Northbrook Divorce & Family Law Attorney
High-Asset Divorce • Business & Property Division • Family Law
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Do you need a family lawyer in the Northbrook area? Let Silberman Law Group guide you through the legal process, so you can focus on the next stage of your life.
“When a divorce involves a business, investment portfolio, real estate, or complex compensation, the outcome depends on how well those assets are identified, valued, and divided.”
With over 15 years of experience, Northbrook attorney David Silberman helps individuals and families navigate high-asset divorce, business valuation, property division, and other family law matters throughout the Chicagoland area, bringing the same financial precision to every case regardless of size.
What Makes Attorney David Silberman Different?
David Silberman views litigation as a form of science. Rather than reacting to the emotion of the moment, he builds each case through careful financial analysis, meticulous preparation, and a clear read on what a proposed settlement actually means for a client’s future. While many attorneys claim to be aggressive, David distinguishes himself as a highly focused advocate, one who negotiates favorable resolutions where possible and litigates with precision when he can’t.
My experience, ability, and dedication to my clients achieves excellent results.
Why You Need David Silberman On Your Side
Over 15 years handling complicated family law matters, including cases involving substantial marital estates, closely held businesses, and complex compensation.
A working knowledge of business valuation, asset tracing, and tax consequences, so nothing in the marital estate goes overlooked or undervalued.
A clear, case-specific strategy built around your finances, your career, and what you actually want the other side of this to look like.
A track record of resolving complex cases through settlement, reserving litigation for when it’s the better path, not the default one.
Full preparation for court from day one, so a case is never weaker for having tried to settle first.
Facing a Divorce Involving Complex Financial Holdings or Substantial Wealth?
Business ownership, executive compensation, investment portfolios, and significant real estate all raise the stakes of a divorce. High-asset divorce lawyer David Silberman works with valuation experts and financial professionals to make sure high-value estates are fully accounted for and fairly divided.
What Should You Look for in a Family Law Attorney?
Choosing the right attorney is important, especially when your case involves significant assets, a business, or contested parenting issues. Here are key factors to consider:
Experience
Look for an attorney with substantial experience in family law, including cases involving significant assets or complex financial circumstances. They should have a track record of success handling cases similar to yours.
Focus
Family law encompasses various areas, such as divorce, child custody, property division, and spousal support. Ensure the attorney handles the specific area of practice, and the level of financial complexity, that matches your needs.
Reputation
Research the attorney’s reputation by reading reviews, seeking referrals, and checking with local bar associations for any disciplinary actions.
Communication
Effective communication is essential. Your attorney should be a good listener, responsive to your inquiries, and capable of explaining legal concepts clearly.
Availability
Confirm that the attorney has the time and resources to dedicate to your case, as family law matters, especially those involving substantial estates, often require significant attention.
Strategy
Assess the attorney’s approach and strategy for your case. Your lawyer should have a clear plan, grounded in a thorough understanding of your finances, to help you achieve your goals and protect your best interests.
Negotiation Skills
Family law often involves negotiation. Look for an attorney who is skilled at negotiating but is also prepared to litigate, when necessary.
Empathy and Compassion
Family legal issues can be emotionally taxing. An attorney who shows empathy and understanding can make the process more manageable without losing sight of what’s financially at stake.
Fee Structure
Discuss the attorney’s fee structure upfront, ensuring it aligns with your budget and expectations. Many family law attorneys work on an hourly rate or offer flat fees for specific services.
Compatibility
Your attorney should be someone you feel comfortable with and trust. A strong attorney-client relationship is crucial for success.
Local Knowledge
Familiarity with local family court procedures and judges, including those in Cook and Lake County, can be advantageous in achieving favorable outcomes.
Transparency
A reputable attorney will be transparent about potential challenges, risks, and costs associated with your case.
Credentials
Verify the attorney’s licensing and credentials, and check if they are a member of relevant professional organizations.
Track Record
Inquire about the attorney’s success rate and past case outcomes, especially those similar to your situation.
References
Don’t hesitate to ask for references from previous clients, who can provide insights into their experience working with the attorney.
What Our Clients Are Saying
What Types of Cases Does David Silberman Handle?
