Divorce & Family Law

Illinois family law attorney Roger W. Stelk has been providing legal representation and advice in family law and real estate matters for approximately 30 years. Stelk founded his Arlington Heights law firm, the Law Offices of Roger W. Stelk, in 1995 to assist area residents with legal matters pertaining to family law, real estate transactions, probate administration and guardianships. With a track record of success and a reputation for being a leading family law attorney in the Chicago area, Roger Stelk is who Northern Illinois residents turn to when they need legal help with divorce, child custody, real estate matters and more. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1983, Roger Stelk attended The John Marshall Law School where he earned his law degree in 1987. Mr. Stelk then began building his career, and his reputation for being a top family lawyer, while he gained experience as an associate with Chicago law firms. Since founding the Law Offices of Roger W. Stelk, he has served as a court facilitator for Cook County, an arbitrator for both Cook and Lake counties, and authored a number of legal guides. Mr. Stelk is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, The Chicago Bar Association and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, and continues to be an active member of the legal community. Mr. Stelk is highly awarded and recognized. In addition to being a recipient of Avvo’s Clients’ Choice award, he has a “Superb” Avvo rating and an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell.

Bridget Tartaglia is a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Ms. Tartaglia received her Juris Doctor with honors from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 1995. While attending Touro, Ms. Tartaglia was one of the founding members and the Research Editor of the Environmental Law Journal. Ms. Tartaglia was instrumental in publishing the first edition to the Law Journal in 1995. She also received numerous academic honors during her tenure at Touro, including a Community Service Award and the American Jurisprudence Aware of Excellence in Creditor’s Rights. She was active and integral member of the Columbian Lawyers Association where she served as President. She also served as intern for the Honorable Howard Levitt of the Supreme Court, State of New York, County of Nassau. Ms. Tartaglia was also recipient of two academic scholarships from the Columbian Lawyer’s Association while attending Touro. While attending her last year at Touro, Ms. Tartaglia was a law clerk at Jakubowski, Robertson & Goldsmith. After graduating from Touro, Ms. Tartaglia became an associate attorney with said firm and later became a member of said firm. Ms. Tartaglia was admitted to Practice in the State of New York, Second Department in January, 1996. She was admitted to Practice in the State of Connecticut in November, 1995. She was admitted to Practice in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York in March, 1996. She was most recently admitted to Practice in the Supreme Court of the United States America in March, 2005. Ms. Tartaglia has engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis in Matrimonial and Family litigation. Since 1996, she has had substantial experience in litigating all issues relative to Matrimonial and Family Law matters. Ms. Tartaglia has litigated almost every possible issue that may arise between divorcing and non married parties. In addition to Matrimonial and Family Law litigation, Ms. Tartaglia also substantial experience in performing residential real property closings, representing both purchasers and sellers as well as experience in general civil litigation. Ms. Tartaglia is an active member of the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association. She is also a member of the Matrimonial Bar Association of Suffolk County, the Columbian Lawyers Association of Suffolk County and the New York State Bar Association (including the Family Law Section of said Bar Association). Ms. Tartaglia has received multiple awards relative to her practice in the area of Matrimonial and Family Law. These include her having an AV Preeminent rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards with Martindale-Hubbell since 2013; a 2019 Lawyer of Distinction for her work in Family and Divorce Law; Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer in Family Law; 2016 10 Best Females Attorneys in Family Law; Avvo Top Rated Lawyer, 2017 and a 2015 Client Distinction Award. Ms. Tartaglia also has been honored for the past two years by the Suffolk County Bar Association for her donation of her time to pro bono divorce matters in Suffolk County. In addition to receiving multiple awards relative to her work in the Matrimonial and Family Law field, Ms. Tartaglia also was honored by the WVI Dolphin Foundation and received a 2019 Spirit of Youth Sports Awards for her continued commitment and time volunteered to Youth Sports. Ms. Tartaglia is has been a youth basketball coach for Infant Jesus Church CYO program in Port Jefferson, NY for the past 9 years. She has spent countless hours each season coaching up to two different teams. Ms. Tartaglia was a division I college athlete where she played basketball at Brooklyn College. In addition, Ms. Tartaglia has worked on the fundraising committee for Mount Sinai Youth Soccer for the past 5 years where has volunteers time to raise money for a local soccer organization. Since 2013, Mrs. Tartaglia has been a Catechist for St Louis De Monfort Church in Sound Beach, NY where she has and continues to volunteer her time each week to teach two different religion classes each year. She is also a team leader for the Mount Sinai Neighborhood Watch for which she acts a liason for members of her community. In addition to work in her community, she also is a volunteer with the Suffolk County Bar Association pro bono foundation. She is a longtime resident of Mount Sinai where she resides with her husband and two sons.

