Kristy Gosteli Helm

"As a divorced mother of two children, I truly understand how dealing with the court system can place additional stress and burdens on you during a very difficult time in your life. My goal is to help you solve your legal problems in a way that works best for you and your family." Kristy's practice includes family law involving divorce, custody, visitation, maintenance, child support, orders of protection, restraining orders, and guardianships. Kristy earned her Juris Doctorate from the St. Louis University School of Law. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in paralegal studies from St. Mary of the Woods, Terre Haute, Indiana, where she graduated with honors, and was the first student ever to receive the coveted "Excellence in Paralegal Studies," Award. She is an attorney licensed in Illinois and in good standing with the Illinois State Bar and the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Kristy has nearly twenty years experience in the legal field. As an attorney, Kristy has a wide range of experience handling both family law and civil litigation matters. Prior to earning her law degree, she worked extensively as a paralegal for various law firms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Illinois Death Penalty Trial Assistance Office. During her employment with the Illinois Death Penalty Trial Assistance Office, Kristy consulted with a number of nationally known legal experts including Dr. Werner Spitz, Dr. Michael Baden, Dr. Henry Lee, Richard Ofshe, Richard Leo, and Attorney Barry Scheck. Kristy is an Illinois State Bar Certified mediator, whose patience, understanding and professional demeanor assists in keeping the emotionally-charged parties focused, so that the participants can reach a settlement which is mutually beneficial to all the involved parties. Kristy is recognized as a certified Guardian Ad Litem for the Illinois Second and Fourth Judicial Circuits. She is also a mediator in the Second and Fourth Judicial Circuits. Kristy is also an active advocate for victims of domestic violence. She has made herself available to speak to groups about the various ways a community can stop the violence against children, teens, the elderly, and individuals with special needs. Kristy maintains a law practice office in Salem, Illinois.

• Law Office of Morris Lane Harvey

• Illinois, 2006

• Illinois Bar Association
• American Bar Association