Rachel Hernandez
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
United States
Profession(s)
Lawyer, Attorney, Mediator, OtherKnown for promoting litigation alternatives in family-related legal disputes, Rachel Nicole Hernandez is a collaborative family lawyer & the founder of Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC, a collaborative & family law firm with offices in St. Charles & Sycamore, Illinois.
Rachel assists clients through mediation, collaborative process, uncontested divorce, pre-divorce legal counseling, or limited scope representation. Rachel Nicole Hernandez provides advice to clients regarding their rights with respect to marital/non-marital assets & debts, maintenance, & child custody issues. Rachel utilizes the expertise of financial advisors, accountants, & mental health professionals to help resolve complex family law matters.
Rachel Nicole Hernandez developed a passion for helping others by working with the Community Crisis Center. This commitment led her to enroll in the Northern Illinois University College of Law earning her JD in 2005 as a Dean's Scholar. Prior to family law, Rachel Nicole Hernandez served as an Assistant State’s Attorney, handling cases involving domestic abuse, child abuse, child neglect, & delinquency.
As a mediator, Rachel Nicole Hernandez has served as a coach with Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies & is regularly appointed by the court to assist litigants in parenting disputes. She serves as a court-appointed guardian ad litem & has been trained as a parenting coordinator.
Rachel Nicole Hernandez is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Kane County Bar Association, & the DeKalb County Bar Association. Rachel Nicole Hernandez serves as Secretary of the Community Crisis Center Board of Directors & the Northern Illinois University Alumni Council.
Practice Areas:
• Family Law
• Divorce Law
• Uncontested Divorce Law
• Collaborative Divorce Law
• Child Issues
• Mediation
• Domestic Violence
• Guardian Ad Litem
• Limited Scope Representation
Bar Admissions:
• Illinois
Education:
• Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D.
• Western Illinois University, B.S., Law Enforcement & Justice Administration
Professional Associations:
• Illinois State Bar Association
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
• Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois
• Association of Family & Conciliation Courts
• Kane County Bar Association
• DeKalb County Bar Association
• Community Crisis Center, Board of Directors
• Northern Illinois University College of Law Alumni Council
About Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC:
The collaborative law professionals at Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC are ready to resolve family-related legal disputes. The collaborative law process is an option for families who desire to resolve legal disputes without the need for judicial intervention. Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC is currently limiting in-person meetings, however, we are offering phone and video conferencing options to current and prospective clients. Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC is available to offer legal guidance pertaining to collaborative divorce, family law, uncontested divorce, child issues, mediation, domestic violence, guardian ad litem, and parenting coordination, limited scope representation, & mid-marital agreements.
Rachel Nicole Hernandez and the team at Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC offer an empathetic and compassionate approach to individuals and families. We understand the challenge of facing hard realities and crafting creative solutions. Not only does Rachel Nicole Hernandez excel at managing big emotions under stress, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC also places an emphasis on prioritizing the wants and needs of individuals and families alike.
Professional Activities
When not hard at work as part of the Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC team, Rachel Nicole Hernandez dedicates her time to giving back to her local community and the state of Illinois as a whole. Rachel Nicole Hernandez volunteers Prison Ministry and the Domestic Violence Ministry of the St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church. As a St. Charles native, Rachel Nicole Hernandez has also served as the Public Relations Chair and Vice President of the St. Charles Mothers' Club while participating on the Fundraising Committee and the Holiday Food and Gift Committee. Professionally, Rachel Nicole Hernandez has served as the Secretary of the Community Crisis Center, a member of the Alumni Council at the Northern Illinois University College of Law, a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois (CLII), a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), and a member of the Solo & Small Firm Practice Institute Committee through the Illinois State Bar Association. Rachel Nicole Hernandez has acquired numerous honors and awards throughout her career in family law. These honors and awards include: the 2011 Northern Illinois University College of Law Mentor of the Year, a 2005 Northern Illinois University Outstanding Woman, a 2005 Northern Illinois University Dean's Scholar, a 2004 Northern Illinois University Dean's Scholar, a 2003 Northern Illinois University Dean's Scholar, a 2002 Northern Illinois University Dean's Scholar. Rachel Nicole Hernandez has published several notable works in the areas of family law, divorce law, and collaborative law. These include "The Illinois Collaborative Process Act: A Positive Alternative to Litigation for Family Disputes” through the DuPage County Bar Journal on September 19th, 2018, “DREW’S LAW”: Why the Media Frenzy over Illinois’ Hearsay Exception for Intentional Murder of a Witness is Much Ado About Nothing through the DuPage County Bar Journal in July of 2010, and “Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements” through SplitReady, a podcast discussing prenuptial and postnuptial aka mid-marital agreements.Undergraduate Education
Western Illinois University, 1997
Postgraduate Education
Northern Illinois University, 2005
Professional Education
Collaborative
Mediation
Guardian ad Litem
Parenting Coordination
Comments
When I became involved in family court I was shocked to see what people went through. I knew there had to be a better way and my research led me to Collaborative practice. What a difference it makes to have professionals working on behalf of clients in a respectful and solution-center, future-focused manner.