Emily Rebecca Carrara

Emily Rebecca Carrara

4.7
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 24 years

Family Lawyer at Naperville, IL
Practice Areas: Family, Divorce & Separation, Guardianship ... +3 more

1250 E. Diehl Road, Suite 400, Naperville, IL

About Emily

Biography

Practice Areas

6

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Sometimes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in Illinois for 24 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 2001

Active and Authorized to Practice Law

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Emily Rebecca Carrara

1250 E. Diehl Road, Suite 400, Naperville, IL, 60563

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Emily Rebecca Carrara's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.7 /5.0

14 Client Reviews

5 star (13)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (1)

Posted by Natalie | March 14, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Zero star if I could, please save your heartache and AVOID

Working with this attorney has been an absolute nightmare. I spoke with her a few weeks after my divorce was finalized. My best friend had recently gone through a divorce & told me to make sure a qualified and competent attorney handled the QDROs portion of my divorce, as hers took an unreasonabl...e amount of time. Emily was recommended by my divorce attorney. I spoke with her a few weeks after my divorce & stated to her my friend’s experience. She assured me my friend’s experience would not be the way she treated me & the process would be smooth & she had good relationships with the plan administrators where my money was invested. Fast forward to November. I emailed Emily, as I had heard nothing from her in almost 4 months. 25 days later she responded to me. She said she would get back to me the following week. Guess what? Not a word. 1/2/20 I asked her for an update. I received no response. Getting fed up Emily was ignoring me, as well as my financial planner stating this was nonsense, I put her in charge of contacting Emily. She called multiple times and received a lot of dodging by Emily’s secretary. I then let my attorney know what was going on. 1/17/20 — the paralegal finally seems to get things moving. 2/3/20 we were told this would be wrapped up in a few weeks. Today is 3/14. That day has come and gone. Nothing has happened. Also 3/13 I received a bill from my own attorney for $810. All the billing had to do with my attorney chasing down Emily Carrara and figuring out what was going on. I’m on a fixed income and do not have $810 just laying around for someone to chase this woman down. My own attorney stated he was disappointed in her actions. The portion of the QDRO I was to receive as cash that was owed to me by my ex husband has probably gone down 20-30% due to the stock market tumble. I am a social worker and that money was to go toward a bachelors of nursing degree I am pursuing, to help purchase a new home so I can get my son into the high school he wishes to attend with his friends & to pay for my kids’ college. I do not know now if the money will be there to make these goals happen. Had this been finalized months ago, I would not be in this predicament & would not have lost a large portion of my life savings. I am not a person who likes to leave negative reviews. I also always give people the benefit of the doubt. Given these circumstances I would NEVER use this attorney for any reason. She is incompetent & she will not respond to you. Please stay away from Emily Carrara.

Posted by Larry | March 28, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Thankful beyond words that I hired Emily

Emily Carrara is an exceptional attorney. She exceeded by far any expectations I imagined during my divorce proceedings. Emily's knowledge and expertise is unbelievably top notch in her field and her compassion, empathy and understanding are what enabled me to 'survive' during this devastating time i...n my life. Emily took the time to speak with me and made me feel like a real person whom she genuinely 'cared' about and fought for in order to obtain the best settlement possible for me. I never once felt like a case number or dollar signs in the form of 'billable hours'. Emily is exactly 'the attorney' you want in your corner fighting for you during such a horrendous process and I highly recommend Emily to anyone who is entering into a divorce proceeding. She helped me more than I can explain in words and a settlement that allowed me to move forward and live again.

Posted by Mike | November 7, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent QDRO results

Emily Carrara is to be counted on to deliver results. She is highly competent, trustworthy, collaborative, and yet not afraid to be strong on points that have proper merit. She has an excellent understanding of IL QDRO, significant ability to quickly grasp complex situations and distill them into act...ionable items for your best interest. My situation was a decade old, required opposing lawyer work, court appearances, multiple 401K company ownership, and of course - emotion. She properly educated herself on all counts, provided accurate assessments and expectations .... delivering results in the end. I would highly recommend Emily Carrara!

Posted by Lynnette | September 16, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

an attorney who offers both expertise and a caring bed-side manner

I felt that I was in a David vs Goliath sized legal battle. Thankfully Emily was able to use her legal savoir-faire and integrity to manage my case brilliantly. Emily argued my case using her knowledge of the law winning the decision. I am thankful for having an attorney who is able to never forget t...hat she is working with human beings who are walking through out of the ordinary circumstances. I felt that she genuinely cared not just about the case, but about my circumstances. I recommend Emily Cararra without hesitation.

