1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Person
  4.  » David B. Yavitz

David B. Yavitz

profile
  • Managing Partner

Location:

Chicago, IL

Phone:

Email:

profile

David B. Yavitz is the senior partner in the Chicago matrimonial law firm of Yavitz & Levey, LLP. He received his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the University of Illinois Law School in 1969 and was elected to the Honorary Order of the Coif. Mr. Yavitz has been selected by a distinguished panel of attorneys as one of the Leading Lawyers in Illinois for Family Law, a group comprised of the top 5% of Illinois family law attorneys. He has also been selected to Illinois Super Lawyers for Family Law. As Chairman of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section he represented the organized bar in its lobbying which was instrumental in the successful passage of the Illinois Spousal Health Insurance Rights Act of 1985, the forerunner of the Federal Cobra law which allows the continuation of health insurance benefits to a divorced spouse of a covered employee. He has served as Editor of the Family Law Section's newsletter in addition to being elected to two terms as a delegate to the ISBA Assembly.

Mr. Yavitz is past Chairman of the Matrimonial Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Yavitz is a member of the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association and has served on numerous bar committees. Speaker ABA Techshow 1998 and 2005. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a frequent lecturer and author of articles concerning Family Law. Mr. Yavitz is the author of two chapters in the ISBA Family Law Handbook, "Distinctions Between Marital and Nonmarital Property" and "Marital Property Valuation". In the computer field he is a member of the Apple Consultants Network, Apple Computer's organization of recognized consultants, developers, systems integrators and other experts in computer solutions.

In addition to his family law practice he runs David B. Yavitz Consulting, a computer consulting business dedicated to assisting attorneys in the use of computers in the practice of law. Mr. Yavitz is twice Past Chairman of the Continuing Committee on Legal Technology of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Committee for Uniform Standards For Electronic Court Filing. For over 25 years he has constantly maintained the coveted “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell. An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.

Endorsements:

Mark Goldstein, President/Clinical Psychologist at Mark L. Goldstein, Ph.D. & Associates.
Top qualities: Expert, On Time, High Integrity
As a forensic psychologist, I have been involved in a number of custody cases with David. He has always been well prepared, thoughtful, and works extremely hard for his clients. He also attempts to settle cases and cares about the children. He has made referrals to me for counseling for the children as well.

Todd Flaming (former client, attorney)
Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Good Value
“David is a top-notch attorney who is mindful of details but with his eye on the big picture. He knows the law and the judges and makes good recommendations. I have recommended him to friends and colleagues.”

Linda Forman CPA, President, Linda Forman CPA P.C.
“David Yavitz is an excellent attorney who understands the financial issues of settlements on a level rarely seen in divorce attorneys. He is also excellent at devising settlement solutions that are innovative and that can close difficult cases. He does not back down from hard issues and seeks just solutions. I highly recommend him.”

Robert Rolek (former client, business executive)
Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity
“David represented me on a very complicated case which spanned a great many years. Throughout our many office meetings, correspondences, and court appearances I was continually impressed with David’s ability to recall an exceptional amount of case detail, provide outstanding insight and recommendations, and to confidently guide the numerous aspects of the case to the appropriate conclusions.”

Dr. Mark Mosk
"I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Yavitz on family law matters, in my capacity of a court-appointed evaluator and psychologist, for the past several years. He not only is an extraordinarily knowledgeable, skilled and insightful attorney, but moreover is a kind, compassionate, fair and giving individual, always committed to ensuring that he serves the best interests of the clients that he represents. Mr. Yavitz is highly respected by his colleagues in the legal community and beyond. His professionalism and effectiveness are unsurpassed, and he and his firm should be considered a premier destination for persons seeking legal services. I can't recommend Mr. Yavitz highly enough."

Areas Of Practice

  • Family Law
  • Paternity
  • Custody & Visitation
  • Premarital Agreements

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, 1969
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1969
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1971

Education

  • University of Illinois College of Law, Urbana, Illinois
    • J.D. - 1969
    • Honors: Order of the Coif
    • Honors: With Honors
  • Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
    • B.A. - 1966
    • Honors: With Honors
    • Major: Political Science
    • Major: History

Published Works

  • Distinctions between Marital and Non-Marital Property Family Law Handbook, Illinois State Bar Association, 1995
  • Marital Property Valuation Family Law Handbook, Illinois State Bar Association, 2011
  • Interest on Past-Due Maintenance and Child Support, The New Calculus, Illinois Bar Journal, Vol. 94, Page 76, Feb 2006
  • Ahead of His Time in Field of Divorce Law

