Christopher T. Smith

For more than 20 years, Christopher T. Smith has practiced law founded upon the principles of quality and efficiency, while attentively responding to the needs of each individual client. He is committed to protecting the rights of fathers and their children, with the goal of fostering continuing and positive relationships and strengthening the family bonds that lead them to a more rewarding life. He is uncompromising on issues of integrity, honesty and confidentiality. Client satisfaction is his prime measure of success.

Mr. Smith has focused his practice on matrimonial and family law matters, including divorce, father’s rights, custody and child support. He also has extensive experience representing clients in civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, bankruptcy, probate and estate planning, and LGBTQ issues. He is licensed to practice law in the state courts of Illinois and Nevada, as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the District of Nevada. He also has a wealth of experience with all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation.

Mr. Smith earned his Juris Doctor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, and he has a Bachelor of Science in community planning and development from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Important Legal Case Victories: 

• Mr. Smith was victorious in a complex case involving competing divorces in Nevada and Illinois, where the opposing party had concealed the entry of a default judgment of annulment in Nevada. Through Mr. Smith’s fierce advocacy, the Nevada annulment was vacated by the court, and a judgment of dissolution of marriage was entered, securing the client’s property rights, including the return of his valuable works of art.
• Mr. Smith successfully represented a client who wanted to relocate out of state with the parties’ minor child to take advantage of an employment opportunity that would provide paid insurance and a long-term employment contract, providing stability for the child. The client’s extended family also lived at the new location and would be able to provide a loving community for the child. The opposing party refused to contribute to the financial and insurance needs of the child and objected to the relocation, even though it provided much needed security for the child. Mr. Smith convinced the court that it was in the best interests of the child to allow the client to relocate with the minor child, and won.

• Mr. Smith successfully represented a client in a post-decree divorce matter to enforce the terms of a previously entered marital settlement agreement and defended against the opposing party’s petition to modify maintenance. The opposing party had failed to pay maintenance and much-needed child support to Mr. Smith’s client for nearly two years after the divorce settlement was entered. Mr. Smith convinced the court to issue an order requiring the opposing party to pay past-due arrearages, with interest. Mr. Smith also persuaded the court to dismiss the opposing party’s petition to modify maintenance and awarded attorney fees and costs to his client.