Jonathan Steele - Family Law Attorney

Jonathan Steele - Family Law Attorney Partner at Beermann, renowned for navigating the intricacies of divorce, parentage, restraining orders, and trial advocacy with unparalleled finesse.

💡 Going through a divorce? Document everything. Keep records of all communications, financial transactions, and parentin...
06/02/2026

💡 Going through a divorce? Document everything. Keep records of all communications, financial transactions, and parenting time. It matters in court.

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

MYTH CHECK ⚖️"If a mother and father split up, courts almost always side with the mother for custody."TRUE or FALSE — an...
06/02/2026

MYTH CHECK ⚖️

"If a mother and father split up, courts almost always side with the mother for custody."

TRUE or FALSE — and has this matched YOUR experience or someone you know?

Many people still believe this is automatic. But family law has shifted significantly toward gender-neutral "best interests of the child" standards in most places.

Drop your take below:

- 🔴 TRUE — I've seen/experienced clear bias firsthand
- 🟢 FALSE — Courts in my area treated both parents equally
- 🟡 COMPLICATED — Bias exists but it's not that simple
- 🔵 DEPENDS — Income, location, lawyer quality matter more

BONUS question to really get the conversation going:

"Do you think the 'courts favor mothers' belief actually hurts fathers who DON'T fight for custody because they assume it's pointless?"

Why this works for engagement:
- Touches personal experience
- Has a defensible answer people will argue both sides of
- The bonus question adds nuance that invites longer comments
- Avoids inflammatory framing while still being genuinely contested

Want me to adjust the tone, platform, or angle?

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

🗳️ POLL: When parents split up, what should be the DEFAULT custody arrangement?50/50 split — kids deserve equal time wit...
06/01/2026

🗳️ POLL: When parents split up, what should be the DEFAULT custody arrangement?

50/50 split — kids deserve equal time with both parents

Primary with one parent — kids need stability and one "home base"

Whatever the kids want (if old enough to decide)

Case-by-case — no default should exist

Drop your answer below AND tell us WHY 👇

Bonus question that always sparks debate:
Should distance between parents' homes automatically change the arrangement?

Why this works:
- Four genuinely defensible positions
- Touches personal experience for millions
- No "obviously correct" answer
- The bonus question adds a second layer of debate
- Invites storytelling, not just one-word answers

Tip: Post it with the framing "There are no wrong answers — we want to hear real experiences" to encourage people who've lived it to open up rather than feel judged.

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

Illinois Divorce Tip: Don't Move Out of the Family Home Before Consulting an AttorneyThe Costly Mistake: Voluntarily lea...
06/01/2026

Illinois Divorce Tip: Don't Move Out of the Family Home Before Consulting an Attorney

The Costly Mistake: Voluntarily leaving the marital home before your divorce is finalized can seriously damage your case — in two ways.

1. Custody impact — Under Illinois law (750 ILCS 5/602.7), courts determine parenting time based on the child's best interests, heavily weighing the status quo. If you move out and leave the kids with your spouse for several months, you've essentially created a new "normal" the judge may preserve.

2. Property impact — Leaving doesn't surrender your ownership rights, but it does give your spouse physical control of assets, documents, and evidence inside that home.

What to do instead:

- Before anyone moves out, speak with a family law attorney about filing for exclusive possession of the marital home under Illinois law
- If you must leave, formally document a parenting schedule in writing immediately — even a text chain establishing consistent parenting time helps
- Photograph or inventory all marital assets in the home before departing

Bottom line: A temporary living decision can create a permanent custody or financial disadvantage. The exit strategy matters as much as the legal strategy.

This is general information, not legal advice. Consult a licensed Illinois family law attorney for your specific situation.

🔥 Scenario: What would you do?"Your ex has primary custody. You find out they've been taking the kids on overnight trips...
05/31/2026

🔥 Scenario: What would you do?

"Your ex has primary custody. You find out they've been taking the kids on overnight trips every weekend with someone they've been dating for only 3 weeks — without telling you, and your 7-year-old mentioned they 'don't feel safe' around this new person."

