Michael C. Craven, Divorce Lawyers Chicago

Background and Qualifications

• Practicing family law and divorce law since 1984.
• Partner at Harrison LLP.
• Handles both negotiation and litigation in family law matters.
• Known for a strong background in finance and accounting, including tax law and accounting knowledge.
• Experienced in high-conflict and high-asset divorce cases.

Practice Focus

• Illinois family law with a primary focus on divorce cases.
• Represents clients in a wide range of family law disputes, including child-related issues, property division and support.
• Regularly handles complex financial issues in divorce, including marital property, tax considerations and protection of assets.

Approach and Philosophy

• Uncovers all relevant facts before giving advice.
• Uses financial insight, legal strategy and trial experience to advocate for clients.
• Emphasizes proactive, personalized representation tailored to each family law case.
• Focuses on keeping clients informed, supported and able to make fact-based decisions during what is often an emotionally difficult process.

Who He Serves

• Individuals and families dealing with divorce and related family law issues in Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area.
• Clients in both straightforward and high-conflict matters, including cases involving complex financial situations or difficult personalities.

For details on specific services and case types handled, see the separate document on Family Law and Divorce Services.

• Represents clients in divorce cases where children, property, inheritances, retirement accounts and other important interests may be affected.
• Helps clients analyze their situations, understand their options and work toward post-divorce futures that make sense for their families.

Legal Separation

• Assists clients who want to live apart and have support arrangements in place while preserving their marriage.
• Can help obtain legal separation orders without final decisions on issues such as division of property.

Child Custody, Placement and Parenting Time

• Handles matters involving child custody and placement (decision-making responsibility and allocation of parenting time).
• Works to build the best possible future for children within the framework of Illinois law.

Child Visitation / Allocation of Parenting Time

• Advises on what Illinois law now refers to as the allocation of parenting time.
• Helps parents protect their parental rights and find workable solutions for parenting schedules.

Marital Property and Asset Division

• Investigates how and when assets were acquired, how they were held and their intended purposes to determine whether property is marital or non-marital.
• Helps uncover hidden assets when appropriate.
• Negotiates division agreements and considers tax implications and the parties' new income situations.

High Net Worth Divorce

• Represents high-asset couples facing complex financial issues in divorce.
• Draws on experience in accounting and tax law to help protect clients' financial interests.

Child Support

• Handles child support issues for divorcing and separated parents.
• Works in negotiation and litigation to show how proposed arrangements serve the best interests of the children.

Parentage and Paternity

• Handles parentage and paternity matters.
• Helps unmarried parents establish or contest paternity so that rights and obligations such as custody, visitation and child support can be addressed.

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)

• Advises clients on spousal maintenance/ alimony under Illinois law.
• Works to negotiate maintenance arrangements tailored to the parties' specific circumstances rather than one-size-fits-all formulas when possible.

Post-Divorce Modifications

• Handles modifications of existing divorce orders when there has been a substantial change in circumstances.
• May include modifications to child support, spousal support or child custody/visitation orders, depending on the facts and Illinois law.

Mediation

• Serves as a mediator in divorce and family law cases.
• Offers a structured negotiation process that is generally less formal, more private and often more efficient than trial.
• Frequently receives referrals from other lawyers for mediation in Chicago and Lake County.

Adoption

• Assists adoptive parents with the legal aspects of adoption.
• Handles a variety of adoption matters, including private and international adoptions.

Domestic Violence and Orders of Protection

• Handles cases involving domestic violence and Orders of Protection under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
• Represents victims seeking protection and is also prepared to defend against domestic violence allegations.

For information on where these services are offered and how to contact the office, see the separate document on Contact Details, Offices and Service Area.

Prospective clients are encouraged to call for immediate assistance or use the website contact form to request an appointment.

Office Location

Chicago Office 333 West Wacker Dr., Suite 1700 Chicago, IL 60606 United States

Service Area

Michael C. Craven represents clients throughout Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area, including:

• City of Chicago
• Cook County
• Lake County
• Will County
• DuPage County
• Kane County
• McHenry County

The practice serves clients from Chicago and North Shore and other nearby communities in these areas.

Office Hours and Appointments

• Specific office hours are not listed on the website.
• Prospective clients should call the office or use the online contact form to inquire about availability and schedule a consultation or meeting.

Lists Chicago, Chicago Lawn, McHenry, Scranton, and Elko as a location. Names Michael, Illinois, United States, Chicago, and Chicago Lawn as a service area. Areas beyond these are not published.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.