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Margaret A. Bennett
Oak Brook, Illinois
phone (630) 573-8800
fax (630) 573-9810
E-mail me

Margaret Bennett concentrates in the area of family law and also serves as a Family Court Mediator for the court system.  If you are contemplating a separation or divorce, or you or your spouse are contesting the custody of your children or the division of marital assets, Ms. Bennett is an experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate divorce and family law attorney that you can trust.

Margaret Bennett has been nominated by other attorneys as a Leading American Attorney and as an Illinois Leading Attorney in the area of family law. To be named a Leading American Attorney, attorneys must receive multiple recommendations from their peers in a statewide survey conducted by the American Research Corporation. Fewer than 6 percent of the state's attorneys are Leading American Attorneys.

Margaret Bennett is a frequent lecturer and has authored numerous articles. Ms. Bennett is listed in "Who's Who in America", "Who's Who in American Law", "Who's Who in the World", "Who's Who of American Women", and "World Who's Who of Women".

Voted by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Lawyer, Margaret Bennett has received the highest peer award honor that is only bestowed upon those lawyers who have the highest level of legal ability and adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.

In 2008, Margaret Bennett received legislative appointment to the Family Law Study Committee of the State of Illinois. The Committee was formed by the State of Illinois House of Representatives to study and revise the provisions of the state law relating to child support, spousal maintenance, the allocation of assets and child custody. Ms. Bennett has also been appointed to serve as a Member of the 2011-2012 Family Law Section Council for the Illinois State Bar Association.

In 2010, Margaret Bennett was appointed to serve on the Illinois Child Support Advisory Committee.  The committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing the child support guidelines and making recommendations to the State legislature.

Family Law
Divorce
Child Custody & Visitation
Collaborative Law

Bar Admissions:

• United States: Admitted to the Bar in Illinois and Colorado
• U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• United Kingdom: Admitted to the Rolls of Solicitors of England and Wales

Education:

• QLTT, College of Law, London
• University of San Francisco and Loyola University of Chicago School of Law
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
• University of California at Berkeley
  B.A., Political Science (with honors)

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Illinois Bar Association
• DuPage County Bar Association
• Will County Bar Association
• DuPage Association of Women Lawyers

Bar Associations and Appointments:

• Appointment to the State of Illinois Child Support Advisory Committee, 2010 to present
• Appointment to the Family Law Study Committee by the Illinois House of Representatives, 2008 to present
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Member, 2006 to present
• Society of English and American Lawyers, United Kingdom, 2005 to present
• The Law Society, United Kingdom, 2004 to present
• Northern Illinois Real Estate Law Committee, Chairman, 1994 -1997

• Illinois State Bar Association:
• Appointment to the Family Law Section Council, 2009 to present
• Appointment to Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations, 1997 to present
• Appointment to Real Property Section Council, 1996 to 2002
• Elected to Illinois State Bar Association Assembly (governing body), 1986-1990 &1994-2000

• DuPage County Bar Association:
• Chairman of the Family Law and Practice Committee, 1997/1998 and 2011/2012
• Appointment to Custody Evaluation Committee, 2007 to 2008
• Appointment to the DuPage County Family Court Task Force, 1997 to 2001
• Appointment to Family Law Mediation Rules Committee, 1996-1999
• Appointment to Family Law Fee Arbitration Committee, 1997 to 1999, and drafted Local Court Rules for Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program
• Chairman of the Professional Responsibility Committee, 1996/1997
• Chairman of the Real Estate Law and Practice Committee, 1994/1995

Professional Honorariums:

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
• The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, 2010
• Who's Who in American Law, 2010
• DuPage County Circuit Court Certificate of Appreciation, 2009 (click to view)
• Leading American Attorney, 2008
• Woman of the Year Award bestowed by The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, 2008
• DuPage County Bar Association Certificate of Appreciation, 1998
• Illinois State Bar Association Board of Directors Award, 1990
• DuPage County Bar Association Legal Aid Program Certificate of Appreciation, 1989

Lectures and Publications:

Margaret A. Bennett is a frequent lecturer and presenter on the subjects of family law, mediation, professional ethics, fee arbitration and real property law for State and County Bar Associations and Professional Associations.

• Lectures include the following:
• Featured speaker, “Why Illinois Should Retain the Net Income Approach When Determining Child Support”, Illinois Child Support Advisory Committee, 2011
• Featured speaker, “Real Estate Law for Divorce Attorneys”, Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council’s Mid-Year Seminar, 2001
• Featured speaker, “Real Estate Pitfalls Affecting the Divorce Practitioner”, Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council’s Annual Seminar, 2001
• Featured speaker, “How to Avoid the Nightmare”, Illinois State Bar Association Real Property Section Council’s Annual Seminar, 1999
• Featured speaker, “What Every Real Estate Attorney Should Know About Divorce Law and What Every Divorce Attorney Should Know About Real Estate Law”, Illinois State Bar Association Real Property Section Council’s Annual Seminar, 1998
• Featured speaker, “The Allocation of Stock Options Upon Dissolution of Marriage”, Seminar on Financial, Business Valuation & Divorce Taxation Issues, 1998
• Instructor, Paralegal Institute, 1992-1993

• Publications include the following:
• "Legal Practice Tips", Illinois Bar Journal, Vol. 88, December, 2000
• "The Real Estate Lawyer's Divorce Primer (and the Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Real Estate)", Illinois Bar Journal Vol. 86 (Copyright assigned to West Law), September, 1998
• "Mandatory Matrimonial Fee Arbitration", DuPage County Bar Brief, November, 1997
• "Another View of House Bill 365 (Leveling the Playing Field in Matrimonial Law)", Illinois Family Law Report, April, 1997
• "The Allocation of Stock Options Upon Dissolution of Marriage", Illinois Family Law Report, October, 1996
• "Penny Wise and Pound Foolish", ISBA Real Property Newsletter, July, 1995
• "Real Estate for the Penny Wise", Illinois State Bar Association Bar News,
  September 15, 1995

Representative Clients:

• McDonald's Corporation, Oak Brook, Illinois, (real estate/legal matters)
• DuPage County, Illinois, Stormwater Management Committee, (land acquisition/real estate)
• DuPage County Fair and Exposition Authority, (interpreted statutes and provided legal opinions to the Authority)
• DuPage Department of Transportation, (right-of-way acquisitions)

Charitable Affiliations:

• Board of Directors, First Folio Theatre, Oak Brook, Illinois, (current)
• University of California Alumni Association, (current)
• Berkeley in Britain Alumni Association, (current)
• Society of English and American Lawyers, (current)
• Supporter of RRAF - a non-profit agency that provides support to adults with developmental disabilities, (current)
• Supporter of the Association for Individual Development (AID) which provides services to individuals who have developmental, physical and/or mental disabilities, (current)
• Resources for Retarded and Autistic Adults, Lombard, Illinois Board of Directors, 1996 to 2000
• DuPage County Blue Ribbon Committee on People with Disabilities, Wheaton, Illinois Member, 1993-1995
• Evangelical Health Foundation, Board of Sponsors, Oak Brook, Illinois Member, 1988-1992
• Good Samaritan Hospital Development Counsel, Downers Grove, Illinois Member, 1988-1992

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