Larry is a family law specialist, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization, with the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell as AV-Preeminent. He has practiced family law exclusively since 1975, and was certified as a specialist at the beginning of the certification program in 1980. In addition to family law, Larry has had successful trials in San Francisco and Monterey involving damages to real and personal property. He has also litigated securities actions and estate proceedings. Larry has experience across the entire range of family law matters, including prenuptial agreements, child custody, and family law matters involving jurisdictional, bankruptcy, immigration, and tax issues. Larry was born in Reno, Nevada October 23, 1941, attended Reno High School (winning honors in debating and the state championship in extemporaneous speaking), and then attended Northwestern University where he was on the Inter Fraternity Council and acted as its Student Senate Representative and earned a B.A in Philosophy. He attended Hastings College of Law, was on the Moot Court Board, and graduated with a J.D in 1967. He then attended New York University, and earned an LL.M in Corporation Law. After returning to San Francisco, Larry became a partner in Cushing, Cullinan, Hancock and Rothert, before beginning his own law practice in family law. Larry's experience in family law grew with its evolution into one of the most complex, demanding areas of law practice. As part of this expanded range of experience, Larry became interested in the relationship between the management of complex family law issues of a more personal nature, particularly those involving child custody, and began to include a practice of regular consultation with therapists as a way to obtain better understanding of issue management in especially difficult situations. With his wife, Jan C. Thorpe, PhD, and Ron Grassi, now retired, Larry conducted a successful series of continuing education programs in San Francisco designed to expand the family law practitioner's use of consulting therapists to bring greater insight into family law issues, particularly in child custody cases. Larry continues to be fascinated with the variety and complexity of family law cases and derives great satisfaction in solving problems and bringing cases to a settled conclusion without litigation, if possible. It has been particularly rewarding for Larry to be able to practice family law with his sons, his daughter in law and his wife, who acts as a consultant, to whom Larry gives primary credit for engineering such a successful marriage of work and family life. Larry has been active in local community affairs, and is the past President of the Kensington Improvement Council. He is currently on the board of Directors of the Pacific Chamber Symphony (www.pacificchambersymphony.org).

Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Family Law Trial Attorney, and Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, Ms. Williams practices exclusively family law, including adoptions, divorce, domestic violence, child support matters including UIFSA, child custody including UCCJEA, DYFS hearings (both Superior Court and OAL hearings, and including abuse/neglect and guardianships), and appeals. Ms. Williams sits on the Board on Attorney Certification - Matrimonial Committee. She is an Editor on the Board of the New Jersey Family Lawyer. She serves on the Family Law Executive Committee (FLEC) of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA). Chair-Elect of the Certified Attorneys Section of the NJSBA, Ms. Williams is also active with the Child Welfare Section of NJSBA. Considered to be a Thought Leader in the field of Child Welfare Law, Ms. Williams founded and manages a BLOG specific to this complex area of the law: http://NewJerseyDYFSdefense.com. This resource has been recognized by the News Media as an authority for the parent defense position in matters before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Ms. Williams lectures frequently for the Institute on Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and publishes extensively in various publications in the area of Family Law and Child Welfare Law.

Jonathan Breeden is a successful family law lawyer in Garner, North Carolina. He graduated from NC State with a political science degree in just three years, and went on to spend time working in the North Carolina General Assembly and learning the inner workings of government before attending Campbell University School of Law. He chose Campbell because of the practical legal education offered, including courses in how to practice in North Carolina district courts, where the bulk of legal business is conducted, and how to start a law practice. While in law school, he interned with the District Attorney offices in Scotland and Hoke counties, where he gained valuable experience in how criminal cases are handled. He also studied law abroad in London, England through a summer program and learned the value of living and studying in another country and culture. The education he received at Campbell provided Jonathan the foundation he needed to start his own practice once he passed the bar exam. He settled in Johnston County because of its rapid growth, and found that young families had need of qualified lawyers to help with various domestic and family law matters.

Mr. Bartholomew, a native of Elk Grove, California, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of California, Davis, in 1968 and his Juris Doctor in 1971 from the same institution. Formerly a partner for 15 years with the law firm of Desmond, Miller, Desmond & Bartholomew, he co-founded the firm of Bartholomew & Wasznicky in 1989. He is a retired captain in the United States Army Reserve and is a licensed real estate broker. In addition to membership in the California Bar, he is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Court of Claims. Mr. Bartholomew is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, as well as the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is certified by the State Bar of California as a Family Law Specialist.

