Margaret Kawarski, Divorce & Family Law Attorney

Meet with Margaret

Margaret Kawarski is a partner at Stern Mendez where she practices all aspects of divorce and family law, including dissolution of marriage, post-decree matters, parentage, and pre- and post-marital agreements. She brings to the firm extensive experience handling high-conflict child custody and parenting disputes, as well as cases that involve complex financial matters.

Margaret began her law career as a medical malpractice defense attorney before transitioning into divorce and family law, where she combines her strength for problem solving with her passion for supporting people through significant life changes.

With a bachelor’s degree in bioscience and an upbringing shaped by her parents who immigrated from Poland, Margaret blends analytical rigor and hard work with compassion. Her undergraduate studies gave her a strong foundation for data work and strategic thinking, and 15 years as a competitive figure skater taught her discipline and honed her ability to perform under pressure—qualities that serve her clients during negotiations, mediation and in the courtroom.

Margaret understands how personal and emotional family disputes can be. She always listens carefully to each client’s concerns and goals and explains options in clear language so they can make informed decisions. She partners with clients to provide individualized solutions and honest feedback that help them navigate a difficult situation with clarity and unwavering support.

Margaret is fluent in Polish and closely connected to the Chicagoland Polish community, allowing her to effectively serve Polish-speaking clients and bring insight and understanding to families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Margaret is excited to contribute to the growth of Stern Mendez’s team and collaborate with her colleagues to champion thoughtful, client-focused advocacy. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods and spending time with her husband, family and friends.

Divorce & Family Law Services

• Attorney-Assisted Mediation
• Child Relocation and Removal
• Child Support
• Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)
• Divorce Litigation
• Domestic Violence
• Enforcement of Judgments
• High Net Worth Divorce
• LGBTQ+ (Same-Sex) Divorce
• Maintenance (Alimony)
• Modification of Judgments
• Negotiated Divorce Settlements
• Parental Allocation (Sole and Joint Custody)
• Paternity
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
• Property Division in Divorce
• Uncontested and Amicable Divorce

Estate Planning Services

• Asset Protection
• Corporate Planning
• Estate Planning
• Guardianship
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Trust Administration
• Trust and Estate Litigation

Education & Experience

Margaret graduated from DePaul University College of Law with a cum laude distinction. While at DePaul, Margaret was also awarded two CALI Excellence Awards for receiving the highest grade in both her Child Advocacy Legal Drafting course and Health Care Fraud and Abuse course. She also served as Editor-in-Chief of the DePaul Journal of Health Care Law.

During law school, Margaret served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Mark J. Lopez in the Cook County Domestic Relations Division. Margaret assisted Judge Lopez in conducting legal research and writing court orders for pro se litigants. She also volunteered at the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, where she assisted individuals in obtaining Orders of Protection.

Bar Admissions & Associations

Margaret is admitted to practice in Illinois. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association and the Advocate Society for Polish-American attorneys.

Meet with Margaret