Committed to Restorative Divorce & Alternative Dispute Resolution Services for Family Law Matters
If you are a divorcing couple with children in DuPage County or the Chicago area and want to keep the process positive, Birt Family Law offers Restorative Divorce, a proven process that keeps you out of court and minimizes conflict in order to protect your family throughout the process.
Quick Links
- - What Sets Us Apart
- - Introduction
- - Experience & Background
- - Firm's Objectives & Goals
- - Who We Can’t Help
- - In-Person & Online Services
- - Fee Options
- - How to Get Started
- - FAQ
Discover What Sets Us Apart!
At Birt Family Law, we believe divorce doesn't have to mean conflict. Watch this short video to learn about our unique Restorative Divorce approach and how we empower families to navigate this transition with clarity and confidence. Click play to see how we're redefining divorce solutions.
Our Attorney & Mediator, Erin Birt, is committed to prioritizing alternative dispute resolution services for family matters such as:
- Family Meditation,
- Restorative Divorce,
- Collaborative Divorce,
- Uncontested Divorce,
- Complex Divorce,
- Parenting Coordination,
- Coparenting Coaching/Consulting.
Even the backlogged family court system has begun to rely heavily on alternative dispute resolution services for high conflict families, cases with parent child contact problems, complex child development changes, and other complexities involved in families.
Introduction
While it is true that most family law litigation ends on the courthouse steps before a contested hearing or trial, just starting the traditional litigation process exacerbates existing issues between parents and a parent and child that can cause profound emotional and developmental changes for the child. Furthermore, any litigation causes the child to become acutely aware they are caught in the middle of a very difficult and painful legal process. This is why we promote, encourage, and recommend that all parentage, divorce, and family cases begin or transition to a non-adversarial alternative dispute resolution process.
The Law Firm of Erin N. Birt, PC is also known as Birt Family Law to reflect our commitment to working with families.
Here at Birt Family Law, we help people through life transitions by providing personalized and custom-tailored family law and divorce services in DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, certain districts in Cook County, throughout Illinois for our virtual remote legal clients, and throughout the U.S. for our mediation clients.
Our Team's Experience & Background
Our attorney has over 20 years of experience in divorce, family law, mediation and mental health services and our assistant has a paralegal degree and many years of experience in contract drafting and customer services. Our legal team's unique backgrounds in mental health services, accounting, and customer service enables us to provide our clients with high end concierge legal and mediation services so our clients thrive post divorce or separation. Not only will we handle your family law case or mediation case, we will put you in touch with the best professionals in the industry for child specialties, financial planning, and divorce support.
We get up every morning to help people through extremely difficult emotional, financial, and legal issues. We love to hear how our clients are thriving after divorce as many still rely on us and the professionals we connected them with that helped them through their divorce or parenting issue.
You can meet our team and read more about us, here.
The Firm's Objectives & Goals
Our firm provides a supportive and respectful environment where parties can openly discuss their wants, needs, and expectations throughout the legal process.
The firm's objectives are:
- - Promote and educate interested parties about the alternatives to courtroom litigation;
- - Enable and empower each client to negotiate and create resolutions to family matters that consider and address their particular relationship, unique family, special family traditions, assets and liabilities, and hopes for the future;
- - Commit to restorative divorce services to guide our clients to a place of peace and resolution.
We offer various services to help couples, parents, and families such as family mediation, parenting coordination, and restorative legal services. Please see our full legal disclaimer about the services we provide.
Families We Don't Serve But We Provide Qualified Referrals to Help
We do not provide services to families or individuals experiencing:
- untreated addiction,
- untreated alcoholism,
- untreated substance abuse, and/or
- recent demonstrated domestic violence or domestic abuse.
We can provide options and referrals for any needed services. If you or your family has been affected by any of the above circumstances, we recommend that any potential client work with an appropriate professional for at least 30 days before starting services with our firm.
Convenient Location
Our offices are conveniently located in Wheaton, Illinois next to the DuPage County Judicial Center and DuPage County Divorce Courthouse. Click here to find additional information about our location and how to easily find us.
We also offer remote meetings via Zoom. Learn more about our plan to keep our clients safe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wheaton Based but Nationally Available
The Law Firm of Erin N. Birt, P.C. has been based in Wheaton for over 14 years and we serve legal clients primarily in DuPage, Kane, Will, and Cook County while serving many other counties as well virtually. We also provide virtual mediation services nationwide to address the increase in relocations and interstate custody issues.
Fees & Several Payment Options
The firm offers multiple flat fee packages for services as well as hourly rates for services that need a higher level of support. The recommended fee package or hourly rate estimate is provided after an introductory telephone call and Planning Session with Erin (in person preferred). Please review our Pricing Page to learn more.
We understand budgeting for a family law case is difficult. For the convenience of our clients, we accept all major credit cards for the personal financing of your case, checks and cash should you wish to pay upfront for your legal or mediation services, and for those that seek to pay for services over time, we accept payment plans via ClientCredit + Affirm. Learn more about our payment options here.
Ready to book an initial meeting with Erin Birt?
Like our approach but not sure what you need? Please contact us through our contact form or calling the office at 630-891-2478 to set up a15-minute introductory telephone call or schedule online, here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce in DuPage County and Wheaton, Illinois
Do I need a divorce lawyer in DuPage County if I want to stay out of court?
Yes. Many people assume avoiding court means avoiding legal guidance, but the opposite is true. At Birt Family Law, the legal process is structured from the beginning so parents can make informed decisions without escalating into litigation.
Is divorce mediation better than hiring divorce lawyers in Wheaton, Illinois?
It depends on the situation. Many families in DuPage County benefit from mediation because it reduces conflict and cost. The key is having a structured process led by an experienced divorce attorney so agreements are practical and legally sound.
Can a divorce attorney help without going to court?
Yes. Not all divorce attorneys focus on litigation. This practice is designed around out-of-court resolution, helping parents organize decisions, reach agreements, and move forward without unnecessary court involvement.
What makes Birt Family Law different from other divorce lawyers in DuPage County?
Most divorce cases are handled through a litigation-first approach. Birt Family Law is intentionally structured to guide families through mediation and structured legal planning first, which often leads to more efficient and less adversarial outcomes.
Do you handle both mediation and legal divorce services?
Yes. Birt Family Law provides both mediation and legal guidance. This allows parents to stay in a resolution-focused process while still ensuring their agreements meet Illinois legal standards.
Where are you located and who do you serve?
Birt Family Law is based in Wheaton and serves families throughout DuPage County, as well as nearby counties. Virtual services are also available for clients across Illinois.
What types of clients typically work with you?
Most clients are parents who want a more organized and thoughtful approach to divorce. They are often looking to reduce conflict, stay out of court, and create workable long-term agreements.
When is mediation not the right fit for a divorce case?
Mediation is not appropriate in cases involving untreated substance abuse, ongoing domestic violence, or situations where one person cannot meaningfully participate. In those cases, a different level of legal or professional support is needed.
How do I start working with a divorce attorney in Wheaton, Illinois?
The first step is a brief introductory call, followed by a structured planning session. This allows you to assess fit and receive a clear path forward before making larger commitments.
Our Attorneys
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Erin Birt
Since 2003, Erin N. Birt, J.D., CADC has focused her practice on pa...
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Karen Hansel
Karen is the Administrative Assistant at Birt Family Law, where she...
