Practice Areas: Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in Illinois since: 1984
Education: The John Marshall Law School
Details
Attorney Michael C. Craven is a partner with the Harrison & Held, LLP, law firm, which has offices in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, as well as Naples, Florida, and Boulder, Colorado. Working primarily out of the firm's Chicago location, Mr. Craven focuses his practice on family law and divorce. He also provides invaluable counsel and support for estate planning matters for his clients throughout and after the divorce process.
A top-rated, award-winning attorney, Mr. Craven has achieved notable success over the course of his more than 30 years in practice. He has assisted hundreds of clients with finding the favorable outcomes they expect and deserve for their complex property division issues, child custody and support, alimony, and other related matters.
Along with being an attorney, Mr. Craven is also a certified public accountant with significant knowledge of state and federal tax laws. This makes him an invaluable asset for those seeking to protect their property and businesses during the divorce process as well as during the drafting of pre and postnuptial marriage agreements.
Devoted to helping his clients resolve their conflicts and come to terms on their divorce-related issues as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, Mr. Craven prefers to use mediation and negotiation as alternatives to traditional divorce litigation. However, he has extensive trial experience and will not hesitate to take his clients' matters to court when necessary to ensure the best odds of obtaining the positive results they seek.
Recognized for his impeccable professionalism and outstanding legal services, Mr. Craven holds an AV-Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell, and he has received consistent recognition from The Best Lawyers in America©. Moreover, he has earned a Leading Lawyer designation each year since 2009 along with numerous other accolades from his peers.
A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Mr. Craven obtained his Juris Doctor from The UIC John Marshall Law School as well as his Master of Laws. Along with practicing before all Illinois state courts, he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court.
A Fellow with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Mr. Craven is also highly active with the Illinois State Bar Association. He has also served as secretary and as a board member of the North Suburban Bar Association as well as with several panels and programs sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Craven served as treasurer and as a board of directors' member of The Lilac Tree. Currently he is on their Lawyer Referral Panel. He regularly provides service with JUF Community Legal Services.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Best Lawyers® and The Best Lawyers in America© are registered trademarks of BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC. The names, logo, and database are protected under the trademark, copyright, and fair use laws of the United States of America. Any use of name, including in electronic form, must be made only by permission and under the guidelines of BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC.
Practice areas
Family Law, Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Father's Rights, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Name Change, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 90% Family Law
- 10% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 1984, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://www.harrisonheld.com/professionals/michael-craven
- Fellow – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Illinois Chapter: Judicial Relations Co-Chair, October 2019 to present Board of Examiners/Admissions Committee Member,October 2018 to present Website/Marketing/Social Media Committee Member, October 2013 to present, 2022
- Co-Chairperson, Illinois State Bar Association, Maintenance Guidelines Sub-Committee, 2008 - 2009
- Chicago Bar Association, CBA/YWCA Battered Woman’s Program
- Secretary, North Suburban Bar Association, 2013 to 2016
- Board Member, North Suburban Bar Association, 2013 to 2016
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Illinois Chapter, Board of Managers, October 2013 to 2016
- Member, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Judicial Relations Committee, October 2018 to Present
- Chair, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Budget/Finance Committee, October 2013 to October 2018
- Member, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Website/Marketing Committee, October 2013 to Present
- Member, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Admissions Committee, October 2018 to Present
- Illinois State Bar Association- Associate Editor of the Family Law Section Newsletter, 2010
- Illinois, 1984
- Illinois State Bar Association: Member, ISBA Family Law Section Council, 2006-2011; Co-Chair - Maintenance Guidelines Sub-Committee 2007/2010
- North Suburban Bar Association-Secretary, 2013
- Chicago Bar Association-Former Member of: Family Law Referral Panel; Call a Lawyer Program; and Cook County Court Facilitator Program
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Fellow
- Illinois State Bar Association-Standing Committee on Voluntary Fee Arbitration (1998 - 2004); Chair, 2002-2003
- Certified Public Accountant, 1979
- C.P.A., 1979
- Certified Mediator, Circuit Court of Cook County Illinois, Domestic Relations Division, 2014
- Admitted to U.S. Tax Court, 1985
- The Lilac Tree provides support, education and resources for individuals at any stage of the divorce process. Volunteer Family Law Attorney, 2021 to 2022.