Posted by Keith | June 29, 2018 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

I wish I had retained her years ago

Emily's advise has been spot on. She has been quick to respond to my emails and has always had availability for an appointment. I wish I would have retained her years ago.

See All Client Reviews

Emily Rebecca Carrara's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Emily
Jonathan Gerald Anderson headshot
Jonathan Anderson

Divorce and separation lawyer | Apr 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Steven H. Mevorah headshot
Steven Mevorah

Adoption lawyer | Apr 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Scott William Tzinberg headshot
Scott Tzinberg

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 03

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have consulted and retained Emily several times related to retirement plan issues in divorce cases. Her knowledge and quick turnaround on QDROs and other retirement related documents is invaluable."

Cameron H. Goodman headshot
Cameron Goodman

Family lawyer | Sep 26

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. I had the opportunity to work with Emily on a highly contested post-decree case. She is an experienced family law attorney with excellent judgment, outstanding litigation skills and a highly professional temperament. I highly recommend her."

Stephen W Vertucci headshot
Stephen Vertucci

Divorce and separation lawyer | Aug 29

Relationship: Co-worker

"Emily is a tireless advocate for her clients and is extremely knowledgeable, artculate and a strong advocate for her clients. She helps clients negotiate amicable resolutions to disputes but is a skilled litigator when a trial becomes necessary. When a client has Emily as their attorney, that client can be assured they will be more prepared and more informed than their opponent when they walk into court."

Anique Kane Drouin headshot
Anique Drouin

Divorce and separation lawyer | Feb 02

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Emily is an excellent attorney who listens to her clients and works to reach the best resolution to their complicated divorce/custody matters."

View All Endorsements
Melissa Kuffel headshot
Melissa Kuffel

Family lawyer

Joshua D Jachimowicz headshot
Joshua Jachimowicz

Personal injury lawyer

Janella Lynn Barbrow headshot
Janella Barbrow

Litigation lawyer

Mark Thomas Schmidt headshot
Mark Schmidt

Probate lawyer

Scott William Tzinberg headshot
Scott Tzinberg

Divorce and separation lawyer

Joseph Frederick Emmerth IV headshot
Joseph Emmerth

Divorce and separation lawyer

Juli Ann Gumina headshot
Juli Gumina

Divorce and separation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2017

Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers

N/A

One of the Eight Women to watch, DuPage County Bar Association

Work Experience

2001 - Present

Partner, Sullivan Taylor & Gumina, P.C.

Associations

2001 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

2001 - Present

American Bar Association

Member

2001 - Present

DuPage County Bar Association

Member

2005 - 2006

DuPage County Bar Association Young Lawyers

Chair

2003 - 2004

Kane County Bar Association

Chair

Sample of Legal Cases

• In re the Matter of Felzak v. Hruby, 226 Ill.2d 382, 876 N.E.2d 650, 315 Ill.Dec. 338, Ill., September 20, 2007

• In re the Matter of Felzak v. Hruby, 367 Ill.App.3d 695

See More Legal Cases

Education

2001

John Marshall Law School, Chicago

JD - Juris Doctor

1993

Boston University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2015

Advanced Family Law

Special Issues in Military Divorce

2014

Paralegal Seminar

Retirement Accounts and Qdro

2014

Oddities and Challenges of Family Law

Drafting Pitfalls and Tips for Family Law Agreements

2014

Mega Meeting

A Primer on Resolving Retirement Issues

2014

Advanced Family Law Issues

Failure to Equitably Distribute Assets

2013

Chicago Kent School of Law

Dividing Retirement Assets

2013

Advanced Issues in Divorce

Post-Divorce Considerations

2011

DuPage County Bar Association Mega Meeting

Everything You Want to Know about QDROs

2010

Financial Settlements and Support Issues in Divorce

Division of Retirement Accounts

2010

Chicago Kent School of Law

Dividing Retirement Assets

2007

DuPage County Bar Association Mega Meeting

Grandparent Visitation Post Wickham

Publications

2016

DuPage County Bar Association Brief The Illinois Probate Act; Updates and Changes

2009

DuPage County Bar Association Brief Parenting Agreements for Non-Christian Parents: A short primer on Holidays Beyond Christmas

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution