Jody Meyer Yazici, the author of 'The Illinois Practice of Family Law'—the authoritative reference known across the state as the 'Red Book'—has joined Merel Family Law as a partner. With more than 30 years of practice in Illinois, Meyer Yazici brings a depth of experience that few attorneys can match, having written every one of the treatise's 25 editions since 1995.
Meyer Yazici built her practice on the most financially complex matters in the field, working closely with accountants, business valuators, and other financial experts. This grounding shaped an approach she has carried throughout her career: applying exacting standards to every case, regardless of size. She sees the treatise not as a side project but as part of a larger purpose she shares with the firm's leadership: elevating the practice of family law.
'Once you get beyond the very superficial level of almost any case, even simple cases have complex issues that need to be addressed,' Meyer Yazici said. 'It's important that lawyers see this field as something deserving of that attention and level of professionalism.'
That conviction drew her to Merel Family Law, a firm she describes as forward-looking and aligned with her own commitment to raising the standard of practice. Jonathan Merel, founder of the firm, welcomed her as a partner, stating, 'Jody has shaped how family law is practiced and understood in Illinois. For more than 30 years she has written the reference that judges and attorneys across the state rely on, and she has done it while holding every case to an exacting standard. Raising the level of this field is exactly what we set out to do when we built this firm, and we are proud to welcome her as a partner.'
Beyond the treatise, Meyer Yazici has been published in the Illinois Bar Journal and the ISBA Family Law Section Newsletter, contributed to 'Strategies for Family Law in Illinois,' and assisted in the prepublication review of 'The Lawyer's Guide to the Cost of Capital' by Shannon Pratt and Roger Grabowski. She has been named repeatedly to the Leading Lawyers Network and served for many years on the Chicago Council of Lawyers' judicial evaluation committee. She earned her law degree from Cornell Law School and her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University. She has practiced in all aspects of family law since her admission to the Illinois bar in 1994.
The addition of Meyer Yazici underscores Merel Family Law's commitment to providing exceptional legal representation. Founded in 2009 by Jonathan Merel, the firm serves clients across the Chicago area and metropolitan Detroit, handling divorce, high net worth divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, property division, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, LGBTQ family law, domestic violence, and mediation. With more than 20 attorneys across four offices, the firm pairs experienced advocacy with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
