Carmel Law, LLC is committed to serving its clients in addressing their criminal, civil rights and domestic relations matters.

We aim to serve low to moderate income individuals who may otherwise feel marginalized by the justice system. Carmel Law, LLC achieves this through client-centric and innovative approaches to providing legal services, including through our offerings of unbundled services and alternative billing arrangements.

Family Law

We approach each family law case keeping in mind the specific circumstances of your family unit. We endeavor to provide our clients with the knowledge and support to feel empowered to make decisions in the best interest of your family. We have experience providing services in diverse aspects of family law, including but not limited to divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities (formerly known as “custody”), parenting time (formerly known as “visitation”) and post-decree modifications. Our practical and cooperative approach allows you to reach a resolution of your matter and turn the page for the next stage of your life.

Roya Samarghandi also serves as a court-appointed Child Representative and Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”), and is able to leverage her own experience in those roles to help you navigate the relationship of a Child Representative of GAL in your matter. 

Adoptions

We have experience in both contested and uncontested related adoptions and look forward to ushering you through the expansion of your family and reaffirming the bond you share with your child.

DCFS Administrative Appeals

We have successfully succeeded in numerous expungement appeals, helping parents and caregivers overcome indicated findings of abuse and neglected by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. We have been able to leverage our reputation and expertise to encourage the Department to voluntarily unfound previously indicated findings. We have also won contested administrative appeals on behalf of our clients, and successfully expunged their names from the State Central Registry. 

Domestic Violence & Orders of Protection

We have successfully resolved civil and criminal Orders of Protection and Stalking No Contact Orders on behalf of both petitioners and respondents through both settlement and contested litigation. We understand the complex dynamics that accompany domestic violence and routinely work with family members and support systems, domestic violence shelters and other agencies and resources to ensure that our clients receive a team that can provide a holistic approach to address our client’s issues. 

Because Orders of Protection offer swift and comprehensive relief often done on an emergency basis without both sides present, we also know that there are those who feel that false allegations have been unfairly lobbied against them. We work with our clients to ensure that you have the opportunity to be heard and that the full scope of the circumstances are taken into account by the Court when deciding these serious and monumental matters.

Criminal Cases

We understand that our clients are often coming to us at a very stressful time and do our best to approach your case from a holistic point of view. We see our role as informing you of your rights and enforcing the obligations of the State. We’ve reached positive results for our clients in many types of criminal matters, including but not limited to traffic violations, disorderly conduct, assault and battery, domestic battery and driving under the influence. For those eligible clients, we have also successfully petitioned for expungement or sealment of their criminal records, including overcoming objections to those petitions from the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“Roya Samarghandi was very helpful with a challenging and complex legal matter. ... Roya did an excellent job of answering all of our questions and was able to successfully complete the process in an expedient manner. … Roya's strategy was efficient and effective. I appreciate all that she did to help me. Her communication was clear and timely. Her pricing structure was also very much appreciated….” — C.W.

"Roya is great - very responsive, and unlike other lawyer interactions, she was more concerned with addressing my issue(s) than billing ... I am a lawyer myself and used her services and would recommend her [services] to my colleagues." — N.W.

"Roya was very helpful throughout, knowledgeable, efficient, and responsive. Everything you want in an attorney representing you." — S.N.

“It was nice being able to communicate with an attorney on our level. The attorney we dealt with, Roya Samarghandi, was knowledgeable about all aspects of the law regarding our case and we felt comfortable with her [advice].” — S.W.

“Roya Samarghandi did such an amazing job. I had a sense of peace while dealing, working and talking to her. She’s one of the best attorneys I’ve had the pleasure working with and I truly would recommend her and this firm.” - E. M.

“Roya was very helpful throughout the entire process; it exceeded my expectations. I received the outcome I desired - as well as was given assistance and a positive resolution in a related manner.” — B.A.

"I thought Carmel Law was very straightforward with me about financial matters and things pertaining directly to the case. It was the best experience I've ever had with a lawyer." — D.M.

"Attorney Roya worked her tail off to handle my case. There were difficult and trying times, but I was never concerned. She was diligent in her work, extremely professional and more than I ever expected from any attorney. There were no questions left unanswered. My entire experience was pleasant and I owe it all to her!!" — D.U.

"It was fast and simple process. All questions or concerns were answered in a timely manner." — K.W.

"I felt assured that Roya was understanding of the aspects of my identity that were important to the case, such as my being transgender and a licensed social worker. Something that immediately helped me feel at ease...." — R.R.

“It was definitely stressful trying to resolve matters regarding my son, but Roya put an ease to a lot of that stress. I always trusted that she would take care of things and bring all of this to an end. My family and I are eternally grateful to her.” - J.C.