Your custody agreement says nothing specific about new partners.

What's your move?

⚖️ A) Document everything and go straight back to court
📞 B) Confront your ex directly first
😤 C) Keep the kids with you until it's resolved
🤷 D) Talk to the kids more to gather information first
💬 E) Something else — drop it below

What would MOST parents do vs. what SHOULD they do? Are those even the same thing?

Why this works:
- Creates genuine debate (legal vs. emotional responses)
- Touches real fears parents have
- No clear "right" answer drives comments
- The "most vs. should" follow-up pushes deeper discussion

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

🗳️ POLL: What do you think should be the DEFAULT custody arrangement after divorce?50/50 split — both parents equally, p...
05/31/2026

🗳️ POLL: What do you think should be the DEFAULT custody arrangement after divorce?

50/50 split — both parents equally, period.

Primary with one parent, visitation for the other

Whatever the kids prefer (if old enough)

Decided case-by-case — no default should exist

Drop your answer below AND tell us WHY.

Bonus question that'll really get people talking: Should a parent's reason for wanting divorce affect how custody is decided?

Why this works:
- Four genuinely debatable options
- No obviously "correct" answer
- Touches personal experience for millions
- The bonus question adds emotional fuel
- Invites storytelling, not just a letter choice
- Avoids being exploitative while still being real

People with lived experience, family law opinions, and strong feelings about fairness will all have something to say — which drives comment volume naturally.

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

Illinois Divorce/Custody TipDocument Your Parenting Time — Starting TodayThe practical step: Open a free Google Doc or N...
05/30/2026

Illinois Divorce/Custody Tip

Document Your Parenting Time — Starting Today

The practical step: Open a free Google Doc or Notes app right now and begin logging every custody exchange with three details:

- Date and time of drop-off/pickup
- Who was present
- Any notable incidents (child's condition, communication from the other parent, no-shows)

Why this matters in Illinois:

Illinois courts determine custody ("parental responsibilities") based on the best interests of the child under 750 ILCS 5/602.7. When disputes arise, judges rely heavily on documented patterns — not memory.

A consistent log

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

Illinois Divorce/Custody TipDocument Your Parenting Time NowIf you're in a custody dispute, start a simple parenting log...
05/30/2026

Illinois Divorce/Custody Tip

Document Your Parenting Time Now

If you're in a custody dispute, start a simple parenting log today — before you need it.

What to record after each parenting exchange:
- Date and exact time of pickup/dropoff
- Who was present
- Child's condition and mood
- Any communication with the other parent (screenshot texts)

Why it matters in Illinois:
Courts decide custody based on the "best interests of the child" standard (750 ILCS 5/602.7). A consistent, dated log showing your active involvement — or documenting the other parent's missed parenting time —

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

A Fresh Start Awaits You"Every ending is just a beginning wearing a disguise."— Maya AngelouA Message For YouWhat you're...
05/29/2026

A Fresh Start Awaits You

"Every ending is just a beginning wearing a disguise."
— Maya Angelou

A Message For You

What you're walking through right now is genuinely hard — and it's okay to feel that fully.

But here's what's also true:

You are not starting over from zero.
You are starting over with everything you've learned — about love, about yourself, about what you actually need.

The life ahead of you hasn't been written yet. That blank page can feel terrifying, but it is also entirely yours in a way it may never have been before.

**You

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

🔥 SCENARIO: What would you do?"Your ex has primary custody. You find out your 10-year-old has been skipping school regul...
05/29/2026

🔥 SCENARIO: What would you do?

"Your ex has primary custody. You find out your 10-year-old has been skipping school regularly, the house is messy, and your child tells you they're 'always hungry.' Your ex says everything is fine and you're overreacting. Your custody agreement gives you every other weekend."

What's your next move?

- 📋 Document everything and go back to court
- 📞 Call child protective services immediately
- 💬 Try to have a serious conversation with your ex first
- 👨‍⚖

This is educational information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this post.

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161 North Clark Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, IL
60601

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