Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

-Successfully completed over 2,200 estate plans ranging in size to $210 million.
-Assisted in redirecting more than $150 million away from estate taxes and to charities and heirs.
-Eliminated estate taxes in more than 450 estate plans which were otherwise taxable.
-Conducted more than 50 briefings, seminars and workshops on estate and tax elimination planning.
-Co-author of "Combining Life Insurance and Annuity Policies to Create a Financial Engine for a Nongrantor CLAT," Journal of Practical Estate Planning, CCH Incorporated, August-September, 2004.
-Author of "Tax Elimination Planning", "The Ten Most Common Mistakes in Estate Planning", "How a Charitable Trust Can Save You Taxes", and "The New Tax Law- An Update" for a national charity's newsletter.
-Graduate of the Family Wealth Counseling two-year training school on Tax Elimination Planning, and of the Renaissance School of Social Capital concentrating on Charitable planning tools.
-Has for 13 years successfully represented an Illinois based university in assisting donors to make planned gifts, including Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, bargain sale gifts and other planned gifts.
-Has for 13 years successfully represented a national charity, has conducted a national workshop program resulting in Charitable Remainder Trusts, Revocable Living Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Gift Annuities and outright cash gifts.
-Founder and Director of The Good News Foundation, which is an ECFA approved charity devoted to educating Americans about their estate planning options.
-Has for ten years successfully represented a senior assisted living facility in its planned giving programs.
-Completed the Heckerling Institute and the Notre Dame Estate Planning Institute on Estate Planning.

Born: Chicago, IL, May 8, 1978

Education: Western Illinois University, B.A., 1999, Baylor University Law School, J.D., 2002

Practice Areas: Family Law; Divorce; Paternity; Child Custody; Child Support; Visitation Rights; Marital Property Distribution

Membership: Illinois State Bar Association; Kane County Bar Association.

Admissions: 2003, Texas; 2006, Illinois

Biography:

Associate with Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C.; Licensed attorney in Illinois, Texas; Western Illinois University, B.A. (summa cum laude); Baylor (University) Law School, J.D. (concentration in criminal practice). Ms. Duvall currently practices in the areas of divorce, paternity, custody, child support, visitation.

Attorney Duvall has trial experience and has successfully handled many cases involving divorce and other family law issues, including financial, property and child-related issues

Our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., have significant experience defending people charged with crimes.

Sandi Byrd entered private practice in October 2002 following nearly six years working as an attorney in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. Since entering private practice Sandi has represented clients in Kane, DuPage, Kendall, DeKalb, and Cook Counties. Sandi graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in 1996 and was admitted to practice law in Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois the same year. Since the beginning of her career Sandi has focused her practice almost exclusively in criminal defense. She has successfully tried many jury and bench trials including everything from minor traffic offenses to murder cases. Sandi is an active member of the Kane County Bar Association, currently serving as it General Counsel and as a member of the Criminal Law Committee, and is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Don Zuelke spent over sixteen years as an assistant public defender before entering the private practice in August of 2002. He has practice law for over 20 years, representing clients almost exclusively in criminal cases, and has successfully tried many jury and bench trials. Don graduated from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1984, and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that same year. He then worked as an assistant public defender in the Cook County Public Defender's Office for almost 6 years, followed by almost 11 years in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. He has represented thousands of individuals in criminal defense matters, in everything from DUI and other traffic offenses to murder and other felonies. He is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar, qualified and authorized to represent clients in death penalty cases.

The attorneys at Zuelke & Byrd are committed to representing their clients zealously. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent under the law and deserves to have his or her rights protected. Everyone is entitled to a strong defense no matter what the charges are or what the evidence against them is. The law firm of Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C. is dedicated to doing the best possible job for each client, providing each client with the individual attention necessary to successfully defend them. We work hard to get the best possible outcome in each case. Our attorneys are experienced trial attorneys, having successfully tried many jury and bench trials over many years, and will vigorously defend your case at trial.

For more information about our criminal defense lawyers, follow the links below or contact us at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C.

Born: Chicago, Illinois, April 15, 1964

Education: Northern Illinois University, B.S., 1986, Northern Illinois University, J.D., cum laude, 1989

Practice Areas: Family Law; Personal Injury; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Dog Bites; Motorcycle Accidents; Workers Compensation; Slip and Fall; Products Liability; Truck Accidents; Aviation Accidents; Pharmacy Law

Membership: Illinois State Bar Association; Kane County Bar Association.

