Theodore J. Harvatin - Springfield, IL
Attorney at Harvatin Law Offices, PC
Criminal Law Lawyers in Springfield, IL
1100 S 5th St Springfield, IL 62703
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
45
Years
Experience
Springfield Criminal Law Lawyer
Updated: 02/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Law
- DUI/DWI
- Traffic Violations
- Driver’s License Reinstatement
Attorney Information
Overview
Theodore J. (Ted) Harvatin grew up in Rochester, Illinois, a farming and bedroom community near Springfield. His mother was from Benton, Illinois, where her parents, who emigrated from Macedonia (the former Yugoslavia), started and ran a bakery for 40 years.
Ted's father, who was an electrical engineer at Illinois Bell Telephone, grew up in Sesser, Illinois. Ted's dad's parents emigrated from Croatia, another part of Yugoslavia, and Ted's grandfather Harvatin toiled in the Sesser coalmines. Ted's uncle played professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals' baseball organization.
After graduating from Rochester High School as a member of the National Honor Society, Ted attended Knox College, a private liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, a small community near Peoria. Ted majored in economics and business administration, and graduated Cum Laude (high honors). The college faculty selected him for membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious academic fraternity in the nation, whose members represent the top 10% of their graduating class.
Ted was admitted to, and graduated from, the University of Illinois College of Law, a Big Ten university located in Urbana-Champaign. Based on his law school admission test scores, Ted was accepted as a member of the Mensa International Society, which according to its web site is a society [that] welcomes people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population.
Ted began practicing law in Springfield in 1981. He believes that his diverse family background and intellectual accomplishments give him unique insight into the problems that his clients face in today's world.
Ted and his 8 year-old son Alex enjoy anything having to do with cars. Ted is also an avid bicyclist. Harvatin Law Offices is a sponsor of Team Mack, a local semi-professional bicycle-racing team. Ted himself is a former Big Brother and is a sponsor of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Sangamon County.
Awards and Honors
Other Sources of Feedback About Theodore J. Harvatin
Included on the 2026Illinois 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
- 2006 Illinois Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
University of Illinois College of Law,
Illinois, 1981
J.D.
-
University of Illinois College of Law,
Illinois, 1981
-
Non Legal Education
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Knox College,
Galesburg,
Illinois, 1978
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
-
Knox College,
Galesburg,
Illinois, 1978
Representative Cases
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In re Marriage of Dewhurst
- Citation: 116 Ill. App. 3d 423; 452 N.E.2d 139
- Court: 4th Dist.
- Year: 1983
- Serial Number: 1983134503
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Davis v. Industrial Comm'n (Charles J. Gramlich)
- Citation: 261 Ill. App. 3d 849; 634 N.E.2d 1117
- Court: 4th Dist. Industrial Commission Div.
- Year: 1994
- Serial Number: 1994108604
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Estate of Goffinet v. Union Planters Bank, N.A.
- Citation: 318 Ill. App. 3d 152; 742 N.E.2d 874
- Court: 4th Dist.
- Year: 2001
- Serial Number: 2001113402
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City of Springfield v. Indus. Comm'n. (Glenn Wessel)
- Citation: 328 Ill. App. 3d 448; 766 N.E.2d 261
- Court: 4th Dist. Industrial Commission Div.
- Year: 2002
- Serial Number: 2002175431
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Clark v. Jesse White (IL Secretary of State)
- Citation: 798 N.E.2d 412
- Court: 4th Dist.
- Year: 2003
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1981
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1983
Other Affiliations
- Sangamon County Bar Association, 1981 - Present (Member)
- Illinois State Bar Association (Member)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Members)
Contact
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