Legal Services & Lawyers

CHRIS S. HAAFF owns and operates his own law firm in Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois. He is an experienced litigator and negotiator in all aspects of family law, including divorce, paternity, adoption, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, surrogacy, and qualified domestic relations orders. Chris is a frequent writer and speaker statewide on family law topics, and is involved with both the Illinois State Bar Association and the University of Illinois College of Law. Chris has been recognized as an ISBA “Young Lawyer of the Year” for outside Cook County and selected in the McHenry County Business Journal list of “Top Ten Business Professionals Under Age 40.”

Founded in 1994, the law firm of Sullivan Taylor & Gumina is dedicated to providing compassionate family law services to people throughout Chicago's western suburbs. Our attorneys bring an uncommon diversity of personal and legal experience to our clients' family law matters. As former public defenders, teachers, child advocates, state's attorneys, and therapists, we are able to help people work through the legal, emotional, and financial issues associated with complex family law matters.

At the Law Offices of Michael Meschino, we represent clients throughout the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, including Palatine, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove, and Barrington. We understand that when a person needs a lawyer, the underlying legal matter is important. As such, we are committed to providing every client with the attention they need and deserve.

Family Law
We are available to handle divorce law and all of its related matters, including property division, child custody, and spousal support, also known as spousal maintenance. When you retain our services, you will discover that we are willing to take the time to make certain that you understand all of your legal options during these difficult and life-changing times.

Criminal Defense
At the Law Offices of Michael Meschino, we are prepared to defend you against a wide range of criminal charges, including drunk driving, shoplifting, and traffic violations. We understand the impact that a criminal charge can have on your life. We are here to minimize that impact.

Domestic Violence
In Illinois, there are two ways to become entangled in a domestic violence matter: through a divorce filing or by being charged with domestic battery by the police. In either event contacting an experience domestic violence attorney is essential. Michael Meschino brings more than twenty years of legal experience to Illinois domestic violence matters.

Real Estate
We can help you with a variety of real estate matters. From the home buying process to the closing, our residential real estate lawyer can help. We are also available to handle complicated real estate and construction litigation matters.

Estate Planning and Probate
We can help ensure that hard-earned property and assets are passed on appropriately. From the creation of wills and trusts, to assisting with the probate process, we will stand by your side to see that all of your needs are met.

Email us or call us at 1-800-835-4202 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Susan Marie Pesch has been an attorney licensed in Illinois since 1991. Ms. Pesch has concentrated her practice in all areas of family law since she began her own practice 16 years ago. Built largely on referrals, Pesch Law Office handles a variety of domestic relations matters, including divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, day care expenses, maintenance claims, and name change petitions. Also, Susan is experienced in post-decree issues such as seeking parent contribution to college expenses and enforcement/modification of child support.

Ms. Pesch has represented clients in DuPage County and Kane County throughout her legal career. 100% of her practice is devoted to family law. Susan is also qualified to act as a Guardian ad Litem/GAL or Child Representative, serving the best interest of the children in a contested custody case. Her name is maintained on the Court approved list of individuals available for appointment as Guardian ad Litem. In addition, Ms. Pesch has been trained and certified as a family law mediator. In her role as mediator, she helps parties reach their own agreement without litigation on issues regarding custody and visitation.

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

Our firm takes a team approach to resolving family law matters. By assigning a partner, an associate, and a paralegal to every client, we ensure that there is always someone in the office to answer our clients' questions and resolve legal matters. In addition, if necessary, we employ service counselors, business evaluators, forensic accountants, financial planners, psychiatrists, and psychologists to ensure our clients receive the best possible legal advice and representation possible.

We are strongly committed to building relationships with our clients. We understand that family law matters do not end when a divorce is final. Child custody and child support issues often continue until the children are in college and spousal support matters can continue for a lifetime. Our services go beyond the initial divorce proceeding. We ensure that our clients have the resources to manage divorce settlements, with an eye toward the secure enjoyment of their life.

I am a native Chicagoan, and moved to DuPage County in 1972.

I attended DePaul Law School full-time in the evening, while working for one of the major trust companies in the Chicago Loop. I therefore received extensive training and experience in Estate Planning, Probate and Tax matters, and have practiced in those areas for over 30 years.

My first employment after law school was with a Chicago law firm that specialized in Real Estate and Real Estate Development matters. I worked for them for several years, adding extensive experience in both residential and commercial real estate transactions and commercial real estate development to my legal expertise.

As a private practitioner in DuPage County, I continued practicing in these fields, and added representation of clients in divorce and other domestic and family related matters. I have now represented hundreds of clients relative to dissolution of their marriages. Several judges have also appointed me as Guardian ad-litem or attorney for children in troubled situations or in complex divorce cases.

I feel that my expertise in each of these areas compliment the other. For example, complex divorces often involve real estate or business holdings, with the accompanying valuation and ownership issues. Sometimes, a trust for the benefit of children is appropriate. In doing estate planning, there is often the need to plan appropriately for the second marriage situation. Real estate clients also often need to appropriately plan their estates, and to take title to their home in a manner that is consistent with their ultimate estate desires.

I was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois in 1971 and the U.S. Federal Court in 1971, and admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court in 1992. I am a member of both the Illinois and DuPage County Bar Associations.

I have been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn for some years, and am presently the President of the club. As such, I recently accepted, on behalf of our club, the Family Shelter Services Civic Partner of the year award. We work closely with Family Shelter Services and other organizations to provide benefits to children in need.

My primary hobby is the study of history, particularly of the American Civil War period. I am the past president of two Civil War Round Tables (Chicago and Salt Creek, which meets in Glen Ellyn, Illinois), and a member of three Round Tables (Chicago, Salt Creek and Milwaukee). I have also given presentations, on a number of topics, to round tables throughout the midwest.