Disclaimer: All facts gleaned from the filings stated hereafter are only as truthful as the petitioner. The tone of this article expresses a style of writing historically employed by America’s greatest writers and, as such, is for opinion purposes only. No intentional harm is due. Do not read if the topic of divorce (even your own) causes you emotional distress. Continue at your own risk.
In a petition filed on June 3, 2025, at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Nathaniel Shackelford II formally requested the dissolution of his fifteen-year marriage to Rachel Shackelford. The case, lodged through attorney Marly R. Tristano of Tristano & Tristano, Ltd., emerges not as a confrontation but as a carefully scripted uncoupling—reflective, negotiated, and notably mutual.
Nathaniel, an electrician residing in Matteson, and Rachel, a registered nurse based in Chicago, were both 42 at the time of filing. Married since August 28, 2010, the pair share three children, now aged 5, 13, and 20. No adoption occurred during their marriage, and Rachel is not currently pregnant.
The petition is built not on acrimony but on recognition: irreconcilable differences have led to an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. With pragmatism prevailing over contention, the parties have reached a written settlement encompassing all terms of property division, debt allocation, parenting arrangements, and maintenance. They seek judicial endorsement of this agreement as part of their final judgment.
The couple owns real estate in Matteson, Illinois, which, like the rest of their jointly and separately held assets, will be divided per the proposed settlement. Notably, the petition includes a clause allowing Nathaniel to withdraw the action should the court reject the agreement—a quiet assertion of control in a process known for its unpredictability.
If approved, the marriage will close with a signature, not a standoff.
Please contact VowBreakers for access to documents related to the case.