Representative Cases

  • Brezinsky v. Chervinko, 548 N.E.2d 588, 1989, Ill.App. 1 Dist., 1989172730
  • In re Marriage of Drews, 534 N.E.2d 411, 179 Ill.App.3d 110, 1989, Ill. App. 1 Dist.
  • In re Marriage of Kosmond, 830 N.E.2d 596, 2005, IL
  • In re Marriage of Kozloff, 463 N.E.2d 719, 101 Ill.2d 526, 1984, Ill.
  • In re Marriage of Kaplan, 490 N.E.2d 69, 141 Ill.App.3d 142, 1986, Ill. App. 1 Dist.
  • In re Marriage of Berto, No. 2-02-1022 (Ill. App. 11/17/2003), 2003, Ill. App.
  • In Re Marriage of Berto, 344 IllApp3d 705, 2003, Illinois Appellate
  • In re Marriage of Kozloff, 101 Ill 2d 526, 1984, Illinois Supreme
  • In re Marriage of Drews, 115 Ill.2d 201, 1986, Illinois Supreme

References

  • Linda Forman CPA
  • Venwell Advisors
  • Whitnell & Co.
  • Stout Risius Ross

Classes / Seminars

  • PreMarital Agreements, IICLE
  • Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, IICLE
  • Can you hear me now? Using VOIP and Blogs to Communicate, Illinois State Bar Association Solo and Small Firms Conference, 2005 to 2005
  • Me and My Mac: Apple in the Office, Illinois State Bar Association Solo and Small Firms Conference, 2006 to 2006
  • Distinctions between Marital and Non-Marital Property, Illinois CPA Society Tax Conference, 1999 to 1999
  • Prenuptial Agreements, Resolving Family Law Issues, Illinois State Bar Association, LawEd Seminar March 2009
  • Marital Fraud. Illinois Family Law Seminar, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, October 1989
  • Direct and Cross Examination of a Witness on Expense Affidavit, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, April 1989
  • Does Anyone Get Paid for Doing This? Attorneys’ Fees, Chicago Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, February 1986
  • Negotiating Property Issues in a Divorce: Negotiation Demonstration and Critique, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, March 1988
  • Creative Financial Settlements, Business Valuation, Financial and Tax issues affecting Divorce , Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, January 2007
  • Before & Happily Ever After: Premarital Agreements Workshop, Provisions Relating to the Dissolution of Marriage, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, November 2007
  • Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, an Interactive Workshop, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, September 2006
  • Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, an Interactive Workshop, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, November 2008

Honors And Awards

  • Leading Lawyers, 2017
  • Super Lawyers, 2017
  • AAML, 2017
  • AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, 2017
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Board of Directors Illinois Chapter, 1986 - 1991
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Admissions Committee
  • Leading Lawyers of Illinois Family Law, 2004 - 2011
  • Super Lawyers Family Law, 2005 - 2012

Professional Associations And Memberships

  • Family Law Curriculum Advisory Group, Member
  • Rep. Joint IL., State Bar Assoc., Chicago Bar Assoc., Sponsorship,, Passage of 1985 Spousal Health Ins. Rights Act, IL. General Assembly
  • Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Committee, Member, 1978 to Present
  • Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Committee, Chairman, 1986 to 1987
  • Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Committee, Vice Chairman, 1985 to 1986
  • Chicago Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Member, 1978 to Present
  • Chicago Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Co-Chairman, 1982 to 1983
  • Chicago Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Chairman, 1983 to 1985
  • Chicago Bar Association, Courts Subcommittee, Member, 1978 to Present
  • Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Liaison Committee with, Domestic Relations Court of Cook County, Member, 1986 to 1987
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Assembly, Member, 1988 to Present
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section Council, Member, 1979 to Present
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section Council, Chairman, 1984 to 1985
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Secretary, 1982 to 1983
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Editor-in-Chief, Family Law Newsletter, 1981 to 1984
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Domestic Violence Subcommittee, Member, 1981 to 1981
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Member, 1981 to 1981
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Update Speaker, Member, 1983 to Present
  • American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
  • American Bar Association, Section Liaison to National Conference of, Commissioners on Uniform State Law, Member, 1987 to 1989
  • American Bar Association, Domestic Violence Committee, Vice Chairman, 1989 to 1990
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1982 to Present
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 1969 to Present

Past Employment Positions

  • Lake, Toback & Yavitz, Partner, 1994 to 2004
  • Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck, Partner, 1978 to 1994

Pro Bono Activities

  • Cook County Illinois Certified Child's Representative, 2000 to Present
  • Cook County Illinois Court Conciliator, 2010 to Present

Ancillary Businesses

  • Computer and Technology Consultant
  • Lobbying Illinois General Assembly Family Law issues on behalf of Illinois State Bar Association

Languages

  • English

Fraternities / Sororities

  • Alpha Epsilon Pi

Published Works

Our knowledge and experience helps us provide effective service to all our clients as well as to serve as valuable sources of information for our colleagues throughout the state.

View Our Published Works

Leading Lawyers | David B. Yavitz | Advisory Board Member Peer Selected 2022
AAML | American Academy Of Matrimonial Lawyers
AV Preeminent | Peer Review Rated For Ethical Standards & Legal Ability | Martindale-Hubbell From LexisNexis
Rated By Super Lawyers | David B. Yavitz | Selected In 2023 Thomson Reuters
Rated By Super Lawyers | David B. Yavitz | 15 Years