Joseph was voted an Illinois SuperLawyer by his fellow attorneys in 2015, 2016 and 2017, after having been voted a Rising Star in 2013 and 2014. Admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2005, Joseph graduated from Ambassador University, Big Sandy, TX, where he was on the Dean’s List and received his B.A., and then graduated from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, where he earned an M.A. in Counseling and was awarded the Nichol Memorial Award for Integrity. Joseph is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law, where he served as a student representative on the Law School’s curriculum committee. With several years of experience as a counselor prior to attending law school, Joseph brings unique and valuable experience to the field of domestic relations law.
Joseph is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage County, Kendall County, and Will County Bar Associations, and remains active in Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. Joseph was appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association Committee on Judicial Evaluations (Outside Cook County) and twice served as chair of said committee. Joseph is also admitted to practice at the United States Supreme Court.
Joseph also released his first book in 2017 titled Winning Your Divorce: The Top Ten Mistakes Men Make and How to Avoid Them. You can purchase his book here.
- Areas of Practice:
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Litigation Percentage:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- Honors and Awards:
- Published Works:
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Past Employment:
- Fraternities/Sororities:
- Divorce
- Child and Spousal Support
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Property Division
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Pre-Nuptial Agreements
- Post Divorce Modifications
- Collaborative Law
- American Bar Association – Law Practice Management Section
- Illinois State Bar Association – Judicial Evaluation Committee
- Illinois State Bar Association – Family Law Section
- DuPage County Bar Association – Family Law Section; Rules Revision Committee
- Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity – Member
- National Association of Certified Counselors – Past member
75
of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Illinois, 2005
- DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 2005
J.D.
Honors: Dean’s Scholarship Recipient
- Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, 1999
M.A.
Honors: With Honors
Honors: Dean’s List; Nichol Memorial Award for Integrity
- Ambassador University, Big Sandy, Texas, 1995
B.A.
Honors: With Honors
Major: Liberal Studies/Psychology
- Nichol Memorial Award for Integrity, 1998
- Daniel P. Ward Service Scholarship, 2004
- Illinois Rising Star, 2013, 2014
- Illinois SuperLawyer, 2015 to present
- AVVO Client’s Choice award, 2015
- “Civil Unions in Illinois: A Cautious Gaze into a Possible Future“, DCBA Brief, Volume 20, Issue 3, 2007
- The Awkward Handshake: US v. Kyllo and How Science Shapes the Law, DePaul Journal of Law & Science, 2, 2004
- Counseling Practicum, Andrews University, 1999
- Law Offices of Robert T. Badesch, Trial Clerk, 2003 – 2005
- Cook County State’s Attorney – Felony Trial Division, Legal Clerk, 2001
- Phi Alpha Delta
Client Testimonials
”If you want a lawyer who cares enough to tell it to you straight (what the law really says, likely outcomes, the best approach to resolve), someone who focuses on bringing closure to your current legal situation, and someone who makes the process as painless as it possibly can be, hire Joe!
Todd T.
”I was in the middle of a horrible divorce and had just fired my first lawyer when I met with Joe. He brought a sense of calm to the chaos that was going on, and sat down with me to develop a strategy and plan to achieve my goals. The rest of my divorce went much more smoothly and ended very well for me. I would recommend Joe to anyone. He didn't just do my divorce, he prepared me for life after my divorce.
Anonymous
”While (like anyone) I’d much rather avoid legal issues, Joe Emmerth brings calm and competence to the entire process. I hired him to quash an emergency subpoena, which he shut down quickly and successfully—and recovered my legal expenses and time off work. My fiancé and I were pleased with his work and later hired Joe to write our prenuptial agreement—a much more complicated legal process than we had originally thought, but Joe thoroughly and professionally handled on our behalf—and by far, had been the most responsive attorney we’ve ever worked with (period!). If you want a lawyer who cares enough to tell it to you straight (what the law really says, likely outcomes, the best approach to resolve), someone who focuses on bringing closure to your current legal situation, and someone who makes the process as painless as it possibly can be, hire Joe! Times when you need a family attorney, are frustrating—and the law (or how a particular judge tends to rule) can be even more frustrating. Your best defense is to hire an attorney who brings strategy and experience and has got your back—Joe’s that guy!
Anonymous
”Joe is helpful, honest, hardworking lawyer. He did a good job of explaining the process and gave great advice on how to handle specific situations. The process is not an easy one, it involves several pieces which also includes allocation of the parenting time, financial disclosure, and the final settlement agreement. Joe was informative and on top of each step, guiding and advising me on what to do and how to handle it. Obviously, it's best to do your divorce as amicable as you can, however, if you require representation I would highly recommend Joe. He did an excellent job as a negotiator on my behalf and prevented further financial damage by getting my divorce done quickly. I didn't have to reach out to him very much, because he was working the process, which made things more comfortable. When he needed to discuss a matter or get the information it was a quick email correspondence and onto the next step. I appreciated the opportunity to work with Joe, however, if I never have to step foot into a courtroom again I would just fine with that. Highly recommended.
Jeff
”My particular case involved numerous moving parts across international boundaries. Despite these added elements of confusion, the process went extremely smooth. Joseph helped to efficiently and effectively navigate the complexities and we arrived at the desired outcome. Thorough, buttoned-up, precise - a true professional.
Anonymous
”I was in the middle of a horrible divorce and had just fired my first lawyer when I met with Joe. He brought a sense of calm to the chaos that was going on, and sat down with me to develop a strategy and plan to achieve my goals. The rest of my divorce went much more smoothly and ended very well for me. I would recommend Joe to anyone. He didn't just do my divorce, he prepared me for life after my divorce.
Anonymous
”My case was challenging in that I had been married a relatively short amount of time (< 5 years) and was willing to leave my ex-wife with some money to help her land on her feet. Joe was sympathetic to my case right away and understood my own emotional struggle with the process. He was very upfront about my options and helped to find a solution in which my ex-wife received a fair settlement without me giving up too much. At the same time, he always said he'd be willing to fight the settlement if I so choose and was honest about what costs that fight would entail. I would definitely recommend Joe to anyone going through the process. He was always professional and prompt in his communication and made a tough process more manageable.
Anonymous
”Joseph was helpful and professional from the first phone call to the last email. My parentage case was less than enjoyable and at times, quite a headache. He handled every annoyance that came around with great candor and care. Joseph never misguided me. Even if the result was not exactly what I wanted (because let's be honest we want everything to go exactly our way regardless of the law), he made sure I had no false expectations and explained to me the reasoning behind everything. Joseph was very understanding of my situation and helped me according to my needs. At the end of it all, I really feel that I came out of my case with everything that I needed to make my family happy. I am so thankful that I had Joseph to take the lead on a case that went from a disaster to a happy ending. I highly recommend him for your parentage related case.
Cody