Emily opened a solo law practice in Las Vegas in 2003 with the primary focus of family law. Since that time Emily has worked diligently to establish a reputation as a knowledgeable and aggressive attorney, gaining the respect of both her peers as well as Judges. Emily has grown her practice over the years and in 2010 gained the credential of Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada. This is the top Family Law credential an attorney can obtain in Nevada. Emily is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Vice President of the Nevada Chapter, fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney by Martindale Hubbell. Emily is a certified parenting coordinator and mediator, although her primary focus is litigating complex and/or contested divorce and child custody matters in southern Nevada and Nevada family law appeals. She is particularly knowledgeable in handling family law appeals, complex property division and financial issues, international child custody issues, parental kidnapping, and high conflict child custody cases. Prior to becoming an attorney, Emily worked for three years at the Tobacco Control Resource Center and Tobacco Products Liability Project in Boston, Massachusetts doing research projects on legal issues relating to tobacco. Emily has worked for the New Hampshire Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division and three law firms in Massachusetts in the areas of family law, tobacco and other toxic tort litigation, real estate, business transactions and estate planning. Emily writes children’s books for children going through family law issues and operates a publishing company for children’s books. While her practice is focused in southern Nevada, Emily is also licensed to practice in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court, United States District Court – District of Nevada, as well as all state courts in Arizona and California.

Clients come to me during dark or difficult moments in their lives, seeking guidance and clarity on what to expect from the legal process. My primary goal is to listen and understand their situation, while providing step-by-step navigation through the process. Honesty is my guiding principle, and I am transparent with my clients to ensure they are fully informed about their options. With 25 years of experience, I have learned that being upfront is the best approach when dealing with serious matters. I work to offer clients all available tactical options to achieve their best outcome, even in challenging situations. Additionally, I aim to provide a "bigger picture" perspective on their case and emotionally prepare them for closure, to support them in moving forward after their case concludes. I began my professional journey as an intern with the Juvenile Division of the Dallas County Public Defender's office. After that, I got hired by the Dallas County District Attorney's office where I worked for a decade and gained valuable knowledge related to the criminal justice system. Later on, I decided to establish my own firm to use my experience in advocating for my clients' rights and offering legal assistance to anyone who requires it in family law or criminal defense. I am dedicated to protecting my clients' rights and ensuring fairness in the justice system. I handle cases ranging from minor traffic violations to serious felonies, and I ensure my clients feel secure and confident in the importance of their case. My belief is that everyone deserves justice and fairness, regardless of their status. To schedule your initial consultation, please submit a confidential online form, or call our office in Irving, TX: 469-845-3031.

Lynn M. Mirabella is a partner at MKFM Law, where her practice is concentrated almost exclusively in the area of family law, including high-profile cases and complex litigation files. Prior to joining MKFM Law, she worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. She is certified to represent children as a Guardian ad Litem, Child’s Representative, and Attorney for Child. In addition, she is certified in collaborative law, arbitration, and as a mediator. She has taught several classes and seminars in both DuPage and Kane Counties. She is a member of the DuPage County, Kane County, and Illinois State Bar Associations. She was President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, DuPage County, and a member of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers. In addition, she previously served on Senator Mark Kirk’s Federal Judicial Review Commission from 2011 through 2016.

Kimberly Player Washington is a family law attorney who joined the firm in 2015. After beginning her legal career in the areas of family law and general civil representation, Kimberly worked as a legal consultant for Hewlett-Packard. She changed her practice focus when she realized that what she valued most about legal work was the ability to help people in their times of need. Today, she draws upon her extensive legal background to assist clients with a broad range of family-related legal matters. She is particularly passionate about helping parents protect their relationships with their children and make important decisions with their children’s long-term best interests in mind. A significant portion of Kimberly’s practice is devoted to representing clients in divorces and related matters. This includes representing clients at all stages of the divorce process, from pre-divorce planning through informal settlement negotiations, court-ordered mediation, and, when necessary, litigation in court. Kimberly also represents clients in post-divorce enforcement matters (such as enforcement of parents’ rights to visitation and child support), and she has helped many clients overcome challenging issues related to property distribution, financial support and parental rights. Kimberly represents clients outside of the divorce context as well. She has helped protect mothers’ and fathers’ rights in adoption and conservatorship proceedings, and she has handled numerous cases involving the custody rights of unmarried parents. She also represents parents and other family members regarding a broad range of other family-related legal issues. Whether Kimberly is drafting a prenuptial agreement, helping to establish paternity or simply helping a client better understand his or her circumstances, she takes the same personal, compassionate and strategic approach regardless of the specific issues involved.