Merel Family Law has announced that Jody Meyer Yazici, author of the leading treatise on Illinois family law, has joined the firm as a partner. With more than 30 years of practice and authorship of 'The Illinois Practice of Family Law'—known as the 'Red Book'—Meyer Yazici brings unparalleled expertise to the firm.
Meyer Yazici has written all 25 editions of the treatise since its first publication in 1995, most recently in March 2026. The reference is part of Thomson Reuters' Illinois Practice Series and is used daily by Illinois judges and practitioners. She began the work as a law student alongside the late Muller Davis.
Her practice has focused on financially complex family law matters, working closely with accountants, business valuators, and other financial experts. She applies the same rigorous standards to every case, regardless of size, and views the treatise as part of a larger mission to elevate the profession. '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.'
Jonathan Merel, founder of Merel Family Law, emphasized the alignment of values. '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.'
Meyer Yazici has also contributed to the Illinois Bar Journal, the ISBA Family Law Section Newsletter, and 'Strategies for Family Law in Illinois.' She assisted in the prepublication review of 'The Lawyer's Guide to the Cost of Capital' by Shannon Pratt and Roger Grabowski. She has been repeatedly named to the Leading Lawyers Network and served 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, and has practiced family law since her admission to the Illinois bar in 1994.
Merel Family Law, founded in 2009 by Jonathan Merel, serves clients across the Chicago area and metropolitan Detroit. The firm handles 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 is guided by its commitment to 'Your Family In Family Law®,' combining experienced advocacy with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
The addition of Meyer Yazici is expected to further strengthen the firm's capabilities in complex family law matters, particularly in high-asset cases requiring sophisticated financial analysis. Her expertise and reputation are likely to benefit clients seeking the highest standards of legal representation in Illinois family law.
