We met with Attorney Carmen Quinones, from Wilmette (a suburb of Chicago.) She's fun to talk with. Parking her car in our weed-strewn parking lot and making it safely down the stairs to our drafty, underground virtual studio, Carmen brought a wealth of knowledge, kindness and good humor to our round-table discussion. She has uncounted years of experience, both as a psychology professional in Virginia and Illinois, and as an attorney for adults and children here in Chicago.

In this Episode 43, recorded by flickering candlelight on October 23, 2024, with small creatures scurrying around on the floors and walls (it was almost Halloween,) Marjie, Barry and Kevin put Carmen under extreme psychological pressure to spill some secrets and tell some war stories, and she did not disappoint.

While she is appointed by judges to represent children in some cases, she is also hired by parents and spouses to represent them directly in other cases. To schedule a consultation with Attorney Carmen Quinones, and to tap into her warmth and insight, call her at 847-920-0200.

==================

About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters," a project spanning nearly four years:

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu call his cell # 312-493-4241


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

In this Episode 42 - recorded on May 8th, 2024, Marjie, Barry and Kevin host retired Judge Mark Lopez, formerly of the Cook County (IL) Circuit Court, Domestic Relations Division. In this wide-ranging discussion, Judge Lopez shares some insights and perspectives from his 22 years on the bench. Some topics are:

• Should you be scared to appear in Court?
• How are judges chosen in Cook County?
• What does a judge look at when deciding cases?
• Can you take off your shirt in Zoom court? (No.)
• Does it help to be loud and boisterous in Court?
• What is a 'pretrial?'
• When can you ask for a change of judge in your case?

Judge Lopez now works as a mediator and arbitrator for JAMS, a private dispute-resolution firm. He's got experience in resolving family-law and other conflicts! Call JAMS and ask for him at 312-655-0555.

==================

About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters:"

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu cell 312-493-4241


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

In this Episode 41 - recorded on January 19, 2024, Marjie, Barry and Kevin sit down with former prosecutor ('Assistant State's Attorney') Igor Bozic to talk about Juvenile Court -- and the RISKS that parents face in not maintaining a calm, steady atmosphere around their children at home.

How does the Illinois child-protection agency (DCFS) begin focusing on you and your family?
Screaming, yelling, throwing things in the house.
Being overheard by neighbors.
Having your kids witness arguments between the adults.
Teachers, social workers, counselors as 'mandated reporters' to DCFS.
Police and their duty to contact DCFS when kids are involved.

How can DCFS take custody of your newborn baby even when you've never abused or neglected her? (Yes, it can happen.)

What happens when DCFS knocks on your door for an unannounced home inspection?

Is there any good news in all this? (Yes!)

==================

About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters:"

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu cell 312-493-4241


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

In this Episode 40 - recorded on September 8, 2023, Marjie (our new co-host), Barry and Kevin sit down with:

Doctor of Psychology Pascale Piron
https://emergepg.com/pascale-piron,

for a look behind the mental-health curtain.

Psychologist, therapist, counselor -- what's difference (other than cost?) Can all of them do counseling? testing? evaluations? Why therapy for kids is good, and how some parents try to sabotage it. Why adults in litigation or family-law conflicts can greatly benefit from therapy. And what about parents' fears that seeing a therapist might give the other side reasons to claim they're crazy?

In this, Marjie's first episode as co-host, she, Barry and Kevin throw some spaghetti at the wall (figuratively,) telling Dr. Piron some of their best techniques for dealing with sticky, real-world situations, only to be humbled by Dr. Piron, who is ridiculously more qualified to speak about mental-health issues! And mental health is a big factor in family-law court cases, with some parents determined to 'win' at all costs -- even throwing their children into the fight.

