumptions about the owner’s personal spending power. Counsel can help identify whether valuation, income analysis or tracing requires further records and professional input before settlement proposals are compared.
Where do I begin if records go back many years?
Create a timeline of major events: the marriage, property purchases, inheritances, account changes and business transactions. Attach available records without guessing about missing years. Preserve original documents and use only information you can lawfully access. The timeline is a way to identify follow-up questions; it does not by itself determine whether an asset is marital or nonmarital.
How do I request a conversation?
Use the conversation request form to share contact information and names for the initial conflict check. Mention approaching deadlines. Save confidential records for the process the team provides, and discuss scope, fees and communication before representation begins. An inquiry does not establish an attorney-client relationship or extend a deadline.
For a useful starting agenda, use the divorce preparation checklist. You can also explore divorce after 50 or other communities served.