- Member of the Development Committee of the Lilac Tree, a non-profit organization that provides education, support and guidance to women in the divorce process, so that they can move confidently towards independence. 2014-2015
- Volunteer, JUF/JCLS Community Legal Services, 2018 - Present, 2022
- The Lilac Tree, Board of Directors, 2015 - 2021
- Treasurer, The Lilac Tree, 2016 - 2021
- Illinois Super Lawyer, 2009 - Present, Super Lawyers, 2022
- AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
- Leading Lawyer, 2009 - Present
- Best Lawyer, Family Law, Illinois, Best Lawyers in America, 2015 - Present
- UIC Law, Chicago, IL L.L.M - Tax, 1989, 1989
- J.D., UIC Law, 1984, 1984
- Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL B.S. - Accounting and Finance, Minor - Economics, 1979, 1979
- Family Law, Speaker, Divorce Math II - How (and When) to find HIDDEN Assets & Debts, Divorce University presented by The Lilac Tree, 2022
- Family Law, Columnist with Marla Levie Craven, One Year Later: Our Life Working From Home During COVID-19, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2021
- Family Law, Speaker, Alternative Dispute and Settlement Agreements, myLawCLE, 2021
- Family Law, Speaker, An Estate Planners' & Trusted Financial Advisors' Guide to Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements, Chicago Financial Planning Group, 2021
- Family Law, Speaker, Tensions on the Rise: Communication During Covid-19, Co-Present, Bridge2Horizon, 2020
- Family Law, Speaker, Working Clients in the Legal System, Panelist Bridge2Horizon Psychotherapists, 2020
- Family Law, Columnist, What Attorneys Should Know About Prenuptial Agreements, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2020
- Family Law, Columnist, Are we in a Zoom Meeting or a ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sketch?, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2020
- Family Law, Speaker, Financial Attorney, Table Ambassador, Divorce University, by The Lilac Tree, 2019
- Family Law, Columnist, How to Spot the Narcissist Holding up Your Case, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
- Family Law, Columnist, Five Soft Skills to Develop to Become an All-Around Legal Expert, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
- Legal Marketing, Columnist, Midyear Good Time to Assess Your Marketing Efforts, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
- Family Law, Columnist, Vacations with Kids Can Be Fun, but Divorced Clients Need Advice, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
- Family Law, Columnist, Child Custody Decisions Have Changed with the Times and Society, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
- Family Law, Columnist, How State Law Changes Affect Your Clients, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
- Family Law, Speaker, Summary of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Presenter at the CCGL Group, 2018
- Family Law, Speaker, Financial Panel, Moderator, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2018
- Family Law, Columnist, Changing Law Changes Lives, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
- Family Law, Columnist, What to Do When Politics Affect Divorce, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
- Family Law, Columnist, Get Social, Get Online, Get Out There, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
- Family Law, Columnist, When a Spouse’s Personality Changes Make Divorce a Necessity, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
- Legal Marketing, Columnist, Marketing to Millennials: How to Bridge the Generational Gap, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
- Family Law, Columnist, How Are Employer Benefits and Other Unique Assets Divided in a Divorce Case?, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2017
- Family Law, Speaker, Legal Information, Table Ambassador, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2017
- Family Law, Speaker, Legal Panel: Know the Law, Moderator, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2017
- Family Law, Columnist, One-time Clients Could be Avenue to Developing New Business, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2017
- Real Estate Law, Columnist, Divorce Attorneys Should be Aware of the Many Ins, Outs of Real Estate Law, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2017
- Family Law, Columnist, Difficult Clients: How to Turn Around an Unhappy Relationship, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2017
- Family Law, Columnist, Divorce Practice Requires an Attorney to Become a Jack-of-all-Trades, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2017
- Family Law, Columnist, Communicating With Clients: Know Who Your Audience Is, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2017
- Family Law, Speaker, Planning for...When Happily Ever After Ends Sooner Than Expected, Greater North Shore Estate & Financial Planning Council, 2016
- Family Law, Speaker, Divorce Math - Assets, Liabilities and Your Budget, Moderator and Co-Presenter, Evanston Public Library, 2016
- Family Law, Speaker, The New Divorce Act – What Do I Really Need to Know?, Panel Discussion, North Suburban Bar Association, 2016
- Family Law, Columnist, Six Tech Trends to Know Heading Into the New Year, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2016
- Family Law, Columnist, Workplace Fashion’s Gone Casual – Should Lawyers Be Joining The Trend?, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2016
- Family Law, Columnist, The Joke’s On Us: But is it Accurate, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2016
- Family Law, Columnist, The Price of a Vacation for a Lawyer, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2016
- Family Law, Columnist, Client Intake Process is Critical to Your Growth, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2016