==================

About the hosts of 'Dynamite Divorce and Other Matters:"

Chicago Lawyers Marjie Nielsen, Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 70 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

They work tirelessly to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Marjie Nielsen - https://nextsteplegalservices.com/about-us
Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu cell 312-493-4241


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

In this Episode 39 - recorded on July 20, 2023, Barry and Kevin answer some of the questions commonly asked of them by non-lawyers. There are links included below, including "Illinois Legal Aid Online," for people who would like some online help in preparing legal documents. While some of the questions and answers are specific to Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois, there are also some universal truths and principles that anyone should find useful, as they attempt to navigate a complicated court system.
==================

Chicago Lawyers Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 50 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

Barry and Kevin work to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu cell 312-493-4241


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

Back from a summer break, Barry and Kevin are again ready to ruminate and pontificate on the practice of family law. They are joined today by Chicago Attorney Clare McMahon from Hoffenberg & Block , who bravely wades into this wide-ranging discussion about the "Best Ideas and Worst Ideas in Family Law."

In this Episode 38 - recorded in early December, 2022, Clare, Barry and Kevin gather around the (virtual) table to debate and explain some basic family-law concepts, as well as more-complicated techniques and battle-proven strategies. These three experienced attorneys pull out some tools from the family-law toolbox (some well-known and others not-so-well-known) , examine them in the light of experience, and discuss how they are useful, time-wasting or harmful. Terms and phrases like, "Discovery," "Deposition," "Deception," "Testimony," "Spew," and "Financial Affidavit" are tossed around freely, and mixed in with some war stories, anecdotal evidence and questionable opinionating.

Why can't these intelligent people, these experienced practitioners, simply agree on one, efficient way of doing things? Could it be that practicing family law is more art than science? Might the complexity of human relationships have something to do with it?

Listeners to this cacophonous, unscripted debate may learn some secrets of navigating family-law disputes arising from broken dreams, broken promises and broken relationships. They may even gain some hope, inspiration and a feeling of encouragement.
==================

Chicago Lawyers Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 50 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

Barry and Kevin work to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu cell 312-493-4241
Our guest: Attorney Clare McMahon - Hoffenberg & Block 312-853-8000


=============
Intro/outro music for this episode: From #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/to-the-future License code: TLAELJDDAJJYICOF

In this Episode 37 - recorded on a hot day in June, 2022, Barry and Kevin discuss an insider's view of negotiating settlement agreements -- the kind that become divorce judgments, parenting-time orders, and custody ('allocation') judgments.

When you receive a 20-page parenting-time proposal, what should you look for? How about "drop dead" ('self-executing') sentences and paragraphs -- which allow the other party to judge when an important line has been crossed (for example, failing to take the child to an athletic practice as scheduled) and now your rights and obligations instantly change (for example, you lose your Wednesday evenings permanently.)

How about 'escape clauses,' sometimes couched as flexibly allowing 'special occasions' to step on the other parent's parenting time? One person's 'flexibility' is another person's fear and uncertainty. Or variable terms, like "1/2 of Spring Break," or "the first half of Winter Break," with no definite dates for the beginning and ending of those breaks?
==================

Chicago Lawyers Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 50 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

Barry and Kevin work to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu

In this Episode 36 - recorded in May, 2022, Barry and Kevin discuss what happens after a Divorce, Allocation Judgment or other Court Order has been entered. All that work, all the thinking and negotiating and planning -- so easy to fall apart or not work as planned.

Kevin and Barry shares some stories and techniques for smoothing the way to the rest of your life -- your life after Court, when you have to live with the words on paper.
==================

Chicago Lawyers Barry C. Boykin and Kevin R. Johnson have more than 50 combined years of experience in Custody, Divorce and other Family Law matters. They know first-hand the court battles, stress and struggles that people endure as disputes are resolved in the family-court system.

Barry and Kevin work to bring hope and clarity to a troubled world, where lawyers, judges and other professionals see the best and worst of human behavior on public display.

===================

CARPLS - legal resources www.carpls.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online www.illinoislegalaid.org

Mentioned in this episode:

The Illinois 'Statewide Financial Affidavit'

A pointer to the Illinois HFS Child Support Estimator

The Hewitt case (Illinois Supreme Court, 2016)

==================
Who we are:

Attorney Barry C. Boykin - www.gclclaw.org/barry-c-boykin
Attorney Kevin R. Johnson - www.divorce.nu