Presented by the ISBA Family Law Section
Co-presented by the ISBA Young Lawyers Division
Music City Center, 201 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, Tennessee
Friday, October 2, 2026 – Saturday, October 3, 2026
Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. (Complimentary networking reception to follow)
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
12.25 hours MCLE credit, including 3.50 hours approved Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
- 2.25 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit
- 1.25 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit
Family law is evolving at a pace no practitioner can afford to ignore—and this two‑day seminar gives you the insight, tools, and strategies you need to stay ahead of the curve. Get up‑to‑the‑minute updates on case law and statutory changes, learn how to draft enforceable orders that withstand scrutiny, and master the appellate pitfalls that can reverse a loss—or protect a win. Additional topics include:
- Techniques for maintenance termination and review;
- How the misuse of intoxicants can be proven through reliable testing and monitoring;
- The common misconceptions surrounding court‑ordered therapy;
- The risks and rewards of ever-evolving legal technology;
- How bankruptcy law and family law intersect;
- The dangers of double‑counting property as both income and asset;
- Strategies for crafting parenting plans that address the hardest issues with clarity and enforceability; and
- Much more.
Program Coordinator:
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich LLP, Chicago
Program Moderators:
Hon. Arnold Blockman (ret.), University of Illinois School of Law, Champaign
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich LLP, Chicago
The ISBA would like to offer a special thanks to this program’s financial supporters
for helping to make this opportunity possible:
Platinum Contributors
CBIZ
Gold Contributors
Pamela J. Kuzniar
Kirsh & Anderson, Ltd.
Soberlink Healthcare LLC
True Test Labs
Silver Contributors
Lengle & Nyuli, LLC
Hon. Arnold Blockman
Berlin Melzer Law LLC
Bohlen Law P.C.
Our Family Wizard
Pinay Law LLC
Practice Panther
Julie A. Johnson
Law Office of Annette M. Fernholz, P.C.
Hon. Jeanne M. Reynolds
Hon. Pamela E. Loza
Able 2 Adjust
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Case Law and Legislative Update
Don’t miss this opening segment as we explore the critical cases and legislative changes that have impacted the family law practice over the past two years.
Anna M. Benjamin Meyer Capel, Champaign
Hon. Arnold Blockman (ret.), University of Illinois School of Law
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Maintenance Termination and Review
Listen as our presenters break down the key factors that justify either terminating or continuing maintenance, clarify the standard of review, and demystify the leading caselaw shaping these decisions. Real‑world examples and actionable practice tips are included.
Staci Balbirer, Davis Friedman, Chicago
Kathleen M. Kraft, Kraft, Wood, Kelly, LLC, Bloomington
Hon. Pamela E. Loza (ret.), JAMS Mediation, Arbitration, and ADR Services
Hon. Maureen D. Schuette, Third Judicial Circuit Court
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Break
12:00 – 1:15 p.m. Intoxicants and Parenting: Proving Misuse of Intoxicants: A Primer on Testing
(1.25 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit*)
Substance abuse disrupts and destabilizes families, whether the issue stems from a parent’s use, a child’s use, or a child’s accidental exposure to a parent’s intoxicants. This panel presentation outlines the pleadings and allegations that empower the court to order testing, defines the essential terms every testing order must include, and delivers a practical tutorial on the full range of testing options available to family law practitioners—what they are, when to use them, and how they strengthen your case.
Kevin Dorsey, Soberlink, Texas
Michael Gammel, President, TrueTest Labs, Chicago
Hon. Patrick J. Powers, Circuit Court of Cook County
1:15 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Therapeutic Options and Misconceptions about Court-Ordered Therapy
(1.0 hour Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit*)
Counseling is often ordered by the court, whether through the parties’ agreement or after a hearing. Under Section 607.6 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the court has authority to require parents and children to participate in counseling in specific circumstances. This segment examines the therapeutic options, addresses common misconceptions about court‑ordered therapy, and highlights the essential language that belongs in 607.6 orders.
Matthew A. Kirsh, Kirsh & Anderson Ltd., Chicago
Pamela Rak, Pamela Rak LCSW, P.C., Hoffman Estates
Hon. Tamika R. Walker, 17th Judicial Circuit Court
Hon. Sonni Choi Williams, 12th Judicial Circuit Court
3:00 – 4:15 p.m. Wild West Tech: Anything Is Possible
(1.25 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit*)
Technology and divorce law are colliding in ways that feel straight out of the Wild West. We’re entering an era where AI, digital forensics, and open‑source intelligence reshape how cases are built, challenged, and understood. Deepfakes can mimic judges, lawyers, or witnesses with startling realism. Join us for an in-depth look at how technology is expanding faster than the rules that govern them, and why navigating this frontier requires awareness, caution, and innovation.
