Susan Butler - a Peoria, Illinois (IL) Family Law Lawyer

Peoria Family Law Lawyer

Updated: 03/02/2026

Areas of Practice

Family Law
Adoption
Child Support
Custody & Visitation
Divorce

Attorney Information

Overview

Susan Butler is the Founding Partner of Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C., and has earned her reputation as a successful family law litigator and attorney over 40 years of practice in Central Illinois.

Susan has broad experience handling complex asset division, pension issues, and maintenance matters for both men and women. Clients seek her representation for challenging cases such as those involving professional practices, business interests and farm properties. She has expertise in handling difficult employment, pension and retirement issues, including dealing with stock options, executive compensation, Golden Parachute issues, and the drafting of qualified domestic relations orders and qualified orders for the division of federal and state pensions.

Susan is a versatile attorney who offers her clients a range of options for resolving their disputes. She is an experienced litigator who handles her cases with finesse in the courtroom, but she also has a record of settling even the toughest of cases by agreement between the parties.

Susan believes the client comes first, and should be treated with respect. She is a natural advocate, learning what is important to her client, and then persuasively telling the client’s story to the court to achieve a successful result. Susan thrives on researching the law, analyzing the facts, and being fully prepared.

Susan also has extensive experience in preparing pre- and post- nuptial agreements, from both the side of the asset-advantaged, and the disadvantaged, future spouse. She has a very successful record in the Third and Fourth District Illinois Appellate Courts, with numerous appellate affirmations.

Susan and her husband are blessed to have two children and five grandchildren who make life even more rich and exciting. Susan is a Stephen Minister and a lover of art, music, travel, philosophy and holidays.

EDUCATION

Susan (Hickman) Butler graduated magna cum laude from the University of Memphis in 1974, where she was inducted into the Mortar Board Society honoring excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from The Law School of Drake University in 1977. At Drake, she served as Editor of the Drake Legal Research Service and as Research Assistant to Associate Dean Arthur K. Ryman. She was admitted to the Iowa State Bar Association in 1977, and she practiced in Iowa until returning to her native Central Illinois where she was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association in 1979. She is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Susan Butler included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Outstanding Achievement Award for Professions from the Pekin YWCA
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award, Pekin YWCA
Super Lawyer – 2005 to present
Woman of Achievement Award
Women in Management
Boss of the Year Peoria Legal Secretaries Association
Leading Lawyers, 2020 - 2024

Other Sources of Feedback About Susan Butler

Included on the 2005 Illinois Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa, 1977
  Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Honors: Research Assistant to Associate Dean Arthur K. Ryman
  Law Review: Drake Legal Research Service, Editor
Non Legal Education
- University of Memphis, 1974
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: Mortar Board Society honoring excellence in scholarship, leadership and service

Current Employment Position(s)

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Founding Partner
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Bar Admissions

Illinois, 1979
Iowa, 1977
Supreme Court of Illinois
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois

Other Affiliations

Peoria County Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Past President, Women in Management, Peoria Chapter
Tazewell County Bar Association

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Contact

Peoria, IL

211 Fulton St.
Suite 603
Peoria, IL 61602

Directions

Phone: 309-741-8227

Fax: 309-263-2053

Email: Send a message

Websites:

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Credit Cards Accepted
Virtual Appointments

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Susan Butler - Peoria, IL