- Legal Marketing, Columnist, Four Tips for Success in Legal Marketing, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2016
- Family Law, Speaker, The Legal Aspects of Medical Marijuana, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 2015
- Family Law, Columnist, In This Business, Your Reputation is Everything, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2015
- Family Law, Columnist, Updates to Illinois’ IMDMA, Attorney at Law Magazine, 2015
- Family Law, Columinist, Are Lawyers Really All That Miserable?, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2015
- Columnist, The Formula for Success: One Size Doesn’t Fit All, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Non-Billable Hours Section, 2015
- Columnist, Growing Older, Staying Relevant in the Profession, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Non-Billable Hours Section, 2015
- Columnist, Volunteering is Great for You and Your Practice, Non-Billable Hours Column, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2015
- Columnist, In A Crowded Field, How Do You Stand Out?, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Non-Billable Hours Column, 2015
- Family Law, Speaker, The Nuts and Bolts of Divorce: Legal and Financial, The Lilac Tree, 2014
- Family Law, Speaker, What Every Accountant Needs to Know about Family Law, Steinberg Advisors, LTD, Certified Public Accountants, 2014
- Family Law, Speaker, Business Valuation, Financial & Tax Issues in Divorce 2014, Annual 2014 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) program produced in collaboration with the Illinois Chapter of the AAML, 2014
- Family Law, Speaker, The Law and Your Finances, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2014
- Family Law, Co-Presenter with Leslie Mendoza Temple, MD, Medical Marijuana! The Legal & Medical Side, Weinberg Community, CJE Senior Life, 2014
- Family Law, Speaker, Know Your Finances, Panel, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2014
- Columnist - Byline, Non-Billable Hours Column - Marketing is a Journey, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2014
- Speaker, Business Valuation, Financial & Tax Issues in Divorce 2014, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) program produced in collaboration with the Illinois Chapter of the AAML, 2014
- Author, Chapter titled, “Economic Issues and Other Concerns Impacting Family Law Attorneys and their Clients”, Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in Illinois, 2014
- Family Law, Columnist, One Marketing Plan Does Not Fit All Lawyers, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2014
- I have been immersed in the legal world my entire life -- practicing law in Illinois since 1984 and growing up surrounded by legal talk, given that my father was also an attorney. This has allowed me to observe the evolution of the legal field throughout my lifetime, Author, Marketing is a Journey, But a Rewarding One, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2014
- Speaker, What Every Accountant Needs to Know about Family Law, Steinberg Advisors, LTD, Certified Public Accountants, 2014
- Family Law, Speaker, The Law, Your Finances, Your Family, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2013
- Speaker, The Practice of Family Law: Best Practices for Your Practice, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Illinois Chapter, 2012
- Family Law, Speaker, Is It a Trend, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren?, Continuity of Care-Chicago Region, 2011
- Family Law, Speaker, Beyond the Basics, Divorce University, presented by The Lilac Tree, 2011
- Speaker, Planning Prevents Pitfalls: Do's and Don'ts for Financial Expert Cross Examination, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education & American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2011
- Family Law, Speaker, The Practice of Family Law: Best Practices for Your Practice, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Illinois Chapter, 2013
- Speaker, Resolving Complex Parenting Disputes, Shared Parenting Support Group, 2010
- Author, How will this (cheating) affect my divorce case?, Divorce Magazine, 2010
- Speaker, Ethical & Legal Issues in Divorce, National Association of Social Workers, 2010
- Speaker, Know Your Finances-Beyond The Basics, Divorce University-The Lilac tree, 2009
- Speaker, Resolving Family Law Issues-The Danger of Boiler Plate Language in Marital Settlement Agreements, Illinois State Bar Association, 2009
- Speaker, The Nuts and Bolts of Divorce: Legal and Financial, The Lilac Tree, 2009
- Author, Til death do us part, or sooner: The family law attorney meets estate planning, Family Law Newsletter of Illinois State Bar Association, 2009
- Speaker, Health Insurance For Children and Related Issues, Illinois State Bar Association, 2009
- Family Law, Speaker, The Estate Planner Meets the Family Law Practitioner - A Fortuitous Union, The Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education's 52nd Annual Estate Planning Short Course, 2009
- Speaker, Asset Protection In Divorce Cases, Chicago Bar Association, 2008
- Speaker, Getting Paid & Getting Visitation, Illinois State Bar Association, 2008
- Author, Corporations can pay child support too, The Corporate Lawyer published by the Illinois State Bar Association, 2008
- Speaker, Computer Spying on Spouses, North Suburban Bar Association, 2007
- Speaker, Family Law Issues Affecting the Elderly, The Chicago Department on Aging-Provider Council, 1995
- Author, The Spousal Remainder Trust - A Modern Income Shifting Device, YLS Journal - Chicago Bar Association, 1985
- Family Law, Speaker, Special Problems Facing Older Adults in a Divorce, Chicago Bar Association- Elder Law Committee., 1994
- Attorney
- CPA
- Masters Of Law-Tax
Office location for Michael C. Craven
333 W. Wacker Drive
Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-815-6501
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2025