Originally published: June 2021 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
In this short introductory video, Anna P. Krolikowska, lead counsel and founder of Anna K. Law, explains the basics of divorce.
Based in Chicago, Illinois, and serving the Chicagoland area, Ms. Krolikowska focuses her practice in the area of family law. Anna realizes the importance and the impact family law matters have not only on her clients but also on their families.
Originally published: May 2021 | Updated: August 2024 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
As Published by Evanston Woman Magazine. View the article HERE.
For many couples, divorce is the most painful and damaging experience of their lives. Moving forward can be challenging for these people, and they may choose or fall into the litigated divorce process. However, others may want to have a different divorce experience. For couples who are willing and able to work together, divorce doesn’t have to be a battle of the exes. Collaborative divorce and mediation provide alternative approaches that can help couples work through their disputes together and make decisions mutually. This collaborative process can provide a couple with the tools to divorce with respect and dignity.
For the vast majority of my clients, choosing mediation or a collaborative process to divorce can save time, money, and extended anguish. As a member of the Collaborative Divorce Institute of Illinois, I’m committed to offering my clients solutions that are “supportive, considerate, sensible, constructive and mutual.”
The purpose of a collaborative divorce is to give spouses the opportunity to focus on their future goals, concerns and fears, and resolve their disputes without litigation. When couples agree to use the collaborative process, they each hire an attorney trained in and committed to the collaborative divorce process model. Then, a collaborative team is formed to identify solutions that are agreed upon until all issues are resolved, and a final divorce decree is signed and entered in court.
The collaborative approach allows the parties to keep matters private and work through their issues together. The process promotes effective communication and allows the parties to retain decision-making control. In addition, the collaborative process has been shown to improve the chances for long-term cooperation between the parties.
In mediation, I can assist a client in one of two ways. I can serve as a neutral third party whose only goal is to help the spouses agree on all outstanding issues. In this situation, I do not represent either spouse to avoid any conflict of interest in the mediation process negotiations. In other cases, I represent one of the spouses as his or her attorney as they go through the mediation process. I brainstorm options, explain to my client the legal impact of these options, and ultimately prepare the legal documents and finalize the case after the mediation process. It is important to note that I cannot act as both the mediator and an attorney for one of the spouses in the same case. Rather, I can only fill one of those roles in any given case. During mediation, spouses can actively negotiate the terms of their settlement agreement. When I am retained as a neutral mediator, I facilitate this important effort by the spouses.
These two alternatives to litigating divorce allow the divorce process to move forward at the pace determined by the couple, especially while dealing with limited access to courts and case delays due to Covid-19. This saving of time can also result in cost savings in the divorce process, thereby saving you money in the long run.
Saving time and money are great, but I, and more importantly, my clients, often find that the collaborative process and mediation process can help save or improve relationships. Whether or not children are involved, these routes to divorce provide the foundation of an equitable split. And although divorce is painful no matter what, it can help you move on more quickly from this chapter of your life. I have also noticed the former spouses of clients who used the mediation or collaborative process are often better able to navigate their co-parenting path and are more willing to continue collaborating to support their children’s development.
When deciding to divorce, I always encourage my clients to consider collaborative divorce and mediation before diving straight into litigation. For more information, you can visit our website at: www.annaklaw.com.
Anna Krolikowska, founder and lead attorney at Anna K Law.
Originally published: April 2021 | Updated: October 2021 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
Divorce is a trying experience for adults. With children, divorce can be devastating if it is not handled well by the parents. Couples pursuing the dissolution of their marriage always want to know how to help children through divorce. From my perspective as an attorney, there are some actions that can be taken to ensure the children are well cared for and protected as much as possible.
How to help children through divorce starts at the very beginning. Couples should give thought to the frequently asked question “how do we tell the kids?”
A good attorney will suggest a divorce coach and/or a parenting class which can help the couple navigate their communication style from the start of the divorce, throughout the process and after the divorce.
Couples with children would be well-served to consider mediation or collaborative divorce strategies as each of these approaches place the decision-making, the pace and the overall control of the process in the hands of the parents (instead of the court system when a litigated approach is selected). Through mediation and collaborative divorce, the teams supporting the parents place the interests of the children first and foremost.
Once the couple chooses the divorce plan and the children are aware of it, there are best practices parents can take to ensure their children are not needlessly injured by the process.
Originally published: March 2021 | Updated: October 2021 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
After meeting with Family Law Attorney Anna Krolikowska, I knew I needed to share her wisdom with you! Ms. Krolikowska is a Chicago-based attorney who takes a compassionate approach with her clients, especially as they navigate the early stages of divorce.
Originally published: March 2021 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
More than half of the prospective clients who call me are women. Women tend to initiate divorce proceedings–including filing for divorce, more than men. Women, however, may not be completely prepared for the divorce process.
