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Biography
My practice is limited primarily to two areas, driver's license reinstatement and DUI. My background affords you a unique perspective.
For all of your professional needs, call Ted at 217-525-0520.
For 15 years, I heard driver's license cases as a contractual hearing officer for the Secretary of State (DMV). This experiences has provided me with the opportunity to understand how the opposing side thinks and operates.
Education
- University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
- J.D. | Law
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- Knox College
- B.A. | Ecnomics and Business
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- Honors: Honors: Cum Laude Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
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Professional Experience
- Owner
- Harvatin Law Offices PC
- - Current
- I began practicing law in Springfield Illinois in 1981. In 2000, my partner became a judge, and I have been solo since that time. I formerly took on virtually any case. But the law has now grown too complicated for me to be "all things to all people". As a result, I limit my practice to a few areas, and I know the law in those areas quite well.
Publications
Articles & Publications
- https://www.harvatinlaw.com/theodore-j-harvatin.html
- DUI Will Travel: When Drunk Driving Cases Cross State Lines.
- Illinois Bar Journal
- Strategies in Handling DWI and DUI Cases: Driver’s License Hearings with the Illinois Secretary of State
- Lorman Educational Services
- Court Supervision in Traffic Cases: New Strategies for Amended Laws
- llinois Bar Journal
Speaking Engagements
- MDDP, RDP, and CDL issues, DUI and Traffic Law Update, Naperville, Illinois
- Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Law and Courts Section Council
- CDL issues, including "masking"; Court Supervision Updates, DUI and Traffic Law Update, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Law and Courts Section Council
- Updates to legislation and administrative rules governing Illinois Secretary of State Driver's License Hearings, DUI and Traffic Law Update, East Peoria, Illinois
- Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Law and Courts Section Council
- Additional topic: Suspensions for traffic law violations, supervision, CDL and GDL issue.
- Updates to legislation and administrative rules governing Illinois Secretary of State Driver's License Hearings., DUI and Traffic Law Update, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Law and Courts Section Council
- Updates to legislation and administrative rules governing Illinois Secretary of State Driver's License Hearings, DUI & Traffic Issues for the Defense, Naperville, Illinois
- Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Awards
- Membership
- Mensa Society
- Membership in Mensa is open to persons who have attained a score within the upper two percent of the general population on an approved intelligence test that has been properly administered and supervised. There is no other qualification or disqualification for membership eligibility.
Professional Associations
- Illinois Trial Lawyer's Association
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Statewide organization whose members, through the courts, public opinion and the elective process, advance the interests of injury victims.
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- Illinois State Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Association of Illinois lawyers who work to improve the legal process.
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- Sangamon County Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Springfield is the seat of government for Sangamon County. Abraham Lincoln practiced law here. The Association strives to carry on the traditions of Lincoln to improve the delivery of legal services to our community.
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Illinois
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- U.S. Federal Court
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Fees
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Free Consultation
Initial telephone consultation with experienced and knowledgeable staff. I will follow up. -
Credit Cards Accepted
VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover and Electronic Checks. -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
For driver's license hearings, partial payment with balance not due until day of hearing, affording you the opportunity to budget your fees.
Practice Areas
- DUI & DWI
- Traffic Tickets
- Suspended License
Additional Practice Area
- Driver's License Reinstatement
Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
- Q. Can an adult hire an attorney for someone else's minor child without the parent's consent?
- A: No perjury because he has not testified under oath. As far as why the guardian is not doing a better job, that’s not really a legal question. Kids do some silly things, both your son and the other kid.
Not knowing all the details, I would be a little bit concerned that the lawyer who the father of the apparent wrongdoer hired might have a conflict because to help your son it’s possible he would have to throw under the bus the son of the man who is paying him.
- Q. When creating a petition to rescind statuary summary suspension?
- A: Although local practices can vary, in general, the petition itself is just a check the box exercise. Then you file a supporting legal memorandum as a separate document. In your case, it also sounds like you should also be filing a motion to suppress.
To be honest with you, the chances that you are going to get very far without legal training and without an objective mind are not that great. It’s relatively rare for an experience train lawyer, who has no emotional stake in the case to prevail on these types of motions. Since I’m all the way in Springfield, I’m not trolling for a client. I’m just giving you my honest assessment.
- Q. Can I get a charge of driving with a suspended license plate thrown out if I show proof of insurance prior to the stop?
- A: They probably required you to obtain a special type of insurance called SR 22. If you only had regular insurance and they wanted SR 22, that would not have fixed the problem
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Ted Harvatin -- Driver's License Reinstatement
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