Admissions: 1989, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Miscellaneous Information: Delta Theta Phi. Member, Moot Court Society. Member, Northern Illinois University Law Review, 1988-1989.

Biography:

Mr. Jacobs graduated from Northern Illinois University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1986. Mr. Jacobs continued his education at Northern Illinois University where he graduated cum laude in 1989 and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree. Mr. Jacobs became licensed to practice law on November 9, 1989. While in law school, Mr. Jacobs was honored by being appointed to the Law Review and was involved in moot court where he successfully won competitions.

Upon graduation from Law School, Mr. Jacobs began his career as an insurance defense litigation attorney where he represented companies including State Farm, Kemper, Hanover, Andover, McDonalds, Seven-Eleven and Southland Corporation.

In 1991, Mr. Jacobs opened his own law firm in St. Charles, Illinois where he concentrated in general litigation until 2000 when he co-founded the Law Firm of Shaw Jacobs and Associates, P.C. which concentrates in domestic relations law.

In addition, Mr. Jacobs maintains an active practice representing plaintiffs who have been seriously injured as the result of the negligence of another. Mr. Jacobs personal injury practice includes automobile accidents, dog bites, wrongful death and work related injuries.

Mr. Jacobs is a skilled litigator with a proven track record of success and over 18 years of trial experience in both bench and jury trials.

Mr. Jacobs has been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and is currently a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Kane County Bar Association.

Brad Cahow has been practicing law in Kane, Dekalb, McHenry, DuPage, Cook, Will and nearby counties since 1981. Brad provides legal services in the following areas:

REAL ESTATE LAW

Brad has represented several thousand real estate clients in residential sales and purchases. He prepares contracts and provides title insurance services. His experience also includes loan modifications, short sales, and landlord tenant disputes

FAMILY LAW

Brad had years of experience in both uncontested and contested divorces, custody disputes, visitation rights, child support issues and adoptions.

ESTATE LAW

Brad prepares Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney for Heatlh Care and Property, Living Wills. His practice also includes Probate.

PERSONAL INJURY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION

If you suffer a personal injury or are hurt at work, Brad will assist you in recovering damages from the party responsible for your injury.

TRAFFIC AND CRIMINAL LAW

Brad provides representation in traffic, misdemeanor, driving under the influence, and non-violent felony cases.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Brad repsesents small claims litigants, debt collection defendants, landlords, tenants, and contract litigants.

INITIAL CONSULTATION IS FREE

Mr. Shaw attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and graduated from Illinois College, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1983. He continued his education at the Northern Illinois University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1986, and became a Licensed Attorney in Illinois on November 6, 1986.

Having previously practiced in general and family law practices, and having served as the Child Support Attorney for Kane County Circuit Court Clerk from 1987-1995,
Mr. Shaw opened his own law practice concentrating in family law in 1991. In 2000 he co-founded the law firm of Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C., St. Charles, Illinois, which concentrates its practice in family law, including dissolution of marriage, financial issues and custody litigation.

Mr. Shaw has been a legal Author and Lecturer for many years, and has served on family law committees including, the ISBA Family Law Section Council (having first served in 1991). He has authored and published articles in the ISBA Family Law newsletter and authored the first chapter of the Illinois Family Law Handbook. He has presented at family law seminars throughout the country.

On behalf of the ISBA Family Law Section Council Custody subcommittee, he
testified in Springfield before Illinois Supreme Court Custody Committee regarding proposed custody legislation on March 28, 2003.

Having a proven track record of success representing men, women and children in Illinois courts, Mr. Shaw has extensive court and trial experience. He has also served as a Mediator and Guardian ad Litem in Family Law cases, and has resolved numerous cases outside of court.

He has been interviewed on family law topics on both television and radio, and has volunteered his time at divorce support groups. Mr. Shaw is continues to serve as an attorney presenter at KIDS (Kids in a Divorcing Society) family court program for parents (1993- present), and is currently the Chair of the Kane County Family Law Committee. He and his firm also support various legal service groups that serve those in need.