Merel Family Law

09/26/2026

Nine years ago, Marleena Broekema joined Merel Family Law. Almost a decade later, she's a partner and a major part of what makes this firm what it is.

If you know Marleena, you know how much she cares about her clients and the work she does (and that is an understatement). She’s a one-of-a-kind attorney, simply put.

Nine years, Marleena. Thank you for everything you bring to the firm. We would not be here without you.

09/22/2026

When someone is raising two kids on their own and dealing with a family business issue on top of a stressful divorce case, the last thing a client needs is a legal team that adds to the chaos.

Brad Kaye and his team did the opposite of that.

We are proud of our team at Merel Family Law, and grateful for all of our clients who place their trust in us during a difficult time in their lives.

09/19/2026

A lot of people walk in wanting one thing: revenge.

That’s a completely understandable place to be, but divorces do not get resolved well in the heat of that emotion. Part of our job is to bring the temperature down and help you make decisions based on what’s best for you, not what feels good in the moment.

09/16/2026

09/15/2026

"She took the time to truly listen." That line alone means a ton to us.

When someone is going through a divorce, they need someone who knows the law, but they also need someone who keeps them in the loop and has their back through the entire process.

That is who our managing partner Melissa Caballero Dunn is, as well as the rest of our team. And, when things hit a few delays outside anyone's control, our team rolls with the punches and keeps everything moving and our clients in the know.

Thank you for this review. Reviews like this are the whole reason how and why we do what we do.

09/11/2026

“They cheated. Don’t I get more?”

It is of the most common questions people ask. In Illinois, the answer is no.

Illinois is a no-fault state, which means the court cannot divide assets based on who caused the marriage to end. Cheating, blame, whatever, none of it factors into who gets what. The court simply wants to divide things fairly and let both people move forward.

09/04/2026

Going through a divorce is so much more than paperwork.

When someone walks in the door, their life is often in pieces and right away they're facing financial affidavits, tax returns, bank statements, and more. It is a lot to carry and the emotional side of it can get lost in the shuffle.

That's why we brought on Kristina Lindsay, our in-house divorce coach. She's trained in domestic violence and works right alongside our attorneys as a resource for clients who need someone to talk to while they successfully complete one of the hardest chapters of their lives.

08/30/2026

We hate to break it to you, but yes, your retirement is on the table during a divorce.

If you earned any of it during the marriage, that portion is considered marital property, and marital property gets divided like everything else.

The one exception is whatever you earned before you got married. That part stays yours.

08/27/2026

Do you want the bulldog lawyer?

This is a very common question people ask themselves when they are looking for a divorce attorney.

You want someone who can get aggressive only when the situation calls for it. Aggression without a strategy behind it makes everything worse for everyone.

Skill is knowing when to push hard and when to settle. A good attorney uses that aggression to get you in the best possible position and not to create a mess.

08/24/2026

When our founder, Jonathan Merel, started Merel Family Law in 2009, he never pictured this.

A 25,000 square foot office downtown with:

- A meditation room
- Zoom courtrooms
- A lounge
- A bar
- Ping pong tables
- And so much more

None of this was part of some grand plan at the start. It grew out of the culture the team built along the way, and making it a reality was a dream Jonathan didn't even know he had back then!