Law Office of Russell D. Knight

Law Office of Russell D. Knight Full service family law firm located in downtown Chicago. Call us today for more information.

06/02/2026

When your child says they don't want to go to the other parent's house. If your child says they don't want parenting time with the other parent, don't celebrate.

Say this instead.

Save this.

Your child says:
"I don't want to go."

DON'T SAY:
"You don't have to if you don't want to."

SAY:
"Tell me more about what's making you feel that way."

Here's why.
Many parents hear those words and immediately assume they are helping by agreeing.

They are not.

A child's frustration is not the same thing as a child's best interest.

Children often want relief from a feeling.
Parents are supposed to provide guidance.

When you ask:
"Tell me more about what's making you feel that way,"
you gather information instead of creating sides.

You learn whether the issue is serious, temporary, emotional, developmental, or something entirely different.

Most importantly:
You remain the parent.
Not the ally.
Not the coach.
Not the opposing team.
The framework:
Don't choose sides.
Get curious.
Stay the parent.

Children need stability more than agreement.

06/01/2026

Most people don’t think they’re committing a crime when they hit the record button during an argument.
They’re thinking, “Finally, I’ll have proof.”

The problem is that Illinois law can treat recording a private conversation without consent as a Class 4 felony. That means your effort to gather evidence could become its own legal issue.

And even if prosecutors never get involved, you still have another problem: evidence that was obtained illegally may not help you in court.

Family law litigants often become obsessed with catching their spouse in a lie, on tape, in one dramatic moment. But divorce cases are usually decided by admissible evidence, financial documents, witness testimony, text messages, emails, and patterns of behavior that can actually be presented to a judge.

Before you press record, ask yourself whether you’re creating evidence or creating a problem.

The answer could affect your case far more than whatever was said during the argument.

06/01/2026

When your spouse says, “I’ll see you in court.”

When your spouse threatens court, do not threaten them back.

Say this instead.

Save this.

Your spouse says:

“Fine. I’ll see you in court.”

DON’T SAY:

“Good. I’ll destroy you in court.”

SAY:

“If litigation is necessary, we’ll deal with it. What outcome are you hoping to achieve?”

Here’s why.

Most people hear a threat and respond emotionally.

But threats are usually information.

The moment you start fighting, you stop learning.

The question:

“What outcome are you hoping to achieve?”

does two things:

First, it forces the conversation away from emotion and toward objectives.

Second, it reveals whether they actually want court or whether they want something else entirely.

Many people threatening litigation are really asking for certainty, control, money, or validation.

Those are different problems.

The framework:

1. Don’t react.
2. Get information.
3. Focus on outcomes.

The parent who stays calm usually gains the advantage.

05/31/2026

If you are making decisions based on anger, assumptions, or advice from the internet, you may be handing away negotiating power without realizing it.

The goal is not to win every argument.

The goal is to achieve the best possible outcome.

05/30/2026

The clients who tell me they "know their rights" are rarely talking about the law. They are usually talking about what they think is fair.

Divorce cases are won with facts, evidence, and credibility. Confidence is not a substitute for any of them.

Before you make a decision that could affect your case, make sure you know the law and not just your version of it.

Meet the team. Tyler Keller focuses her practice on divorce and family law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminolo...
05/29/2026

Meet the team. Tyler Keller focuses her practice on divorce and family law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of South Florida and her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Tyler was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2020 and has completed trial training through the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

She brings a focused and practical approach to each case, grounded in preparation and attention to detail. Outside the office, Tyler is an avid Chicago Cubs fan and is working toward visiting every MLB ballpark.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the best divorce lawyers all share a few habits, and most of them come down to one thi...
05/29/2026

Over the years, I’ve learned that the best divorce lawyers all share a few habits, and most of them come down to one thing: taking care of the client through preparation.

After years in family law, I’ve learned it’s almost never raw talent that separates the good from the great. It’s habits. 5 of them changed how I practice.

Which one do you think matters most? 👇 Save this for when you need it.

05/27/2026

Doing the right thing doesn't always protect your parenting time. Checking into rehab is brave and the right thing to do for you and your children. But in a custody case, it's also an admission on the record that you have a serious substance abuse problem requiring professional treatment.

The court isn't rewarding good behavior. It's asking one question: what keeps this child safe right now?

If you're in recovery and facing a custody matter, you need a strategy—not just good intentions.

05/25/2026

A peaceful divorce is not a myth. It is usually the result of maturity, preparation, and restraint. (And choosing the right legal team.)

05/24/2026

Family law would be a lot less interesting if everyone made calm, rational decisions all the time. 😅

What else would you add here?

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1165 N. Clark # 700
Chicago, IL
60610

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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