Michelle Dahlquist

Michelle Dahlquist concentrates her practice in complex family law matters, including divorce, legal separation, paternity, pre and post-judgment issues, premarital agreements, and appeals. She has extensive experience handling issues of child custody and visitation; property identification and distribution; child support, maintenance and unallocated support; orders of protection; contribution to college expenses; and various other issues relating to pre- and post-judgment family law litigation. Ms. Dahlquist provides clients with an explanation of his/her legal rights and applicable law, so that a client can make an informed decision on the relevant issue. She recognizes that each case presents different sets of facts and circumstances, and that each person may choose to handle their respective issues in a different manner. While some cases may need to proceed to a contested trial, many cases settle amicably with skillful negotiation.

Ms. Dahlquist is a Certified Guardian ad Litem with the Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. She chaired the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the DuPage County Bar Association from 2011-2013, and served as Secretary of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers from 2011-2013. Ms. Dahlquist is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association, and the DuPage County chapter of American Inns of Court. She was the recipient of the DuPage County Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award in 2011, and the DuPage County Bar Association Board of Directors Award in 2013.

Ms. Dahlquist earned her Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2008, and her Bachelor's of Science degree, cum laude, from Illinois State University in 2005. During law school, she was named to the Dean's List on several occasions. Ms. Dahlquist also gained valuable experience in domestic relations matters as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Hardy-Campbell in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division, as a legal intern for the Chicago-Kent Family Law Offices, and as a law clerk for a prominent Chicago matrimonial law firm. Ms. Dahlquist has concentrated her practice in family law since the inception of her legal career.

Ms. Dahlquist is a native of the western suburbs, where she currently resides with her family.

Practice Areas

• Divorce
• Family Law
• Paternity
• Child Custody (Allocation of Parental Responsibilities)
• Visitation (Parenting Time)
• Pre and Post Judgment Issues
• Premarital Agreements

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 2008

Education

• Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, J.D., 2008
• Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, B.S., Cum Laude, 2005

Certifications

• Certified Guardian ad Litem, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County

Professional Memberships and Associations

• DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA)
  • Member, 2008–Present
  • Chair and Vice-Chair of Membership Committee, 2013-2015
  • Chair and Vice-Chair of Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2011-2013
• Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
  • Execute Committee Member (Appointed), Young Lawyers Division, 2014-Present
  • Member, 2008–Present
• DuPage Association of Women Lawyers (DAWL)
  • Member, 2008–Present
  • Secretary, 2011-2013

Honors and Awards

• Client's Choice Award, Avvo, 2017
• Emerging Lawyers, Leading Lawyers Network, 2015-2016
• Board of Directors Award, DCBA, 2013
• Pro Bono Legal Service Award, DCBA, 2011

Publications

• Percentage Upheld, Deviation Denied, Illinois Divorce Digest, May 2014