General Practice Areas

FAMILY LAW/DOMESTIC RELATIONS (divorces, prenuptial & post-nuptial agreements & parentage/paternity matters)  

Family Law (also known as Domestic Relations) includes contested divorces and paternity matters; identification, classification, valuation, and division of marital and non-marital property and marital and non-marital debt; child support and maintenance (formerly known as “alimony”), parental responsibilities (formerly known as “custody”), parenting time, and Orders of Protection are highly, emotionally charged legal matters. Coleman Law’s step-by-step approach brings calmness to chaos and helps produce the best possible results for our clients and their families. 

When a couple is not married, have a child or children, and then separate, the legal term of these cases is called parentage matters (or paternity).  Whether by agreement or by a judge, the first step is identifying the biological father as he has rights and obligations just as if the parents were married. The next step is to list all other issues as most laws regarding divorcing and post divorce couples apply to their children, such as to establish parentage, set child support and contribution to child-related expenses, allocation of parental responsibility (decision-making), and set parenting time.  

As a certified mediator and collaborative law fellow, Lindsay helps families find resolution in a cost-effective, less stressful way. As a Guardian Ad Litem or Child’s Representative, appointed by the Court, Lindsay works hard to ensure the best interests of the children are met in paternity and divorce cases, whether the cases are predecree (before Judgment is entered) or post-decree (after Judgment is entered).  

Lindsay helps many people navigate through family law cases by litigation, mediation, and collaborative divorces:

• Uncontested and agreed upon divorces.
• Contested divorces.
• Paternity/parentage matters (unmarried couples with a child/children).
• Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (formerly known as “custody”).
• Parenting time. 
• Child support and contribution to child-related expenses.
• Maintenance (formally known as "alimony").
• Identification and division of marital and non-marital assets and debt.
• Determination and classification of non-marital assets and debt.
• College expenses for children.
• Modification of child support and maintenance.
• Modification of parenting time and parental responsibilities.
• Orders of Protection – initiation and defense.
• Domestic Violation defense and support to victims. 
• Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”)
• Prenuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE & TRAFFIC MATTERS.

As a former Assistant State’s Attorney (“ASA”), Lindsay has over two (2) decades of experience. Coleman Law, P.C. combines strategy and aggressiveness to provide an effective defense against a range of criminal charges and traffic violations. In addition to Lindsay’s experience at the State’s Attorney’s Office and on behalf of clients, she has developed a rapport with Judges, clerks, and court administration. If you have been charged with a crime, you have a Constitutional right to an attorney. You also have a right to not incriminate yourself known as "pleading the 5th" or "right to remain silent" so it is not used against you in Court. Not fighting back can have any number of adverse effects, including fines, jail time, job loss, loss of professional licenses, loss of driving privileges, convictions and its effects on clients, families, their employment and much more. In particular, Lindsay challenges the evidence and accuracy of any testing including but not limited to field sobriety and Breathalyzer tests, finding every opportunity to negotiate the reduction and dismissal of charges and violations.

Lindsay has a proven track record of success with both juvenile and adult alleged offenders:

• Traffic violations.
• Local ordinance violations.
• DUIs and driving while impaired.
• Drug charges. 
• Assault.
• Battery.
• Vandalism, trespassing, criminal damage to property.
• Robbery and burglaries, including shoplifting and theft.
• Domestic Violence.
• Criminal Orders of Protection, including alleged violations.
• Misdemeanors, and various felonies.

JUVENILE MATTERS.

Lindsay’s focus in working with juvenile issues relative to several areas of the law is to help protect them, giving them a chance to learn, to grow, to understand the consequences of their actions, and to face the future with a clean slate. Often, the approach to juvenile matters is to look at them from a family and an academic perspective. 

Additionally, Lindsay is regularly called upon to mediate family matters, encouraging dialog and creating a "contract" that sets out in writing the wishes and expectations of both the parents and child. When legal intervention is required, Lindsay is able to step in and ensure justice is met. 

Lindsay has a proven track record of success with the following juveniles matters:

• Traffic violations.
• Local ordinance violations.
• Underage drinking.
• Drug charges including non-compliance with prescription medicine. 
• Truancy.
• Vandalism and property damage.
• Shoplifting and theft.
• Assault and/or Battery.
• Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”).

REAL ESTATE. 

Lindsay has vast experience when it comes to real estate, representing both landlords and tenants with preparation of leases, allegedly breaches of leases, evicting tenants (residential and commercial) who fail to pay rent and/or are in breach of the lease, and preparing the necessary documents needed for real estate closings. The purchase and sale of real estate can be a frustrating process, complicated with the ever-changing local, State and Federal laws. Issues that arise when renting, failing to pay rent, and/or the landlord not taking care of the property can be quite emotional. Additionally, living and being a member in a homeowner’s association (“HOA”) could be positive, paying assessments for work done in common areas so homeowner’s do not need to do such work themselves, which is great for retired adults to those starting out with purchasing your first home. However, real estate issues that arise in situations where property is involved can be overwhelming and emotional. Not knowing the laws or keeping up with the ever-changing laws can be frustrating, too. Lindsay is able to walk clients, including residents, landlords, members of HOAs and HOAs, through these processes, including everything from preparation of real property documents, what to do when there is a breach and/or non-performance, how to be a part of a homeowner’s association and representing HOAs, and taking some stress away when it comes to buying and selling real estate from negotiations to closings. They say “home is where the heart is” but it is also where we go to seek peace and comfort.  When your home life is disrupted, Lindsay is able to make a difference.    

Lindsay has significant experience representing landlords, tenants, buyers, sellers, and Homeowner’s Associations:

• Landlord-Tenant Leases and related issues, residential and commercial.
• Forcible Detainer and Eviction Actions.
• Homeowner Association Matters.
• Title Agent for residential closings.

PUBLICATIONS