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Resolve. Reunite. Reconcile.
Twenty-five percent of all adults have experienced at least one divorce during their lifetime. This statistic has increased with interfaith divorce and custody cases. No child would have chosen today’s culture of divorce. Getting a divorce, especially when religious differences involved, can be the most difficult and emotionally challenging decision parents will ever have to make.
In the Best Interest of the Child
Studies show when deciding what is in the best interest of the children, courts often shy away from decisions suggesting religion as a determining factor. Custody and divorce law differs from state to state, however, one thing holds true for all states - the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. With cases involving religion, states are required to remain neutral and prevented from determining the one true path to a higher power or godlessness.
Recognizing the urgent need for interfaith custody intervention, fathers’ rights advocate and attorney Jeffery M. Leving along with his team of attorneys created Interfaith Family Help to support parents and families engaged in interfaith custody battles. Leving, in collaboration with attorneys James Hagler, Jenét Pequeño and Psychotherapist Dr. Karl Schmitt can provide mediation in high-conflict interfaith custody cases. Serving as a valuable resource to the courts, Interfaith Family Help can intercede at a time when families are most vulnerable emotionally.
“Both parents’ equal and joint involvement in their child’s life is often critical in the education and religious upbringing of children. Excluding one parent from the process can turn that parent into a visitor resulting in the deterioration of the parental bond,” says Leving.
Interfaith Family Help can assist parents in knowing and safeguarding their parental rights and their future relationship with their children.
Jeffery Leving, Founder
He is the author of two groundbreaking books, Fathers’ Rights (Basic Books) and Divorce Wars (HarperCollins) and is the publisher of Leving’s Divorce Magazine. Mr. Leving's accomplishments include co-authorship of the new Illinois Electronic (Virtual) Visitation, Right to DNA Testing Notice, and Unlawful Visitation or Parenting Time Interference Laws as well as the Illinois Joint Custody Law. He has also delivered testimony before both branches of the Illinois Legislature on Joint Custody, Grandparent's Visitation and Child Support Accountability bills.
Mr. Leving has lectured locally and nationally on family law issues. His firm concentrates in Matrimonial and Family Law where he leads a team of veteran attorneys.
James Hagler, Director
With his extensive legal experience, Mr. Hagler brings compassion and understanding to his important directorship position. As an attorney, he has represented many high-profile clients including professional athletes, recording artists and public officials.
Mr. Hagler has been honored on many occasions. He was presented the Award of Merit from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children due to his experience and knowledge in international Hague Convention custody litigation. The National Center has referred many international cases to him in which he helped reunite many fathers with their children from Poland, Argentina, and Mexico.
Jenét Pequeño, Attorney
Known as an ardent litigator with an impressive matrimonial law track record, Mr. Pequeño is fluent in both written and spoken Spanish. He has worked with a wide array of clients and his successful legal strategies and passion have made him one of the most well regarded attorneys in the legal community. He has successfully represented individuals in family law matters from Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Italy and the United States.
Mr. Pequeño earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami and is licensed to practice law in Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Dr. Karl Schmitt, Therapist
Dr. Schmitt is a practicing psychotherapist in Chicago. He consults on topics ranging from individual growth to organizational engagement. Dr. Schmitt is also an Adjunct Faculty member of The Adler School of Professional Psychology where he teaches graduate courses in Organizational Psychology, Change Management and Executive Development.
Dr. Schmitt served in the U.S. Air Force for 13 years in both operational and human resource capacities. He also worked in human resource positions for companies in the Chicagoland area.