Bryan S. Estes

Partner since May 24, 1993

Profile

Mr. Estes was trial counsel who successfully argued for the application of "parent alienation" in obtaining approximately an equal division of parenting time for the father of his minor daughter. The application of the "parent alienation" theory was affirmed by the Second District Appellate Court as only one of two (2) cited cases in the State of Illinois which have affirmed such theory. In addition, the trial court's decision with respect to a request for an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 215 Evaluation provided impetus for the Illinois Legislature to enact a provision for the appointment of an independent custody evaluation pursuant to 604.5 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

Mr. Estes was trial counsel for a seventy (70) year old biological father who sought and was awarded sole custody of his five (5) year old son when the father never previously had a relationship with his son due to the mother's concealment of said child. The mother of the minor filed six (6) various appeals and a request for filing yet another appeal late. All appeals were dismissed and the request for filing a late appeal was denied by the Second District Appellate Court.

Mr. Estes successfully vacated several Judgments for Dissolution of Marriage in DuPage County, Illinois due to fraud, unconscionability and coercion. In one such case, Mr. Estes successfully tried and persuaded the trail court to vacate the award of custody of the three (3) children awarded to the father and ultimately awarded custody of said children to the mother.

Mr. Estes was trial counsel for a parent who sought custody of children when the other parent engaged in or demonstrated interest in sexual deviant behaviors such as; bestiality; sexual masochism, ultimate bondage; sadism; a sexual proclivity for interest in depiction of minors in sexual nude poses. Mr. Estes was trial counsel who successfully tried several custody cases in parentage and dissolution proceedings that ultimately resulted in the award of sole custody of minors to the parent which Mr. Estes represented.

Mr. Estes was trial counsel who successfully tried and traced the acquisition of assets which were determined to be the non-marital property of the spouse who asserted the claim. Mr. Estes has successfully obtained custody of minor children for grandparents of said minor children. Mr. Estes has successfully tried, prosecuted and defended numerous Petitions for Order of Protection for his clients.

Mr. Estes was trial counsel who successfully prosecuted the criminal charge of aggravated sexual abuse by a neighbor to a six (6) year old child for which the defendant was sentenced to incarceration in a correctional facility in the State of Illinois. Mr. Estes vigorously advocates the position of his clients in complicated custody and visitation cases. Mr. Estes also adeptly untangles complex financial facts to maximize the benefits for his clients both at trial, and in settlement negotiations. Mr. Estes has tried successfully more than one hundred cases. Mr. Estes ensures that his client's positions and claims are persuasively presented to the court when efforts to amicably resolve the parties' differences have failed.

Areas of Practice

• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Collaborative Law
• Mediation
• Family Law
• Appeals

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1987

Education

• Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, Illinois
  • J.D. - 1987
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
  • M.A. - 1983
  • Major: International Relations
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
  • B.A. - 1981
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Associations and Memberships

• DuPage County Judiciary Committee, Committee Member
• DuPage County Family Law Committee, Committee Member
• Illinois State Bar Association, Active Member
• DuPage County Bar Association, Active Member

Past Employment Positions

• DuPage County, Illinois, Associate States Attorney, 1989 - 1993
• Guerard, Kalina, Ulrich, & Varchetto, Associate Attorney, 1987 - 1989
• Fourth District Appellate Prosecutor's Office, Clerk, 1985
• U.S. Senate Candidate Paul Simon, Southern Illinois Campaign Coordinator for U.S. Senate (26 counties)

Pro Bono Activities

• Eagle Nature Foundation, Board of Directors