Divorce and Separation
David Silberman assists clients in navigating divorce or legal separation proceedings, including high-asset divorces where financial holdings are substantial. Our law firm helps clients navigate the complex process of dividing assets, determining child custody and visitation arrangements, and establishing spousal support (alimony) and child support agreements.
Child Custody and Visitation
David Silberman represents clients in parenting time and parental responsibility disputes. He works to establish child custody arrangements that are in the best interests of the child, taking into account factors such as the child’s well-being and the parents’ ability to provide care.
Child and Spousal Support
Our law firm helps clients calculate, negotiate, and enforce child support and spousal support (alimony) orders. We help ensure that financial support is fair and in compliance with state laws.
Property Division
During divorce or separation, David Silberman assists clients in dividing marital assets and liabilities equitably, from bank accounts and real estate to businesses, investment portfolios, and retirement accounts. He helps clients understand property rights, assess the value of assets, and negotiate property settlements.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
David Silberman drafts and reviews prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, which outline how assets and debts, including business interests and significant wealth, will be divided in the event of divorce or separation. These agreements can help protect individual assets and financial interests.
Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
Our family law firm assists victims of domestic violence in obtaining restraining orders or protective orders against abusive partners. We provide legal protection and support for clients seeking safety.
Paternity Matters
In cases where paternity needs to be established, David Silberman assists clients with legal actions to determine parentage, which may include child custody visitation, and support issues.
Modifications and Enforcement
We help clients modify existing court orders, such as child custody, visitation, or support orders, when circumstances change. We also assist with enforcing court orders when one party fails to comply.
Adoptions
Our attorneys play a vital role in helping Illinois residents grow their families through the adoption process. We’ll handle the complicated legal matters and make sure all state and federal regulations are followed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce and Family Law in Illinois
What qualifies as a high-asset divorce in Illinois?
There is no single dollar threshold that defines a high-asset divorce, but cases are generally considered high-asset when they involve substantial or complex property such as business ownership, executive compensation, multiple real estate holdings, significant investment accounts, or considerable retirement assets. What separates these cases from a typical divorce is not just the value of the estate but the difficulty of identifying, valuing, and dividing that property fairly.
How is property divided in an Illinois divorce?
Illinois follows equitable distribution, which means marital property is divided fairly rather than automatically split fifty-fifty. Courts consider factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s contributions, their economic circumstances, and their future earning potential. Non-marital property, such as assets owned before the marriage or received as a gift or inheritance, is generally not subject to division, though tracing that property correctly requires careful documentation.
How long does a divorce take in Illinois?
The timeline varies widely depending on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested and how complex the marital estate is. An uncontested divorce with a straightforward estate can sometimes be resolved in a matter of months, while a contested high-asset divorce involving business valuation, forensic accounting, or disputed custody arrangements can take a year or longer.
Do I need a forensic accountant for my divorce?
Not every divorce requires one, but a forensic accountant can be valuable when there is a business involved, when income sources are complex, or when one spouse suspects the other may be hiding or undervaluing assets. David Silberman works with trusted financial professionals when a case calls for that level of financial scrutiny.
Can spousal maintenance be modified after a divorce is finalized?
In many cases, yes. Spousal maintenance can often be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant change in either spouse’s income, employment status, or health. Whether modification is possible, and how much support may change, depends on the terms of the original order and the specifics of the situation.
Is mediation a good option for a high-asset divorce?
Mediation can work well for high-asset divorces when both spouses are willing to negotiate in good faith and disclose their finances honestly. It can offer more privacy and control over the outcome than litigation. However, mediation is not right for every case, particularly when one spouse is uncooperative or when there are concerns about hidden assets. David Silberman helps clients evaluate whether mediation, collaborative divorce, or traditional litigation is the best fit for their circumstances.
What happens to retirement accounts and pensions in an Illinois divorce?
Retirement accounts and pensions accumulated during the marriage are generally considered marital property in Illinois, even if the account is only in one spouse’s name. Dividing these assets often requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO, which allows funds to be split without triggering early withdrawal penalties or unnecessary tax consequences. The portion of a pension or retirement account earned before the marriage is typically treated as non-marital property, though calculating that split accurately can be complicated when contributions span many years. David Silberman works with financial professionals to make sure retirement assets are properly identified, valued, and divided.
