Sean Martin McCumber

Divorce is a detailed process, but it does not have to be high conflict, nor rife with animosity. I strive to seek creative solutions to family dissolution problems, ranging from unique parenting time scenarios to adjustable expense reconciliation to financial disentanglement. From the initial consultation through the mediation experience until completion of your matter, I work with clients and answer the questions that may arise, with the end goal of a satisfactory resolution of their dispute in a peaceable manner. I have been recognized by the DuPage County Bar Association and the Leading Lawyers Network as a highly-qualified and diligent attorney in alternative dispute resolution. I have served as committee and section chair of the family law committees for various bar associations. I have trained and supervised guardian ad litem training programs for many of the circuit courts in Northern Illinois. I am part of the 2023 Mediator Training Program for the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, returning to teach mediation ethics, as I did in 2007 and 2021. I have been admitted to practice law in Illinois since1998, and since 2005, have devoted my practice areas to family dissolution and family formation, handling such matters as divorce, parentage, custody disputes, adoptions, guardianships, and representation of children as Guardian ad Litem.

Education

Fraternities or Sororities

• Sigma Phi Epsilon

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1998
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2000
• U.S. Tax Court, 2001
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2002

Professional Associations

• Chicago Bar Foundation – Adoption Training Program, 1998 – 2002
• Chicago Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Committee, 2004 – 2005
• Chicago Bar Association, Guardianship Training Program, 2001 – 2003
• Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Divorce Training Program, 2000 – 2002
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem in abuse/neglect cases by the Illinois DCFS, 1998 – Present
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, 2006 – Present (training coordinator 2010-2012)
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, 2006 – Present
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Twelfth Judicial Circuit, 2007 – Present
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, 2008 – Present (Winnebago County)
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, 2008 – Present
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, 2009 – Present
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (domestic relations) – Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, 2012 – Present (Kendall & DeKalb Counties)
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (adoptions) – Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, 2007 – Present (training coordinator)
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (adoptions) – Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, 2010 – Present
• Certified Guardian Ad Litem (probate) – Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, 2007 – Present (training coordinator)
• Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Rules Revision Committee, 2006 – 2008, 2012
• Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Mediation Training Moderator, 2007
• Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Membership Committee & Grievance Committee, 2012 – Present (Fellow)
• Illinois State Bar Association, 1998 – Present
• Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2005 – Present
• Illinois State Bar Association, Child Law Section Council, 2007 – Present
• Kendall County Bar Association, 2009 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, 2005 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, 2005 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, Vice-Chair, 2009, 2015
• DuPage County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, Chair, 2010, 2016
• DuPage County Bar Association, Child Advocacy Committee, 2006 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, Child Advocacy Committee, Vice-Chair, 2006, 2010
• DuPage County Bar Association, Child Advocacy Committee, Chair, 2007, 2011
• DuPage County Bar Association, Child Representative/GAL Subcommittee, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015
• DuPage County Bar Association, Civil Law Committee, 2014 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, Civil Law Committee, 2015 – Present (Vice-Chair)
• DuPage County Bar Association, Civil Law Committee, 2016 – Present (Chair)
• DuPage County Bar Association, CLE Committee, 2006 – 2013
• DuPage County Bar Association, CLE Committee – Basic Skills Subcommittee, 2006
• DuPage County Bar Association, Diversity Committee, 2008 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law, 2008 – 2014
• DuPage County Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law, 2008 – Present (Vice-Chair)
• DuPage County Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law, 2009 – Present (Chair)
• DuPage County Bar Association, Media Committee (Public Service Legal Media Show), 2007- 2011
• DuPage County Bar Association, Media Committee (Public Service Legal Media Show), Vice-Chair, 2007, 2010
• DuPage County Bar Association, Media Committee (Public Service Legal Media Show), Chair, 2008, 2011
• DuPage County Bar Association, Legal Aid Committee, 2006 – Present
• DuPage County Bar Association, Legal Aid Committee, 2007 – Present (Vice-Chair)
• DuPage County Bar Association, Legal Aid Committee, 2008 – Present (Chair)
• DuPage County Bar Association, Entertainment Committee Chair, 2008
• DuPage County Bar Association, Judges’ Nite Committee, Vice-Chair, 2007, 2008
• DuPage County Legal Assistance Foundation, Vice-President, 2007, 2012, 2015
• DuPage County Legal Assistance Foundation, President, 2008, 2013, 2016
• Celtic Law Society, 2006 – 2012
• DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, 2006 – Present
• DuPage Justinian Society, 2006 – Present
• DuPage Justinian Society, Cancer Ball Committee, 2008 – 2013
• Illinois Bar Foundation, 2007 – Present (Gold Fellow)
• American Inns of Court, DuPage County Chapter, 2007 – 2014
• Chicago Bar Association, 1999 – 2005
• Chicago Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Committee, 2003-2005

