Marie Joanna Taraska

Imagine my surprise when I get a call from DCFS saying they have just interviewed my children while they are at camp/school on false charges that I didn't supervise my daughter at the park one day a few weeks prior! We all have room to improve but I consider myself a very dedicated Mom who always wo...rks hard to keep her kids safe, happy, and healthy. So this claim came as a huge shock to me and resulted in one of the hardest 9 months of my life. I was in the middle of a divorce and my divorce lawyer recommended Marie. I am forever grateful that she did! Marie took charge immediately and helped take the load off my shoulders. She is caring, dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced- about DCFS procedures in particular. That helped me calm down (because I was beyond hysterical) and focus on the task at hand - clearing my name and helping my kids understand the situation (they were and still are frightened by the thought that any random stranger can call DCFS and made false claims). Marie always let me have input in the process at every step along the way. She believed in my innocence. In court, it was immediately clear how much more prepared and skillful Marie was than the DCFS lawyer. When Marie’s cross-examined the one witness (the accuser didn't even show up to testify!), she just destroyed their testimony and proved that they were jumping to conclusions. In the end, my expungement was granted! I can never say enough praise about Marie!

I will forever be grateful for Marie Taraska. This was the first time I had ever been involved in a serious legal matter. Imagine DCFS coming to your home stating they are investigating you for abuse and neglect. I would never harm my children or anyone else's. The fact that someone lied and said I w...ould put a child in harm’s way was hurtful and frightening. DCFS thought they had enough credible evidence to eventually indicate me. I knew immediately this indication would be detrimental to my career as well as my reputation as a mother. After shedding so many tears and praying to God to bless me with a lawyer who was knowledgeable, aggressive and affordable, he led me to Marie Taraska. Not only was she my lawyer, but she was an angel in disguise. I was so hysterical, but Marie told me to have faith that the truth would prevail. When we went to court, Marie showed her skills. She was assertive, intimidating, and sharp! She was able to prove the person who initiated the call and the DCFS investigator were not credible. Marie even left the prosecutor speechless at times. My expungement was GRANTED and my career was saved! Marie did not view me as a dollar sign or just another case, she saw me as an individual who was falsely indicated and made it her mission to prove that.