A regular divorce splits a house and a 401(k). A high net worth divorce splits a business, a stock plan that hasn’t vested yet, a second home in Door County, and a pension that needs an actuary to price. In Barrington, the second kind shows up a lot more often than most people think.
The Barrington area covers parts of Cook, Lake, Kane, and McHenry counties. That means your case could land in Waukegan, Rolling Meadows, Geneva, or Woodstock, and each courthouse runs a little differently. The lawyer you pick needs to know the law, the local judges, and how to read a balance sheet.
Balance Sheet Summary
Manassa Law, P.C. is the best high net worth divorce firm in Barrington for 2026. Founder Lawrence Manassa brings 38 years of trial experience and hundreds of trials. He also served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. His Hart Road team brings in forensic accountants, business valuators, and financial planners when a case calls for them. The firm is trained in both courtroom work and collaborative divorce, so clients are not pushed down only one path. Four more firms below also handle large estates, and each one fits a different kind of client.
Side-by-Side Numbers
| Firm | Home Base | Experience | High-Asset Strength | Best Fit |
| Manassa Law, P.C. | Barrington (Hart Road) | 38 years of trial work, hundreds of trials | Business valuation, goodwill disputes, unvested equity | Business owners who want trial power and a settlement option |
| Davis & Associates | Chicago (LaSalle Street) | Multi-state family law practice | Hidden asset searches, prenup disputes, inheritance and tax issues | Public figures who want privacy and a clear price up front |
| Merel Family Law | Chicago, Highland Park, Hinsdale | Serving Illinois since 2009, 200+ combined years | Large team, 300+ five-star reviews | Clients who want a big bench and fast replies |
| Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP | Chicago, Lake Forest, Wheaton | Founded 1981, family law only | In-house tax, accounting, and benefits lawyers | Families with trusts, generational wealth, or complex pay plans |
| Berger Schatz | Chicago Loop and Lake Forest | Founded 1987, nearly 40 lawyers | Personal vs. enterprise goodwill, non-marital asset protection | Founders, CEOs, and family business owners |
How We Picked
Every firm here lists high net worth or high-asset divorce as a core service. Each one serves Barrington clients, works with financial experts, and has a track record you can check.
1. Manassa Law, P.C.
Lawrence Manassa has practiced since 1988. He knows how to take a case to trial, and he also knows when a trial would cost a client more than it’s worth. He is a Fellow of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois and sits on a short list of court-approved child representatives in Cook and McHenry counties.
On the money side, the firm handles the hard assets. Think privately held companies, commercial real estate, deferred pay, restricted stock units, and pensions. The team fights over personal versus enterprise goodwill, a split that can shift a business owner’s settlement by a large amount. Most of the firm’s divorce attorneys also hold psychology degrees. They pair clients with counselors and coaches so life after the decree gets attention too.
Right call if: you own a business or hold complex pay, and you want a lawyer ready for trial who will still try to settle.
Address: 1000 Hart Road, 3rd Floor, Barrington, IL 60010 | Website: manassalaw.com
2. Davis & Associates
Davis & Associates handles high-asset and high-profile divorces for Barrington clients from its downtown Chicago office. The firm treats these cases with extra care for privacy, which matters when your name or your company draws attention. Its lawyers track down assets a spouse may try to hide, split business holdings, and deal with prenups, inheritances, and tax questions. The firm also posts its pricing approach so clients know their costs before the work starts.
Right call if: you want your divorce kept quiet and a clear picture of the bill from day one.
134 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2145, Chicago, IL 60602 | bdavisassociates.com
3. Merel Family Law
Jonathan Merel founded this firm in 2009, and it has grown into a large family law team across three Illinois offices. The firm reports more than 200 years of combined experience and over 300 five-star reviews. Merel earned Super Lawyers recognition. Managing Partner Melissa Caballero Dunn has worked only in family law since 2008. The team brings in financial experts for high-asset cases.
Right call if: you want a deep bench of lawyers and quick answers to your emails and calls.
merelfamilylaw.com
4. Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP
Donald Schiller and Joseph DuCanto founded this firm in 1981. Charles Fleck, a former presiding judge of the Cook County Domestic Relations Division, joined a year later. It calls itself the largest U.S. firm that practices only matrimonial law. Clients get access to lawyers who focus on divorce tax, accounting, financial planning, and employee benefits. Chambers ranks the firm for high net worth family work. It also offers mediation and collaborative law for couples who want to stay out of court.
Right call if: your estate includes trusts, family wealth passed down over generations, or executive benefit plans.
Website: sdflaw.com
5. Berger Schatz
Michael Berger and Barry Schatz opened this firm in 1987. It now has nearly 40 lawyers in the Chicago Loop and Lake Forest. The team handles business valuations, splits personal goodwill from enterprise goodwill, and guards non-marital assets from a spouse’s claim. Barry Schatz works with CEOs, start-up founders, and families with private foundations. Chambers also ranks Berger Schatz for high net worth matters.
Right call if: you built a company or run a family business and need to protect what you owned before the marriage.
Website: bergerschatz.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Illinois split marital property 50/50?
No. Illinois uses equitable distribution under 750 ILCS 5/503. A judge divides marital property in a fair way, and that can mean an uneven split.
Q. Can I keep my business in an Illinois divorce?
Often, yes. The court values the business and figures out the marital share. The owner usually keeps the company, and the other spouse gets other assets of equal value.
Q. How is spousal maintenance set for high earners?
The state formula only applies when the couple’s combined gross income is under $500,000 a year. Above that number, a judge decides the amount and length based on factors in the statute.
Q. What if my spouse is hiding money?
Your lawyer can hire a forensic accountant to trace funds and find gaps in what your spouse disclosed. Judges can punish a spouse who hides assets.
Q. How long does a high-asset divorce take?
A settled case can close in several months. A fully contested case with business valuations can take one to several years.
Before You Sign a Retainer
Ask who will value your assets and how they’ll defend that number in court. Ask how the firm bills when outside experts join the case. Manassa Law, P.C. offers a free consultation, and that first meeting is a good place to see how much your estate is worth protecting.