• Mandatory Compliance with ‘Voluntary’ Industry Marketing Codes, Law 360, October, 2008

• Article entitled, And They Call It Puppy Love: Pet Custody in Illinois, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” January 2019
• Article entitled, The Dance of the Discovery Deposition: Dealing with Dodges, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” January 2015
• Article entitled, Recognizing Difficult Clients: The Who, The What, The How to Avoid, and The What to Do When You Have One, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” February 2013
• Article entitled, The Importance of an Independent Judiciary: An Essay on Judicial Selection in Illinois, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” May 2012
• Article entitled, Show Me the Money: The New Statewide Comprehensive Financial Disclosure Statement, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” January 2012
• Article entitled, Neither Admitting, Nor Denying: Proper Responses to Request to Admit in Domestic Relations Proceedings, Co-authored with Todd Scalzo, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” February 2011
• Article entitled, Discoverability of the Notes of Guardians Ad Litem In Domestic Relations Proceedings, Co-authored with Ann E. Knight, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” January 2011
• Article entitled, Visitation Enforcement on Non-Custodial Parents, Co-authored with the Honorable Harry Clem, Illinois State Bar Association – Child Law Section Council, June 2010
• Article entitled, Next Friends: Can the Attorney for the Minor Act as Next Friend in Emancipation Proceedings?, Illinois State Bar Association – Child Law Section Council, June 2009
• Article entitled Can God Get a Copyright Exemption: Use of Copyrighted Music at Religious Services, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” February 2009
• Article entitled Role of the Guardian ad Litem in Litigation: Not Just A Witness, co-authored with Thomas A. Else, Illinois State Bar Association – Child Law Section Council, September 2008
• Article entitled Bringing Adoptions Out of the Closet: Open Adoptions, Illinois State Bar Association – Child Law Section Council, February 2008
• Article entitled Winning the Race: Drafting Corporate Sponsorship Agreements that Won’t Trip You Up, DuPage County Bar Association, “The Brief,” February 2008
• Textbook entitled Charitable Sales Promotions: A Guide for Charities, City of Hope, 2005
• Lawyers for the Creative Arts Manual entitled A Musician’s Guide to Copyright Law, 2003
• Manual entitled Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporations: From Start to Finish, Winston & Strawn LLP, 2000

Representative Cases

• United States v. Thomas, 284 F.3e 746 (7th Cir 2002)

Honors

• Volunteer of the Year, 2012 – Lawyers for the Creative Arts
• Pro Bono Attorney Service Award, 2012 – DuPage Legal Aid Foundation
• Leading Lawyer in Adoptions & Assisted Reproduction Technology, 2013 to present – Leading Lawyers Network
• Leading Lawyer in Family Law, 2014 to present – Leading Lawyers Network
• Leading Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2018 to present – Leading Lawyers Network
• Lawyer of the Year, 2010 – DuPage County Bar Association
• Super Lawyer, 2013-present – Chicago Magazine
• Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2009-2013 – Chicago Magazine
• Director’s Award, 2007 – DuPage County Bar Association

