David B. Yavitz
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. 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.
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Paternity
- Custody & Visitation
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
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, ISBA Family Law Handbook, 1995
- Marital Property Valuation, ISBA Family Law Handbook, 2011
Representative Cases
- Brezinsky v. Chervinko, 548 N.E.2d 588 (Ill.App. 1 Dist. 1989)
- In re Marriage of Drews, 534 N.E.2d 411, 179 Ill.App.3d 110 (Ill. App. 1 Dist. 1989)
- In re Marriage of Kosmond, 830 N.E.2d 596 (IL 2005)
- In re Marriage of Kozloff, 463 N.E.2d 719, 101 Ill.2d 526 (Ill. 1984)
- In re Marriage of Kaplan, 490 N.E.2d 69, 141 Ill.App.3d 142 (Ill. App. 1 Dist. 1986)
- In re Marriage of Berto, No. 2-02-1022 (Ill. App. 11/17/2003) (Ill. App. 2003)
- In Re Marriage of Berto, 344 IllApp3d 705 (Illinois Appellate 2003)
- In re Marriage of Kozloff, 101 Ill 2d 526 (Illinois Supreme 1984)
- In re Marriage of Drews, 115 Ill.2d 201 (Illinois Supreme 1986)
References
- Linda Forman CPA
- Venwell Advisors
- Whitnell & Co.
- Stout Risius
Classes/Seminars
- PreMarital Agreements, IICLE
- Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, IICLE
Honors and Awards
- 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 - 2011
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 - Present
- Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Committee, Chairman, 1986 - 1987
- Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Committee, Vice Chairman, 1985 - 1986
- Chicago Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Member, 1978 - Present
- Chicago Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Co-Chairman, 1982 - 1983
- Chicago Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Chairman, 1983 - 1985
- Chicago Bar Association, Courts Subcommittee, Member, 1978 - Present
- Chicago Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Liaison Committee with, Domestic Relations Court of Cook County, Member, 1986 - 1987
- Illinois State Bar Association, Assembly, Member, 1988 - Present
- Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section Council, Member, 1979 - Present
- Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section Council, Chairman, 1984 - 1985
- Illinois State Bar Association, Secretary, 1982 - 1983
- Illinois State Bar Association, Editor-in-Chief, Family Law Newsletter, 1981 - 1984
- Illinois State Bar Association, Domestic Violence Subcommittee, Member, 1981
- Illinois State Bar Association, Legislation Subcommittee, Member, 1981
- Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Update Speaker, Member, 1983 - Present
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- American Bar Association, Section Liaison to National Conference of, Commissioners on Uniform State Law, Member, 1987 - 1989
- American Bar Association, Domestic Violence Committee, Vice Chairman, 1989 - 1990
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1982 - 2011
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 1969 - 2011
Past Employment Positions
- Lake, Toback & Yavitz, Partner, 1994 - 2004
- Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck, Partner, 1978 - 1994
Languages
- English
Fraternities/Sororities
- Alpha Epsilon Pi
