Jody Meyer Yazici, the author of 'The Illinois Practice of Family Law'—the authoritative reference known as the 'Red Book'—has joined Merel Family Law as a partner. With over 30 years of experience and the authorship of the treatise that Illinois judges and practitioners rely on daily, Meyer Yazici brings an unparalleled depth of expertise to the firm. Her appointment underscores Merel Family Law's commitment to raising the level of family law practice in the state.
Meyer Yazici has written every one of the 25 editions of 'The Illinois Practice of Family Law' since the first was published in 1995, with the most recent edition released in March 2026. The treatise, part of Thomson Reuters' Illinois Practice Series, covers the full scope of state and federal law affecting family law. It is a resource that many attorneys first encounter in law school and continues to be a staple in the field.
Her practice has focused on financially complex family law matters, working closely with accountants, business valuators, and other financial experts. This foundation has shaped her approach to every case, regardless of size. '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, highlighted the alignment between Meyer Yazici's dedication and the firm's mission. 'Jody has shaped how family law is practiced and understood in Illinois,' Merel said. '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 her 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 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 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.
