Case Results

630-891-2478

Working Mother Divorce

Our client is a working mother struggling to coparent. She was an executive at a local corporation and she balanced working full time and raising two children well. Her spouse, however, did not participate much in the rearing of their children and would often isolate himself in the basement rather than spend time with the children or family. The children were struggling with anxiety and issues at school and their father seemed to just check out. The father also worked but he appeared too busy or disinterested to care for the children. To stop the downward trend, our client hired our firm to proactively address the looming divorce. 

Once our client started feeling like she and the children would be better off living on their own, she was concerned about how to move forward. She wanted more than anything to make sure the children were going to be ok and that she and the children would feel normal again instead of walking on eggshells around a father that wasn't present. Our client's greatest challenge was managing her emotions at home and at work; she was exhausted and overwhelmed trying to coparent all alone. She was also grieving the loss of her relationship and partnership with her husband, but tried to be strong for her children and coworkers. 

The firm was retained to help her navigate her divorce in a way to minimize divorce costs, minimize financial support to the husband so she could spend more money on a residence for her and the kids, and to address her and her children's declining mental health. The challenge, however, soon became how to address the declining mental health of the father too. His regression and isolation in the basement was more than just a disinterested parent, it soon became clear, he was unable to cope with life's pressures and was not a fit father for the children. Our firm was able to gather a team of divorce professionals that included a child expert for the children, a divorce therapist for our client, and a Guardian ad litem to investigate the father's poor parenting skills. We were able to successfully keep the marital residence for our client and the children, start to restore everyone's mental health post divorce, and minimize the father's overnight care of the children until he was able to stabilize his mental health issues and find a place adequate for two teenagers. 

After the divorce, our client was able to restore her health and was living life to the fullest with her children as they camped, traveled, and committed to sports. She reported her anxiety was reduced, she was less depressed, and she became motivated again as a parent and as a coworker. She thrived at her place of employment and paid off all of her marital debts.  She felt a huge weight was lifter off of her because of the proactive team approach to her divorce. 

Practice area(s): Divorce / Separation

Court: DuPage County

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.

Family Centered Divorce ∙ Mediation ∙ Co-Parenting

Birt Family Law is the family centered law and mediation practice with a focus on Restorative Divorce; offering creative and supportive legal and mediation solutions with one goal: keeping the separating family out of court and working together towards a positive resolution.

We offer multiple options to achieve this goal including mediation, coaching, co-parenting strategies, and Restorative Divorce services. 

Are we the right fit for you?

Birt Family Law is committed to keeping the separating family out of court and working together towards a positive resolution.

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