Debra J. Braselton

Debra J. Braselton is an experienced family law attorney with a unique background and a career built around families. Debra's first career was as a certified nurse midwife at a large teaching hospital in Chicago. During her career as a nurse midwife, Debra gained a wealth of knowledge and experience with families, particularly with families in crisis. Debra's clients benefit from her experience and enjoy her unique sensitivity to the personal nature of their family law matters.
Debra handles cases involving divorce, custody, visitation, domestic violence, guardianship, and adoption in Cook, Dupage, Kane, and surrounding counties. She is adept at counseling her clients as to the proper course of action and regularly handles trials, pretrial conferences, evidentiary hearings, and contested motions in her cases. Debra is also a skilled negotiator – as comfortable developing and presenting a complex settlement proposal as she is evaluating and responding to a settlement proposal presented by her opponent. Whether she's handling litigated cases or negotiating settlements, Debra's skills help achieve the best possible results for her clients.
An advocate of alternative dispute resolution in family law matters, Debra was among the first attorneys in Illinois to receive training in collaborative law. Approximately half of Debra’s divorce practice is comprised of collaborative cases, and she is actively involved in the Illinois and international collaborative law professional organizations.
Debra achieves an out-of-court settlement in 95% of her divorce cases, a success rate she attributes to meticulous case preparation, excellent client communication, and a willingness to aggressively try the case when settlement options have been exhausted.
Debra demonstrates her commitment to professional responsibility through her active involvement in local bar associations, not-for-profit divorce educational organizations, and as a hearing officer for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Loyola University of Chicago School of Law

Juris Doctor

Rush University

M.S. | Maternal & Child Nursing

Rush University

B.S. | Nursing

Certified Child Representative

18th Judicial Circuit, Dupage County, IL

Certified Nurse Midwife

American College of Nurse Midwives

Registered Professional Nurse

State of Illinois

Illinois State Bar

Member

Current

DuPage County Bar Association

Member

Current

Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission

Chairperson, Hearing Board

Current

Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois

Officer and Executive board member

Current

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

Member

Current

Chicago Area Families for Adoption

Member

Current

Illinois

Since 1994

• Adoption
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Collaborative Law