Shay Formanek, Divorce & Family Law Attorney

Shay Formanek is a partner at Stern Perkoski Mendez. She specializes in divorce and family law, including complex litigation, mediation, negotiated settlement agreements and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Shay is a zealous advocate for her clients and approaches each of her cases with strategic and assertive representation. She has a noteworthy background in supporting clients who are facing complex financial and asset issues, domestic violence, issues involving spousal maintenance, allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, child support, and child relocation.

Shay was drawn to family law at an early age after experiencing divorce firsthand. Her personal understanding inspires the compassion and individualized support she provides every client. Shay views each divorce as unique, and she tailors her expertise to meet her clients’ needs and preferences.

Shay is from Wisconsin and is a Chicago transplant. She’s worked at Stern Perkoski Mendez since 2023. Prior to joining the firm, Shay was a partner at a family law firm in Chicago.

Divorce & Family Law Services

• Attorney-Assisted Mediation
• Child Relocation and Removal
• Child Support
• Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)
• Divorce Litigation
• Domestic Violence
• Enforcement of Judgments
• Foreign Judgments
• Maintenance (Alimony)
• Modification of Judgments
• Negotiated Divorce Settlements
• Parental Allocation (Sole and Joint Custody)
• Paternity
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
• Property Division in Divorce
• Uncontested and Amicable Divorce

Education & Experience

Shay received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science and business law from Western Carolina University in North Carolina.

She is mediation certified through Chicago’s Center for Conflict Resolution—an invaluable skill she’s successfully applied to help clients resolve challenging conflicts.

Bar Admissions & Associations

Shay is admitted to practice in Illinois and is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Awards

• Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2020 – 2024
  • Awarded by Illinois Super Lawyers, the designation is granted to the top 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years of age in Illinois
• Top 100 designation for Illinois attorneys, American Academy of Attorneys, 2021
• Elite Advocate in Family Law, American Institute of Legal Advocates (AIOLA), 2020
• Top 40 Young Lawyers, National Alliance of Women in Law, 2019

Blog Posts

• “Custody Arrangements Are Out, Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Are In”, May 17, 2024
• “What assets am I entitled to during a divorce?”, March 4, 2024
• “Shay Formanek Joins Stern Perkoski Mendez as Partner”, August 21, 2023