chicagodivorceattorney

10/09/2026

A parenting plan that includes nightly FaceTime calls may sound like a reassuring way to stay connected with your children, but it can also mean coordinating with a difficult former spouse every evening. Keeping the marital home may feel like the most stable choice, but the mortgage, maintenance, and other expenses may become difficult to manage on one income. A holiday schedule that works for young children may feel very different once they are teenagers.

These details can seem small while you are focused on simply getting through the divorce, but they will become part of your everyday life afterward.

A strong agreement should do more than resolve today’s conflict. It should anticipate how your family, finances, and needs may evolve - and give you a realistic framework for moving forward.

10/05/2026

Early in my career, I thought leadership meant being the loudest voice in the room. Over time, I’ve learned how much more useful it is to be the person who can bring the temperature down.

That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career in family law. When emotions are high and the decisions matter, staying calm helps me listen carefully, see the options clearly, and keep the conversation moving.

I had the chance to reflect on that and a few other lessons from my career in Sheridan Road’s 2026 Power Women feature. I’m grateful to be included alongside so many impressive women. Thank you to and for sharing our stories.

09/22/2026

Before you send that angry text to your soon to be ex… put your phone down and take three deep breaths.

Divorce can bring up some very real emotions, and you need somewhere to put them. But your spouse may not be the right outlet for every thought, feeling or frustration that comes up.

Talk to a trusted friend. Write it down. Talk to your therapist. Take a walk. Whatever helps you process the emotion without immediately putting it into a text or email.

Once something is in writing, you can't control how it will be read, remembered or understood later. And in a divorce, even an emotional moment can become part of a much bigger story.

You don't have to be perfectly calm every minute of this process. You just need to be intentional about where you take those feelings.

Find a trusted outlet. Pause before you respond. And when you do communicate, let your words reflect the person you want to be on the other side of this.

09/22/2026

Before you send that angry text to your soon to be ex… put your phone down and take three deep breaths.

Divorce can bring up some very real emotions, and you need somewhere to put them. But your spouse may not be the right outlet for every thought, feeling or frustration that comes up.

Talk to a trusted friend. Write it down. Talk to your therapist. Take a walk. Whatever helps you process the emotion without immediately putting it into a text or email.

Once something is in writing, you can’t control how it will be read, remembered or understood later. And in a divorce, even an emotional moment can become part of a much bigger story.

You don’t have to be perfectly calm every minute of this process. You just need to be intentional about where you take those feelings.

Find a trusted outlet. Pause before you respond. And when you do communicate, let your words reflect the person you want to be on the other side of this.

09/14/2026

I'm good at telling my story. That doesn't necessarily get me theirs.

Last week at the International Academy of Family Lawyers global conference in Dublin, I was in rooms of family lawyers from all over the world, people whose reputations I knew long before I met them. Everyone is highly accomplished and whip smart. A summary of where I practice, for how long, etc. wasn't going to do it. And it certainly would not get me the information I need to keep these incredible practitioners top of mind when I need insight and collaboration for international family law matters.

So I stopped merely introducing myself first and asked two questions: what's one thing you're glad you packed? And one you wish you had?

Every answer was different. I remember all of them.

Here's the thing. I can explain how I practice in ninety seconds. That's never been the problem. The hard part is getting someone past the "what I do for a living" to who the person actually is. That applies to both colleagues and clients alike.

So: what are you always glad you packed? And what do you keep forgetting?

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

Let me help you make life a little easier. Reach out to me: katymickelson.com or the link in my bio.

08/26/2026

A few thoughtful steps upfront can help you feel more informed, confident, and ready for what comes next.

Here are 3 things I recommend considering before you begin the process:

1️⃣ Understand your finances — gather important documents and get a clear picture of your assets, expenses, and accounts.

2️⃣ Think about your goals — not just what you want to happen today, but what will set you up for the future.

3️⃣ Get informed about your options — every family is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to divorce.

Divorce is a major life transition. The decisions you make early on can shape the path forward.

08/17/2026

Shoutout to my daughter for grabbing a glimpse of some behind the scenes of what’s to come…

I always love a chance to share more about the work I care deeply about with KNOW WomenⓇ | media membership events for businesswomen.

Huge thank you to 📸Headshots|Branding|Events📸 for making this shoot so fun.

Full feature coming soon!