Law Offices of Kristina J. Wayne P.C.

The "Nearby Lawyers" platform category serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking convenient and specialized legal assistance within their local communities. This category streamlines the process of finding an attorney by highlighting legal professionals based on their geographical proximity and specific areas of practice. The Law Offices of Kristina J. Wayne P.C., located at 2020 Calamos Ct Suite 200, Naperville, IL 60563, USA, falls squarely within this category, offering legal services to residents in Naperville and the surrounding areas. The firm can be reached at (630) 780-1044 or via mobile at +1 630-780-1044.

The Law Offices of Kristina J. Wayne P.C. is a law firm that focuses on several key areas of law that are often deeply personal and impactful to individuals and families. Their primary practice areas include:

• Family Law: This comprehensive area covers matters such as divorce (contested and uncontested), child custody, child support, spousal support, college expenses, orders of protection, judgment modification, QDRO entry, paternity and parentage, premarital agreements, and foreign judgment enforcement. Ms. Wayne emphasizes helping families work towards amicable divorce resolutions and preparing pre-nuptial agreements, indicating a focus on constructive outcomes.
• Elder Law: While not explicitly detailed in all general information, a common aspect of elder law involves planning for the future care and financial well-being of seniors, which often intersects with estate planning.
• Mediation: Kristina J. Wayne is a trained mediator and is court-approved in DuPage County to mediate child custody issues. This service is crucial for parties seeking to resolve disputes outside of litigation, aiming for more amicable and cost-effective solutions for divorce and property settlements.
• Estate Planning: This includes the preparation of essential documents such as Last Wills and Testaments, Revocable Living Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, OBRA Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advanced Directives, and Living Wills.
• Probate: The firm assists with the disbursement of a decedent's estate under a Will and handles estate administration when there is no Will.
• Residential Real Estate Closings: Representing both sellers and buyers in residential real estate transactions.

Kristina J. Wayne established her firm in 2008 and holds a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law, New York. Her professional background includes clerking at an estate planning and probate law firm in New York and being an associate at a respected family law firm in Chicago. She is fluent in both Lithuanian and Russian, which is a significant asset for serving a multicultural and multilingual clientele, ensuring effective communication and understanding of diverse client backgrounds. She takes cases in DuPage, Kane, Cook, and Will counties.

The office environment at 2020 Calamos Ct Suite 200 in Naperville is typical of professional legal practices. Being situated in a suite within a commercial building, it likely offers a structured and private setting for client consultations. For individuals navigating sensitive legal matters like family disputes, estate planning, or real estate transactions, a discreet and professional atmosphere is paramount. The Naperville location provides local accessibility for clients, minimizing travel time and making it easier to attend appointments.

The firm's stated philosophies, as per their website, include providing "proactive, responsive, and zealous representation." They aim to educate clients on available solutions, ensure that phone calls and emails are returned, and keep clients informed of case progress. They also emphasize preparing each case as if it were to go to trial, gathering all necessary data to help clients make informed decisions and advocating on their behalf, taking cases to trial if necessary after exhausting settlement options. This highlights a commitment to thorough preparation and advocacy for their clients' interests.

When considering legal representation, client feedback is a critical component of the "Nearby Lawyers" assessment. For the Law Offices of Kristina J. Wayne P.C., the provided reviews present a challenging and contradictory picture:

• "Do not recommend. She dropped my case right before the court. She explained: your case may take longer than expected and I am planning my summer a different way."
• "This lawyer doesn’t know the law, gets the papers prepared late which dramatically reflected on the case. Left me(the client) with the first complication on the case. Takes your money, and doesn’t get anything done. Scam!"

These reviews express significant dissatisfaction and raise serious concerns regarding professional conduct, reliability, and competence. The first review alleges that the lawyer unilaterally dropped a case "right before the court" due to personal scheduling preferences, which, if true, would represent a severe breach of professional duty and ethical obligations to a client. Abruptly withdrawing from a case without proper notice or justifiable cause, especially at a critical juncture like pre-court, can severely jeopardize a client's legal position.

The second review is even more critical, alleging a lack of legal knowledge, late preparation of crucial documents that "dramatically reflected on the case," and a general failure to achieve results after taking payment, culminating in an accusation of "scam." These are extremely serious allegations that speak to fundamental issues of legal competence, diligence, and client trust.

It is important for prospective clients utilizing the "Nearby Lawyers" platform to be aware of such feedback. While these are unverified claims from former clients, they highlight the importance of thorough due diligence. This can include checking the attorney's disciplinary record with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) and conducting in-depth interviews during initial consultations to assess responsiveness, communication style, and clarity regarding case strategy and expectations.

Promotional information for law firms typically highlights positive attributes such as experience, client testimonials, and successful case outcomes. While the firm's website mentions positive client feedback such as "Thank you for your great work in my divorce case" and gratitude for ending a "seven-year divorce ordeal in less than a year," the specific reviews provided by the user paint a starkly different picture. This disparity underscores the importance of a comprehensive review process for clients.

In conclusion, the Law Offices of Kristina J. Wayne P.C. in Naperville, IL, offers services in family law, elder law, mediation, estate planning, probate, and residential real estate. Ms. Wayne's background, including her education, fluency in multiple languages, and experience in various legal settings, suggests a diverse skill set. The firm's location in Naperville makes it accessible to local residents. However, the highly critical client reviews regarding case abandonment, legal competence, and alleged lack of diligence are significant factors for any potential client to consider. For those seeking legal assistance via the "Nearby Lawyers" category, it is imperative to conduct thorough research, ask pertinent questions during initial consultations, and carefully weigh all available information before engaging legal representation from this firm.