Client Stories

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Business Owner Divorce

The business our client built from scratch during the marriage was finally thriving, however, his marriage was not. They had young children, a mortgage, and debts associated with the family owned business. His biggest fear and greatest challenge was to figure out how will he be able to support himself and his children if he had to either close, sell, or buy out the business from his wife? He was a business owner facing divorce and he didn't know what to do. 

After working with his business accountant to learn more about the value of his business and the assets available to share with his wife, he became overwhelmed trying to figure out his rights to his business and his wife's rights to the business if they were to divorce. Afterall, she was not working at the business, only he was. He tried to discuss a settlement with his wife at home, but after several attempts he became frustrated. He retained our firm to overcome his frustration and work with a collaborative team of professionals that had his best interests in mind when he was too tired to consider himself and his rights to assets and financial support for his children.

After working with our trusted team that included a divorce financial professional, he learned that his business accountant, while skilled in helping his business thrive, was not skilled in divorce. Our firm built a team of divorce professionals that valued his business and marital estate so that he could understand exactly what he could keep after divorce and how best to pay out his wife after the divorce. After many months of mediation, financial planning, and legal settlement conferences (due to his wife not being emotionally ready to divorce), our firm successfully ended his marriage with minimal financial obligations for child support because he obtained frequent overnights with his children (more than he offered at the start) and he kept his thriving business with a payment schedule that allowed him to keep the business afloat without violating any partnership agreements and without having to finance the buyout. 

Our client was relieved with the outcome because once he knew his business was saved, he was able to breathe again, focus on self care, and restore his business for financial success after the divorce. 

Practice area(s): Divorce / Separation

Court: DuPage County

Erin Birt

Erin Birt

Since 2003, Erin N. Birt, J.D., CADC has focused her practice on parenting time, divorce, mediation, and substance abuse issues. Ms. Birt's unique background in both family law and addictions counseling help her clients successfully navigate the complex issues of coparenting and divorce. Ms. Birt also devotes her time to presenting at continuing education seminars for attorneys, mediators, and counselors.

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Revolutionizing divorce for parents who value clarity, respect, and a better future for their children. Here, you’ll be heard, your concerns will matter, and your path forward will be clear.

Birt Family Law is a child-centered law and mediation practice built around our signature Restorative Divorce® process. Led by an experienced attorney and mediator, we provide innovative and supportive solutions with one goal: keeping parents out of court and working together toward a positive resolution.

We offer tailored services in Mediation, Resolution-focused Divorce, and Co-Parenting Skills, backed by extensive legal expertise and years of family law experience.

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