During the first consultation(s) I have with a woman considering filing for divorce, there are certain things that I always want to share and explore. This is especially important for women who may have stayed at home raising a family or for women who are not well-aware of their household finances.
Please CLICK HERE to visit www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com for the rest of this article.
Originally published: February 2021 | Updated: June 2022 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
Sometimes you don’t think that you’re Ready Yet!? But a lot of those times the folks around you already know you are! When Anna Krolikowska decided to put aside her own hesitations and listen to those encouraging voices, the result is ending up as the President Elect of the Illinois Bar Association…..only the fifth female to hold that office since 1877……one of the youngest to hold that office…….and getting there after she won the contests in all 102 circuits in the state. And the one of the best parts about Anna….she really does believe that if she can do it so can you!
Originally published: February 2021 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
Control.
Sometimes we feel we are in control of a situation. Sometimes we feel as though we don’t have as much control over a situation. My clients frequently tell me they feel their lives start to go out of control when they are separating and contemplating divorce. Feeling in control of a situation is important for people. Popular movies like “The War of the Roses”, “The Squid and The Whale” and “Kramer vs. Kramer” famously depict divorce as a battleground where each partner struggles to survive and everyone is battered and bloodied by the entirety of the experience. The fighting we observe in those movies is largely fighting for control and a goal of “winning at any cost”. But divorce doesn’t have to be this way, and that’s where the mediation process comes into play.
Increasingly, couples are opting for the mediation process when it comes to their divorce. What are the benefits of mediation? There are many good reasons, in fact, to consider the mediation process instead of a traditional litigated divorce.
Please CLICK HERE to visit www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com for the rest of this article.
Originally published: January 2021 | Updated: August 2021 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
For many couples, the arrival of a new year is accompanied by feelings of hope, fresh starts, new goals and more. For some couples, the new year doesn’t bring fresh, good feelings. During the previous year (2020) as the Covid-19 pandemic became a worldwide reality, the stresses on a marriage were many. Many people noted that strong marriages became stronger while troubled marriages became even more flawed and troubled, leading some couples to considering a divorce.
Getting divorced is a big decision and one that should be carefully considered before being pursued. It’s true that my office phone rings more in January than in any other month of the year. People feel the need to take action when they are unhappy, frustrated and angry.
But if you are considering a divorce, before a couple files, here are a few things to keep in mind. Dissolving a marriage is seldom easy.
1. Have you considered couples counseling? Seasoned marriage therapists practice discernment counseling which is designed to assist a couple struggling to determine if divorce is the right path for them. Effective counseling can greatly help couples talk to each other and sometimes can give them the tools they need to remain married and build toward a better relationship. Give counseling a chance to be of value you to before you decide to divorce…
Read the rest of the article HERE on www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com.
Originally published: September 2020 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
As I write this it seems like we are living in a world gone mad. People are raw with anger, hurt, pain and fear. Images of upset fill each newscast and color our days. Fear can be overwhelming and paralyzing, but fear can also be a motivation for change, or a call to action. In my work as an attorney, mediator and a collaborative divorce practitioner I deal with fear every day. Very frequently my clients report their fear of the unknown, fear of making a decision that will change their family’s life, fear of the divorce process and the legal system, fear of life after the divorce. Although I can’t erase the fear, I do help my clients manage their fears by educating them about the divorce process, the legal system, the different approaches to divorce and about the options they have. With information and education about the process I am able to empower the client to make important decisions through the divorce process – an experience that has lifelong implications for the couple dissolving their marriage.
Originally published: August 2020 | Updated: August 2022 | Reviewed by Anna Krolikowska, J.D.
My Women Belong circle has been a great source of strength and support during 2020. I’ve been grateful for our on-going connection and the generosity that professional referrals represent to me and my practice. Though I miss the in-person meetings I am appreciative of the virtual inter-connections that we have devised this year. Staying connected as we have done has been a true blessing.
Every day I work with clients undertaking divorce around the Chicagoland area. And every day I think about how each divorce is different and how each couple has specific needs that must be addressed through the process. Sometimes people are surprised when I tell them that, conservatively, 50-60% of the calls I receive from people looking to initiate divorce are from women. Women seeking divorce often want to gain an initial understanding of what strategy they should take. As a member of Women Belong, I want to always be a resource to our members. While I do not work exclusively with women seeking a divorce, I do understand the issues that women face when considering divorce.
Divorce is rarely easy. Yet there are options, and it is possible that one approach might be better for a couple than another. Though there are definitely different ways to get divorced, three stand out as worthwhile options to consider. Which one is right for you and your spouse? It depends on your circumstances.
CLICK HERE to go to the Women Belong website for the rest of this article.
