Merel Family Law has announced that Jody Meyer Yazici, author of the authoritative treatise 'The Illinois Practice of Family Law,' has joined the firm as a partner. With more than three decades of practice in Illinois, Meyer Yazici is widely recognized for her expertise in financially complex family law matters and for writing the reference that Illinois judges and practitioners consult daily.
Known colloquially as the 'Red Book,' 'The Illinois Practice of Family Law' covers the full scope of state and federal law affecting family law practice. Meyer Yazici has authored all 25 editions since the first was published in 1995, with the most recent edition released in March 2026. The treatise is part of Thomson Reuters' Illinois Practice Series and is a resource many attorneys first encounter in law school.
Meyer Yazici built her practice on the most financially complex matters in the field, working from her early career with accountants, business valuators, and other financial experts. She applies the same rigorous standards to every case regardless of size, viewing the treatise not as a side project but as part of a larger purpose: elevating the practice of family law.
'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.'
That conviction drew her to Merel Family Law, a firm she describes as forward-looking and aligned with her commitment to raising the standard of practice. Jonathan Merel, founder of Merel Family Law, commented, '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.'
Beyond the treatise, Meyer Yazici has been published in the Illinois Bar Journal and the ISBA Family Law Section Newsletter, contributed to 'Strategies for Family Law in Illinois,' and assisted in the prepublication review of 'The Lawyer's Guide to the Cost of Capital' by Shannon Pratt and Roger Grabowski. She has been named repeatedly to the Leading Lawyers Network and served for many years 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. She has practiced in all aspects of 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. With more than 20 attorneys across four offices, 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. The firm is guided by its commitment to 'Your Family In Family Law®,' pairing experienced advocacy with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
