Michael C. Craven

Partner

Michael C. Craven has practiced law in Illinois since 1984. He represents clients in all areas of family law including divorce, property division, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence, and the preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Michael draws on his previous work experiences in accounting and as a tax attorney to negotiate and litigate complex financial issues in matrimonial cases. Michael is recognized by the Leading Lawyers Network as being among the top lawyers in Illinois and he was named as a 2009 Illinois Super Lawyer.  Illinois Super Lawyers are "considered among the best in their profession" and "represent the top 5% of the practicing attorneys in Illinois."  He has authored articles and has lectured to both lay and legal groups, and taught adult education classes on a variety of family law topics.

Education
  • L.L.M., The John Marshall Law School, 1989
  • J.D., The John Marshall Law School, 1984
  • B.S., Northern Illinois University, 1979
Court Admissions
  • Illinois, 1984
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1985
Professional Certification
  • Certified Public Accountant, 1979
Professional Associations
  • Illinois State Bar Association
    • Member, ISBA Family Law Section Council, 2006-Present
      • Co-Chair:  Maintenance Guidelines Sub-Committee
    • Standing Committee on Voluntary Fee Arbitration (1998-2004)
      • Chair, 2002-2003
  • Chicago Bar Association-Former Member
    • Family Law Referral Panel
    • Call a Lawyer Program
    • Cook County Court Facilitator Program

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Publications 
  • "Til death do us part, or sooner:  The family law attorney meets estate planning," Illinois State Bar Association's Family Law Newsletter, Vol. 52, No. 11 (June 2009)
    • Re-published - Illinois State Bar Association's Elder Law Newsletter, Vol. 15, No. 2 (October 2009)
  • "Corporations can pay child support too," Illinois state Bar Association - The Corporate Lawyer, Vol. 45, No. 12 (June 2009)
  • "The Spousal Remainder Trust - A Modern Income Shifting Device," Chicago Bar Association - YLS Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1 (1985)
Presentations
  • "Family Law Essentials-Health Insurance for Children and Related Issues," Illinois State Bar Association, December 2009 
  • "Know Your Finances-Beyond the Basics," Divorce University sponsored by The Lilac Tree, November 2009 
  • "The Estate Planner Meets the Family Law Practitioner-A Fortuitous Union," The Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education's 52nd Annual Estate Planning Short Course, April 2009, Champaign, Illinois and May 2009, Chicago, Illinois 
  • "Resolving Family Law Issues:  The Danger of Boiler Plate Language in Marital Settlement Agreements," Illinois State Bar Association, March 2009, Fairview Heights, Illinois and March 2009, Chicago, Illinois 
  • "The Nuts and Bolts of Divorce:  Legal and Financial," The Lilac Tree, January 2009 
  • "Asset Protection in Divorce Cases," Chicago Bar Association-Asset Protection Committee, June 2008 
  • "Getting Paid & Getting Visitation:  Successful Fee Agreements," Illinois State Bar Association, April 2008, Collinsville, Illinois and April 2008, Chicago, Illinois 
  • "Computer Spying on Spouses," North Suburban Bar Association, November 2007 
  • "Family Law Issues Affecting the Elderly," Chicago Department on Aging-Provider Council, June 1995 
  • "Special Problems Facing Older Adults in a Divorce," Chicago Bar Association-Elder Law Committee, February 1994 
  • "Divorce Law Basic," The Chicago Public Library/Chicago Bar Association 
  • "Divorce-Know Your Rights," Oakton Community College and The Discovery Center, 1992-1998
Media
  • "Computer Spying:  The New Technologies Tracking Infidelity, Exposing Spousal Secrets & More," WGN Radio, November 2008
  • Interview regarding a Chicago ordinance holding parents liable for children's actions, MSNBC Television, July 2008
  • Interview and quote in article by Joshua Eisenberg titled:  "TheirSpace:  Do school officials have the right to see what your kids post online-and then punish them for it?  A cautionary tale of social networking and online privacy," North Shore Magazine, November 2008
  • Quote in article by Kreiter & Tejeda:  "Attorney offers tips on making vows last," The Daily Herald, June 1995

 

 

Michael C. Craven

Contact Information:

Phone:
(312) 621-9700

E-Mail:
mccraven@beermannlaw.com

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