Drew G. Vaughn, Deviant Marketing LLC, Florida
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Complimentary Reception
Enjoy complimentary cocktails and appetizers as you connect with fellow attendees and discuss the conference before heading out to exploring Nashville on your own.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Navigating Appellate Landmines in Family Law
Taking a case to trial and losing is difficult enough — but failing to preserve the record or key issues can all but eliminate your client’s chances on appeal. This session equips trial attorneys with practical strategies to navigate appellate pitfalls before they become irreversible. Listen as our speakers discuss the proposed amendments to Supreme Court Rules 13 and 606, explain how those changes affect trial practice, clarify when issues and cases are ready for appeal, examine the consequences of including or omitting 304(a) findings, and outline when the trial court retains concurrent jurisdiction even while an appeal is pending.
Annette M. Fernholz, Law Office of Annette M. Fernholz, P.C., Chicago
Julie A. Johnson, Weiss-Kunz & Oliver LLC, Elmhurst
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Bankruptcy and Family Law
Divorce litigation can create significant financial pressure, and long‑term money problems often strain relationships even further. This segment brings together two seasoned practitioners for an interactive discussion on how bankruptcy law intersects with divorce proceedings. Topics include: how bankruptcy affects the division of assets and debts; spousal and child support obligations (and how those obligations are handled in bankruptcy); the risks attorneys face when actions violate the automatic stay; the timing of a bankruptcy filing; the scope of the automatic stay; and the exceptions under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2) for matters such as establishing paternity, modifying support, addressing custody or visitation, obtaining a divorce, domestic violence proceedings, and enforcing domestic support obligations.
Paul A. Osborn, Ward Murray Pace & Johnson, P.C., Sterling
11:30 – 11:45 a.m. Break
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Double Count
Double counting—also known as double dipping—occurs when the same financial resource is used twice in a divorce case: first to value a marital asset and again to calculate a support obligation. In this session, a judicial panel examines how different valuation methods affect potential support obligations, walks through likely outcomes under various scenarios, and offers practical guidance on how to present financial facts effectively to achieve the desired result.
Anna M. Benjamin Meyer Capel, Champaign
James Godbout, Lead Managing Director, CBIZ, Chicago
Hon. Pamela E. Loza (ret.), JAMS Mediation, Arbitration, and ADR Services
Hon. Patrick J. Powers, Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. Maureen D. Schuette, Third Judicial Circuit Court
Hon. Tamika R. Walker, 17th Judicial Circuit Court
Hon. Sonni Choi Williams, 12th Judicial Circuit Court
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (provided)
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Parenting Plans for Hard Issues: Formalizing Expectations
Complex parenting situations demand collaboration, yet the challenges often intensify once parents physically separate. Attorneys cannot rely on a one‑size‑fits‑all approach when drafting parenting plans, especially when a child has significant medical, mental health, or behavioral needs. These challenges are compounded when parents work demanding schedules, making detailed planning even more essential. Don’t miss this presentation that explores how to design comprehensive parenting plans for medically fragile children and those with substantial mental health needs. By formalizing expectations, attorneys can create enforceable provisions that provide clarity, stability, and protection for the child.
Staci Balbirer, Davis Friedman, Chicago
Kathleen M. Kraft, Kraft, Wood, Kelly, LLC, Bloomington
Lisa M. Nyuli, Lengle & Nyuli, LLC, St. Charles
Hon. Tamika R. Walker, 17th Judicial Circuit Court
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Posturing Property / Not Property Rights
The segment explores the complexities of equitable division when dealing with items that are legally considered property but are not always viewed that way by the litigants—such as pets, service animals, prized collections, intellectual property, and embryos. This discussion focuses on the factors courts consider in these disputes and how attorneys must present evidence to enable the court to evaluate, classify, or enforce agreements governing these unique forms of property (or not-property) within the divorce process.
Anna M. Benjamin Meyer Capel, Champaign
Rebecca Berlin Melzer, Berlin Melzer Law LLC, Chicago
Hon. Maureen D. Schuette, Third Judicial Circuit Court
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Interactive Presentation with Prizes
The final panel brings together the topics covered throughout the seminar and challenges attendees with three questions on each subject. (Note: questions will not be revealed prior to the seminar.) Throughout the session, panelists will pose questions to the audience based on their presentations, and participants who answer correctly will win prizes. After the seminar, all questions and correct answers will be shared with attendees, along with explanations from the presenters.
All Speakers
Program Information
- Fees (lunch provided):
- ISBA Member - $475
- ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
- Non-Member - $475
- New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $475
- A full refund is available for cancellation requests received by September 18, 2026, less a $25 administrative fee; all registrations received after September 18, 2026 incur a $100 administrative fee.
- Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.
- I understand that at ISBA events, the ISBA may take photographs, video, film, and audio of registrants, participants, attendees, and their guests. By registering for, or attending, such events I consent to the ISBA’s editing, copying, publishing, distributing, and using my image, likeness, voice, and name for any ISBA purpose. Such purposes may include, but not be limited to, ISBA marketing and communications, posting on ISBA websites and social media platforms, and sharing with other members, registrants, or attendees. I further understand that any photographs, video, film, and audio taken at ISBA events by the ISBA are owned and copyrighted by the ISBA, and that I waive: (1) any compensation for the ISBA’s use of my image, likeness, voice, and name; and (2) any opportunity or right to inspect or approve the photographs, videos, film, or audio prior to ISBA use.
