Michael C. Doyen - Elgin, IL
Attorney at Doyen Law Group, LLC
Family Law Lawyers in Elgin, IL
1800 Larkin Ave. Elgin, IL 60123
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
39
Years
Experience
Elgin Family Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
Litigation: 92%
Attorney Information
Overview
Michael C. Doyen is a skilled litigator with over twenty-nine (29) years of experience trying civil and criminal cases. He has tried over forty (40) jury trials to verdict and has tried hundreds of non-jury cases. Mr. Doyen has concentrated his practice in the area of family law for over twenty-five (25) years.
Mr. Doyen was born in Springfield, Missouri and was raised in the St. Louis area. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1983, where he also received a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he sought a deferral of active duty military service to attend law school at St. Louis University School of Law. Mr. Doyen graduated from law school cum laude in 1986 and entered into active military duty in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Mr. Doyen attained the rank of Captain and served as Chief of Military Justice. In addition to his duties prosecuting military personnel by Courts-Martial, he also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Northern Division, prosecuting cases in the United States District Court. In 1990 Mr. Doyen returned to his wife's hometown of Elgin, Illinois and entered into private practice with his Father-in-Law, Robert A. Chapski where he practiced from 1990 until 2015. In 2016, as his daughter Kathleen and son Christopher reached the age at which time Mr. Doyen returned to Illinois, the family founded The Doyen Law Group, LLC.
Mr. Doyen has established himself as one of the top family law attorneys in Kane County, Illinois. From 1995 through 2001 Mr. Doyen was responsible for planning all Family Law Continuing Legal Education Seminars for the Kane County Bar Association. He was Chair of the Kane County Bar Association Family Law Committee form 1999 through 2001. In 2001 he joined the Board of the Kane County Bar Association as a Director, served as Secretary/Treasurer in 2001-2003, Vice-President from 2003 through 2005, and as President from 2005 to 2006. Mr. Doyen became President of the Kane County Bar Foundation on July 1, 2007 and served until June 30, 2014. He was the recipient of the Kane County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Award for 2002 and has provided a minimum of fifty (50) hours of pro bono service per year for the past twenty (20) years. Mr. Doyen was recognized as an "Illinois Super Lawyer" in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
While Mr. Doyen has extensive trial experience, the majority of the cases he handles are resolved by settlement. He appreciates that most clients want their cases resolved amicably and efficiently. His experience with the full range of family law issues enables him to navigate complex cases towards the resolution most favorable to his clients. These results are usually achieved by settlement, but when necessary he is prepared to zealously present his clients' cases at trial.
Mr. Doyen is available for consultation during regular business hours, but will also schedule appointments for evenings and Saturdays to accommodate his clients.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- 2002 Kane County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Award
- Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers – Thomson Reuters, 2006, 2007, and 2008
- “Illinois Super Lawyer” in 2006, 2007, and 2008
Other Sources of Feedback About Michael C. Doyen
Included on the 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Illinois Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Illinois Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Saint Louis University School of Law,
St. Louis,
Missouri, 1986
J.D.
Honors: cum laude
-
Saint Louis University School of Law,
St. Louis,
Missouri, 1986
-
Non Legal Education
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University of Notre Dame,
Notre Dame,
Indiana, 1983
B.A.
Honors: Received a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army
Major: Economics and Philosophy
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University of Notre Dame,
Notre Dame,
Indiana, 1983
Past Positions
- U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, Captain and Chief of Military Justice, 1986 - 1990
- United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Northern Division, Special Assistant
- Robert A. Chapski, Ltd., 1990 - 2015
Languages
-
English
-
Spanish
Classes and Seminars
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Family Law Seminar Chairperson, Kane County Bar Association, 1995 - 2001
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Business Valuation, Financial & Tax Issues Affecting Divorce, IICLE and the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, January 18, 2010
- Frequent presenter at Kane County Bar Association Family Law Seminars, 1992 - Present
Pro Bono Activities
- Kane County Bar Foundation, President, July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2014
- Prairie State Legal Services, Volunteer Attorney, 1990 - Present
- Administer Justice Volunteer Attorney, 2000 - Present
Representative Cases
-
Irmo Schmitt
- Citation: 391 Ill. App.3d 1010
- Court: 2nd Dist.
- Year: 2009
-
Irmo Ackerley
- Citation: 333 Ill. App.3d 382
- Court: 2nd Dist.
- Year: 2002
-
Irmo Golden
- Citation: 358 Ill. App.3d 464
- Court: 2nd Dist.
- Year: 2005
-
Voga v. Voga
- Citation: 376 Ill. App.3d 1075
- Court: 2nd Dist.
- Year: 2007
-
Eden v. Robert A. Chapski, Ltd.
- Citation: 405 F.3d 582
- Court: 7th Cir.
- Year: 2005
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1987
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2002
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2011
Other Affiliations
- Kane County Bar Association, 2005 - 2006 (Past President)
- Illinois State Bar Association (Member)
- Kane County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, 1999 - 2001 (Chair)
- Kane County Bar Association (Director, 2001)
- Kane County Bar Association, 2001 - 2003 (Secretary/Treasurer)
- Kane County Bar Association, 2003 - 2005 (Vice-President)
Photo
Contact
1800 Larkin Ave.
Elgin, IL 60123
Phone: 847-720-5815
Fax: 847-728-5125
Email: Send a message
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