Denise Kuzniewski

Denise M. Kuzniewski has been practicing law in McHenry County in excess of 30 years. She is an experienced attorney with a law practice primarily focusing in all aspects of family law. Denise began her legal career at the McHenry County States Attorneys Office in 1992. She was assigned to juvenile court handling all cases relating to children. Thereafter, she went into private practice with a continued focus on family law and juvenile cases. In 2003, Denise opened her own legal practice and has been the sole practitioner in the Law Office of Denise M. Kuzniewski since that time. Over the years her practice has included the handling of contested and non-contested cases. She has a vast amount of experience in negotiation and the settlement of cases which are resolved without the need for an adversarial trial. However, when trial is necessary and the case proceeds to litigation, she brings years of trial experience to the table. She has litigated all aspects of family law cases including financial and property issues, complex financial matters, highly contested custody/allocation of parental responsibilities in addition to support and other matters. Denise has also handled successful DCFS appeals and juvenile abuse and neglect and delinquency cases. Based on her extensive experience with cases involving children and her required training, Denise has been appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem in numerous cases. A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney appointed by the courts to represent the children in contested custody or visitation or abuse/neglect cases. Such an appointment requires investigation, interviewing, assessment of the best interests of the children and, ultimately, a recommendation to the Court regarding the custody, parenting time, and best interest of the children. In this role, she is often required to testify at the trial or hearing regarding her investigation. This experience has provided a unique insight to custody and child-related issues, including cases involving the Department of Children and Family Services, relocation cases and all aspects of contested custody/allocation of parental responsibility issues. She represents not only children but fathers, mothers, husbands and wives in all types of family law cases. Denise has the experience to represent her clients through a successful negotiated settlement or a highly contested complex trial. Her extensive experience in the area of family law has provided her with a strong ability to assess each case to determine if the best result can be achieved through swift but thorough negotiation or if more intensive litigation and trial advocacy is necessary. In either scenario Denise strives to work closely with and zealously represent each and every client who entrusts her with their case. Education J. D., Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana, 1992 B. A., Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois, 1989 Honors: Deans List, Major: History/Political Science and Communications Professional & Bar Association Memberships Illinois State Bar Association, Member Since: 1992 McHenry County Bar Association, Member Since: 1992 Big Brother/Big Sister Board of Directors 1994-1996 McHenry County Bar Association Mentoring Program 2014-2015 McHenry County Bar Association Law Day Committee 2001-2005 Honors and Awards Prairie State Legal Services Legal Aide Service and Commitment Award, 2011-2012 Peace and Justice Award 2020