Compassionate, Prompt, Attentive and Caring.
Ellen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Carroll University, where she studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and was named to the Dean’s List. Ellen continued on to earn her Juris Doctor and Family Law Certificate at Washburn University School of Law.
During her time at Washburn Law, Ellen focused exclusively on the area of family law. Ellen was the Student Editor-in-Chief of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Quarterly, a scholarly journal designed to keep practitioners current with an analytical view of existing and emerging family law issues. Throughout law school, Ellen competed in the LSD-ABA Client Counseling and Negotiations competitions as well as volunteered at various organizations committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and assisting victims of domestic violence. During her final year of law school, Ellen participated in Washburn’s Domestic Law Clinic where she used her law school license to represent clients in a wide variety of family and immigration law matters, such as: divorces, paternity actions, adoptions, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Petitions, U-Visas, and Battered Spouse Waivers. Ellen was a member of the American Inn of Court (Sam A. Crow Division), Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Women’s Legal Forum, Environmental Law Society, and the Children & Family Law Center.
Ellen joined Randall A. Wolff & Associates, Ltd. in 2013 after clerking at a general practice firm in Topeka, Kansas for two years. Ellen is a member of the American Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. Ellen is a volunteer and domestic relations courtroom facilitator in the 3rd Municipal District, Cook County.
Ellen is available to assist on your family law matter whenever you are ready. She has tried and won numerous family cases including divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities (formerly known as custody & visitation) child support, and orders of protection.
Call our office today for a consultation with Ellen on your family law matter.
SAMPLE CASES
- Ellen was instrumental in the successful resolution of a case in the Third Municipal District, Rolling Meadows, Illinois in March 2014 where a father had to fight for two years to obtain overnight visitation with his 2 daughters, ages 9 and 5. She also provided critical analysis as to the valuation and division of the marital assets including large retirement accounts, and foreign and domestic real property.
- Ellen successfully defended a Motion to Increase Child Support wherein the custodial parent sought an increase in the non-custodial parent’s child support obligation where it was alleged the non-custodial parent was working significant overtime and was an hourly employee.
- After filing a Petition for Rule to Show Cause, Ellen obtained a Judgment for $5,000 plus attorneys fees and costs against Father who failed to reimburse Mother for his required portion of the children’s medical expenses, school expenses, and college expenses.
- Ellen settled a three year paternity case wherein as far as visitation for the child was concerned, mediation and 2 other previous attorneys were unsuccessful. Using her calm, level headed approach, Ellen was able to extract from the client her concerns and fears and address those concerns with opposing counsel outside of the court room, reducing litigation and fees, and allowing the parties to reach a mutually acceptable and positive outcome.