Classes & Seminars

• Overview of Surrogacy and Assisted Reproduction Law, a lecture for the Family Law program at John Marshall Law School, March 2019
• Overview of Surrogacy and Assisted Reproduction Law, a lecture for the Family Law program at John Marshall Law School, October 2018
• “Guardian ad Litem Training Program for Adoptions, Chancery, & Probate,” Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Chancery Division, November 2017
• “Religious and Cultural Issues for Guardians ad Litem (and Child Representatives and Attorneys for Children)” – Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Domestic Relations Division, GAL & Child Representative Training Program, November 2017
• Overview of Surrogacy and Assisted Reproduction Law, a lecture for the Family Law program at John Marshall Law School, October 2017
• Overview of Surrogacy and Assisted Reproduction Law, a lecture for the Family Law program at John Marshall Law School, October 2016
• “The New Statute on Interim Attorneys’ Fees in Divorce Proceedings,” DuPage County Bar Association, January 2016
• “Cultural and Religious Matters in Custody Disputes” – Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Domestic Relations Division, GAL & Child Representative Training Program, November 2015
• “Guardian ad Litem Training Program for Adoptions, Chancery, & Probate,” Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Chancery Division, November 2015
• “Special Topics for GALs in Domestic Relations,” DuPage County Bar Association, February 2015
• “Discovery and Depositions for Guardians ad Litem in Probate & Adoption Matters,” DuPage County Bar Association, November 2014
• “Adoption 101: Ethical Issues,” National Business Institute, May 2014
• “Adoption 101: The Basics,” National Business Institute, June 2013
• “Cross-Examination of Custody Evaluators,” DuPage County Bar Association, January 2013
• “Advanced Family Law Ethics,” National Business Institute, June 2012
• “Guardians ad Litem Training Program in Adoption Proceedings,” DuPage County Bar Association, April 2012
• “Discovery Issues for Guardians ad Litem” – Circuit Court for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit – Domestic Relations Division, GAL & Child Representative Training Program, February 2012
• “Ethical & Discovery Issues for Guardians ad Litem (and Child Representatives and Attorneys for Children)” – Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Domestic Relations Division, GAL & Child Representative Training Program, November 2011
• “Ethical Issues for Guardians ad Litem (and Child Representatives and Attorneys for Children),” Northwest Suburban Bar Association, June 6, 2011
• “Custody and Visitation Issues Parties May Face in Civil Unions,” (Super Seminar – Civil Unions: Who, What, How, and Huh?), DuPage County Bar Association, May 21, 2011
• “Overview of Civil Unions, Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnerships, and the Illinois Civil Unions Act,” (Super Seminar – Civil Unions: Who, What, How, and Huh?), DuPage County Bar Association, May 21, 2011
• “Visitation Interference, Parental Kidnapping, and Federal Child Custody Laws,” (with Harry Smith), DuPage County Bar Association, April 28, 2011
• “Gay and Lesbian Issues in Child Custody Disputes,” Cook County Circuit Court – Domestic Relations Division – Child Representative Training, April 15, 2010
• “Legal Issues for LGBT People,” DuPage County Bar Association Diversity Committee, March 2010
• “Guardian ad Litem Investigations for LGBT Parenting Issues,” Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Domestic Relations Division, GAL & Child Representative Training Program, July 2009
• “Ethical Issues for GALs, Child Representatives, and Attorneys for Children,” Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit – Domestic Relations Division, GAL & Child Representative Training Program, June 2009
• “Electric Ethics: Cyberspying, E-Discovery, and Internet Communications in Divorce Proceedings,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association Seminar, May 6, 2009
• “Cyberspying, E-Discovery, and Internet Evidence: The Family Web and Children – A Practical Guide for Guardians ad Litem and Child Representatives,” ISBA – Child Law Section Council Seminar, May 1, 2009
• “Cyberspying, E-Discovery, and Internet Evidence: The Family Web and Children – A Practical Guide for Guardians ad Litem and Child Representatives,” Cook County Circuit Court – Domestic Relations Division – Child Representative Training, March 19, 2009
• “Virtual Visitation: The Who, What, How, and Where,” DuPage County Bar Association Presentation, March 7, 2009
• “Guardians ad Litem in Adoption & Probate Proceedings,” DuPage County Bar Association, October 2007
• DuPage County Bar Association Basic Skills Seminar – Adoptions and Guardianships, 2007 – 2009
• “Roles and Duties of the GAL, Child Representative, and Attorney for the Child,” DuPage and Kane County Bar Association GAL Training Program, October 2006
• Trial advocacy teacher for high school students, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
• Co-coach for the mock trial team for the ISBA Mock Trial Competition: Elite Eight in 2005; 2nd Place in 2006, Elite Eight in 2007, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
• Appointed head attorney coach, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, 2006 – Present
• Taught seminars to artists and musicians on copyright law, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Chicago, Illinois, 2001 – 2005, 2010-2013

• Representing Political Asylum Clients, 2000 to Present

• Illinois Broadcasters Association
• Illini Media Company
• Northwestern University Immigration Law Clinic
• Chicago Bar Foundation
• Community Economic Development Project
• Steel Beam Theatre Company
• Congo Square Theatre Company
• Lawyers for the Creative Arts

Languages

• English
• French