Divorce with "hidden" assets
October 2016
A client came to us to review a divorce settlement agreement. The divorcing spouse offer $300,000 to settle the divorce without litigation to "save the attorneys" fees. Upon review of the agreement, our attorneys noticed that the income, asset and retirement accounts did not include the total picture of the assets. One spouse was in control of all the finances for the term of the marriage. Our client had little to no information of the financial situation. Upon further investigation, we determined that the actual marital estate was valued at over $3.4 million and $3 million of personal assets of the filing spouse.
We were able to secure a $1.5 million dollar settlement with minimal billing timing and our client did not have to appear in court.
Always let your attorney review your documents to avoid accepting an "unfair" result.
Chancery/Declaratory Judgment
A verdict was in favor of our client (the insurance carrier) arising from a policy exclusion regarding injuries caused by intentional acts, in this case, the insured intentionally struck two pedestrians with his automobile. The verdict was entered after a bench trial that included seven (7) witnesses and testimony regarding insurance policy provisions, surveillance and eye-witness accounts.
Practice area(s): Divorce / Separation
Court: DuPage County
Christopher Holwell
Christopher W. Holwell
Attorney/Principal
9 years with Holwell Group, LLC/Law Offices of Christopher W. Holwell
19 years as a trial attorney for Divorce, Real Estate, Insurance Coverage, and Injury.
One of my biggest accomplishments in a divorce case was getting a multi-million dollar settlement from a spouse that was not disclosing several million dollars in assets. In addition, I was able to get the other spouse to fully fund the one child's college education as part of the settlement.
Another of my biggest accomplishments in an injury case was procuring a several hundred thousand dollar settlement for my 14-year-old client who suffered a knee injury during an after school athletic program. I was able to get all interested parties to set aside funds for the client's college fund in case his athletic scholarship was affected.
I am constantly attending Continuing Legal Education seminars to stay up to date on any changes in the law that might affect any of my clients.
My primary areas of practice are Divorce, Family Law, Real Estate, and Insurance Litigation.
Most of my clients are concerned with what to do or what not to do when the first come to see me for a consultation or appointment. Their next concern is usually financial; what are they going to do now? How are they going to survive? I tell each client, based on their unique situation, what their options are and what will happen next. I am there for them from start to finish.
The best part of my job is doing the work the client is too upset to do. While I understand the emotional roller-coaster clients go through, my experience allows me to step outside the emotion point of view, and use the law and facts to benefit my clients to the best of my ability.
I was born in Oak Lawn, Illinois, was raised in Bridgeview up until college and now live in Lake County, Illinois with my family (my wife and three children.) I still have family in Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, and Orland Park.
A little-known fact about me is that I love astronomy and anything to do with the stars and planets. In my free time, I tend to read a lot, usually late at night and play with my children and new Newfoundland puppy, Indy (Indiana Jones)
I am admitted to practice law in Illinois and all Federal Courts including the Supreme Court of the Untied States of America.
I treat my clients like friends.
You can reach me at:
(312) 648-6115
[email protected]
[email protected]
Linkedin: Christopher W. Holwell
Facebook: Holwell Law Group, LLC