Family Law

• Divorce
  Divorce will always be with us. Families, however, are choosing a new way of doing divorce that is more constructive, less contentious, more private, more empowering, and less adversarial. In Collaborative Divorce and usually with the help of a team of professionals, the clients are more in control of the process and make their own decisions for their family’s future lives.
• Child Support
  Collaborative Law is based on the principle that both parties agree not to go to court, but the outcome is still an official legal agreement that will be entered in court. This is why a lawyer is necessary to finalize the agreement, and also to advise on matters such as child custody, child support/maintenance (alimony) agreements, and financial settlements. Like all collaborative lawyers, Dr. Petrich is trained in both mediation and collaboration, and is specially trained for the unique practice of the Collaborative Law model.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Couples and families need help in staying together and sometimes in splitting up in a peaceable way. As an attorney, psychologist, and mediator, Dr. Petrich is especially equipped to promote emotional safety and to support families in making decisions for their future lives. As a therapist, Gail works with families and couples to find wise solutions for their work and relationship difficulties. In mediation, she helps families and couples reach financial and parenting agreements that their own lawyers will approve and enter in Court. In Collaborative Divorce, she acts as attorney, coach, child specialist, parent coordinator, or communication specialist. With offices in Cook and DuPage Counties, Dr. Petrich is trained in child-custody evaluations, high-conflict personalities, and crisis management. She has worked in family law over ten years and in couple and individual therapy over ten years.
• Spousal Support