Jessica L. Defino

Jessica L. Defino

  • Divorce, Family Law, Domestic Violence
  • Illinois
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Biography

From a young age, Jessica knew that she had a passion for family law. Jessica finds family law extremely rewarding because she has the ability to counsel, advise, and advocate for her clients during the hardest time in their lives. Jessica is also a certified Guardian ad Litem in DuPage County and enjoys representing minor children while advocating for their best interests.

Jessica is a graduate of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and is authorized to practice law in the State of Illinois. Throughout law school, Jessica worked as a law clerk at a DuPage County family law firm, concentrating exclusively on family law. In her last year of law school, Jessica worked as a judicial extern with presiding Judge Pamela Loza in the Cook County Domestic Relations Parentage Division, where she gained extensive knowledge in parentage cases. During her time in law school, Jessica maintained herself on the Dean's List. She graduated from the University of Iowa with honors and during her time there, Jessica was a co-founder of the Students for Human Rights Group. Jessica also worked closely with one of her professors on a gender studies research and writing project that was ultimately published.

Jessica worked at a mid-size family law firm in DuPage County where she gained extensive knowledge and experience in the domestic relations area of law. Since graduation from law school, Jessica has concentrated her practice solely in family law matters. Jessica has handled numerous pre-decree, post-decree, parentage, child support, adoption, guardianship, appeals, relocation, orders of protection, and Guardian ad litem cases, including contested cases involving the modification of parenting time and allocation of decision-making responsibilities.

Practice Areas
Divorce
Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
Family Law
Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights , Victims Rights
Additional Practice Areas
  • Guardian ad litem
  • Parentage/Paternity
  • Child Support
  • Spousal maintenance
  • Orders of Protection
  • Adoption
  • Guard
  • Relocation
  • Modification of Decision-Making Responsibilities
  • Modification of Parenting Time
  • Pre-nuptial and Post-nuptial Agreements
  • Assisted reproduction and surrogacy
Fees
  • Free Consultation
    Free 30-minute initial consultation.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Attorney
McSwain Nagle Giese & Rapp, P.C.
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Associate Attorney
Kollias & Giese, P.C.
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Attorney
Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC
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Law Clerk 2013-2016
Judicial Extern
Cook County Circuit Court
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Education
The John Marshall Law School
J.D. (2016)
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University of Iowa
B.A. (2013)
University of Iowa Logo
Awards
New Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award
DuPage County Bar Association
Rising Star
Super Lawyers
Professional Associations
DuPage Justinian Society of Lawyers
Treasurer
Current
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DuPage County Bar Association
Member
Current
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DuPage Association of Women Lawyers
Member
Current
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Kane County Bar Association
Member
Current
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State Bar of Illinois
Member
Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
The Uncertainty Of Relocation – Where Are We Going?
Illinois State Bar Association
Speaking Engagements
Pet Trusts and Allocation of Dependent Animals in Divorce Cases, Estate Planning / Animal Law MCLE
2019