Settlement or Litigation: Choosing the Right Path
Not every divorce belongs in a courtroom.
Many family law cases can be resolved through negotiation, which may allow both parties to retain greater control over the outcome while reducing the time, expense, and uncertainty associated with litigation
At the same time, settlement is only effective when the proposed terms adequately protect a client’s interests.
David Silberman approaches negotiation with preparation rather than compromise for its own sake. Before recommending a settlement, he evaluates the legal and practical consequences of the agreement and considers how the terms may affect the client in the months and years ahead.
When the parties cannot reach a fair resolution, litigation may become necessary.
David prepares cases with that possibility in mind from the beginning. Evidence, financial documentation, parenting issues, and disputed facts are evaluated carefully so that the case can move forward effectively if court intervention is required.
This approach allows clients to pursue reasonable settlement opportunities without weakening their position if litigation ultimately becomes the better option.
Divorce Involving Children Requires a Different Kind of Planning
When children are involved, the financial outcome of a divorce is only part of the picture.
Parents must also address decision-making responsibilities, parenting time, schedules, holidays, transportation, education, healthcare, and other issues that affect their children’s daily lives.
These decisions can become especially difficult when the parents have demanding careers, frequent travel, multiple residences, or complicated schedules.
David Silberman helps clients develop parenting arrangements that reflect both the needs of the children and the realities of the family’s circumstances.
Whenever possible, the goal is to create a structure that is practical enough to work outside the courtroom, not simply one that looks workable on paper.
When parents cannot agree, David is prepared to advocate for arrangements that protect his client’s parental rights while keeping the children’s best interests at the center of the case.
Support Issues Can Affect Long-Term Financial Planning
Child support and spousal maintenance can significantly affect both parties’ financial lives after a divorce.
The analysis may involve more than simply reviewing a current paycheck.
Income can change over time. Bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, business earnings, and other forms of compensation may make the financial picture less predictable.
At the same time, both parties need to understand how support obligations fit into their post-divorce budgets.
David Silberman helps clients evaluate support issues in the context of the broader case rather than treating them as isolated calculations.
That includes considering the interaction between income, parenting arrangements, property division, and future financial obligations.
The objective is to reach terms that are consistent with Illinois law while also being realistic and sustainable.
Local Knowledge Matters in Cook and Lake County Family Law Cases
Family law is governed by Illinois law, but every courthouse has its own procedures, schedules, and practical expectations.
An attorney who regularly handles family law matters in Cook and Lake County can help clients understand how a case is likely to move through the local court system and what to expect at each stage.
David Silberman represents clients throughout Northbrook and the surrounding Chicagoland area.
His familiarity with local family court procedures allows him to prepare clients for hearings, negotiations, deadlines, and other aspects of the process while keeping the focus on the specific issues in the case.
For clients, that local familiarity can make an unfamiliar process easier to understand.
Communities We Serve
David Silberman represents clients throughout Northbrook and the surrounding North Shore and Chicagoland communities, including:
- Glenview
- Deerfield
- Highland Park
- Winnetka
- Lake Forest
- Wilmette
- Glencoe
- Northfield
- Skokie
- Buffalo Grove
Wherever you’re located in Cook or Lake County, David Silberman brings the same financial precision and strategic focus to every case, whether it involves a straightforward parenting matter or a complex, high-asset divorce.
Protecting What Matters Beyond the Divorce Judgment
A divorce judgment ends the legal marriage, but its terms can affect a client’s life for years afterward.
Parenting schedules must work in practice.
Support obligations must be manageable.
Property agreements must be implemented correctly.
Financial arrangements should be understood before they become final.
That is why David Silberman looks beyond the immediate dispute when advising clients.
The objective is not simply to reach the end of the case. It is to help clients move into the next stage of their lives with a clear understanding of their rights, responsibilities, and financial position.
That perspective is especially important when the divorce involves substantial assets or complicated finances, but it benefits clients in every family law matter.