team-member

Nancy Shafer

N/A

N/A

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Child custody

Language

English

About

Sage Counsel, LLC: dedicated to serving clients’ needs with compassion and respect Nancy Chausow Shafer of Sage Counsel, LLC (formerly Chausow Shafer PC) grew up in Highland Park and attended Highland Park High School, and moved back in 1989 to raise her family there. It was a natural choice to establish her practice in the hometown that she has always loved. Nancy has been a lawyer for more than 40 years—she concentrates in Matrimonial Law: Litigation, Mediation and Collaboration.“We partner with the client and work together to develop an individual strategy for every case, after a frank discussion of process options, substance and cost,” said co-managing partner, Nancy Chausow Shafer. “Our clients are assured the highest standard of advocacy, addressing both the immediate legal issues at hand, as well as the impact upon the client's future.” Nancy, and her co-managing partner, Taryn Fisher, as well as the other attorneys in her firm, understand fully how the decisions made during the divorce process affect each and every member of a family. Whether through settlement, litigation, mediation or collaborative process, the family-law attorneys at Sage Counsel, LLC take into consideration many alternatives to move cases forward with the best possible outcome.  “We do whatever best helps us meet our clients’ goals, making sure each client understands the range of possible options and the likely outcomes through court and settlement,” said Nancy. “In many cases, we can find more satisfying ways of resolving issues for clients and their pocketbooks.”  Advice and tips for those facing divorce Chausow Shafer understands that those going through divorce undergo emotional strain that can hamper their better judgment. Her firm can help you sort through your priorities – such as your children’s well being and your financial security – and reach a satisfactory, realistic goal. The first critical choice you should make after the decision to get a divorce is “how” you will get divorced.  The options for the process you choose can really impact not only the costs, but also the outcomes. Whether mediation, collaborative, more traditional settlement processes or even litigation, Chausow Shafer has the experience and training to assist.

Practices Areas

Child custody

Divorce and separation

Family

Language

English

Contact

Sage Counsel, LLC734 Central Avenue Suite 200Highland Park, IL, 60035

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

anonymous
May 4, 2021

I had first contacted Nancy Chausow-Schaeffer on a referral in early 2014 when my previous marriage, where I had two young children, was having alarming marital issues. Nancy was able to take an objective view and guide me through the process of divorce in a calm and patient manner while also being very professional while interacting with my soon-to-be ex-wife's attorney. The divorce went smooth and finalized quickly over two months. Nancy reassured me that she would be there for me if issues arose over the next 17 years. I ended up retaining Nancy’s services again, just a few years post decree due to a JPA modification my ex-wife requested. Over the next 5 1/2 years, my ex-wife had a few marital changes, employment changes, and created a very challenging co-parenting environment. Nancy was by my side the whole way and kept us focused non-related topics arose. With a final order in place, I believe Nancy did the best she could to obtain a fair outcome and will be by my side if challenges come up again in the future. I would recommend Nancy to anyone looking for an attorney who will objectively guide you through the divorce process and then be there when future family law needs occur.

Amy Holleman
April 1, 2021

What Nancy is doing is saving people who are going through the dark night of the soul. I know what it’s like to go through trauma. I know how much it hurts. I got to the other side. If you feel like you don’t know exactly where to go or what to do, Nancy has the answers. Regardless of how despondent you are or your situation is, Nancy will fight for you. Nancy fought for my future and negotiated my best life. There are few people walking this earth that have a rare and powerful combination of compassion and dedication for their clients.

Martina
December 13, 2019

Taryn was thorough with all issues & protected my interests with great attention. She was strong where it mattered and deeply caring & understanding of my situation. I could not recommend her more highly.

Liz
June 9, 2017

I hired Nancy Shafer to deal with a messy divorce after 26-years of marriage and a long illness. She was highly responsive and sensitive to my needs. She is experienced in court room appearances and writing MSAs. I would not hesitate to use her again for any legal work I needed.

Kellie
May 14, 2016

I was referred to Nancy by a friend whose former spouse was actually represented by Nancy in their divorce. And I couldn't be more thankful! Nancy helped me tremendously during my divorce and custody battle. First of all, Nancy was one of the first professionals who believed me about my former spouse's emotional and verbal abuse. Secondly, she is highly knowledgeable about children with special needs labels (including ADHD, Autism, and Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Thirdly, she has a great deal of experience with the intricacies of military divorces and equitable pension disbursement (she is an expert in the Navy especially). Finally, and most importantly for me, Nancy has a deep reservoir of compassion, patience, and commitment. Because of the abusive nature of my former spouse, he fought almost every request I made and our divorce and custody process took 3 years and ended with a full trial. Nancy stuck with me and fought for me. Thank you Nancy for helping me protect myself and my son. Thank you for helping us keep the economic and legal protections we needed to start a new life. I will be forever grateful. I give Nancy Chausow Shafer my greatest endorsement and recommendation!

anonymous
April 26, 2016

Nancy gets the job done and cares for the well being of her client! Not your typical attorney! Nancy made me feel safe, valued and respected during an extremely difficult time in my life. Nancy is a smart, hard working and supportive person you want on your side!

anonymous
April 22, 2016

We chose the collaborative divorce process. For various reasons, the process took longer and was more expensive than anticipated. However, the outcome was satisfactory to both parties and as yet, does not require revision. I appreciated the time and effort that Ms. Shafer put into the case. Although she was my attorney, she strove for the best settlement, given the specifics and circumstances, which I appreciated. She was always available for a quick phone consultation or advice on a particular part of the law. Finally (and perhaps most important) was that she ensured that the settlement would be acceptable to the judge.

Bill
April 4, 2016

Nancy is very thorough and gets the job done. It did help that I was on top of all documents and organized, which I highly recommend that you be when hiring any divorce lawyer. You should never rely solely on your lawyer to do everything for you. Nancy also is very personable, level-headed, and very experienced. If I ever get divorced again, she would be rehired immediately :)

Stephanie
April 4, 2016

Ms. Nancy was extremely helpful from beginning to end. I was originally blessed to have Ms. Nancy through the Pro Bono program due my inability to pay for the fees and desperate need of help while serving in the military. I was experiencing an excessive amounts of stress and not only did she resolve my child custody issue but she out of the kindness of her heart assisted me in my entire divorce process including child support. I never felt pressured or lied to during this process. Ms. Nancy was clear and ALWAYS assisted me in making the best decisions for not only me but for my child. There were several times where I was confused and almost made poor decisions but Ms. Nancy stepped in and not only gave her advice as a lawyer but also as a wise woman. Her staff was extremely helpful and I was always made aware of my options and the next steps; especially with Ms. Taryn. I felt as if they had my best interest. I didn't feel the need to question their motives nor argue their advice. There were many times when I needed things explained over and over again and I was always provided with the information. There was something about Ms. Nancy's calmness that made me feel comfortable. I wont get into personal details but Ms. Nancy provided me with assistance that she did not have to and I am forever thankful! I honestly did not see my issue getting resolved without her. The other parties lawyer was often rude and aggressive but Ms. Nancy ALWAYS won the battle. I highly recommend her and I KNOW if I have any future issues with my previous case she will be the FIRST one I call. It's not everyday where you will find a lawyer who will go above and beyond to help you out the kindness of her heart. She saw first hand how difficult something was for me and how I was being treated and took it upon herself to support me and not leave me hanging. No one understands how thankful I am and how many tears of joy I've cried!

Christopher
April 3, 2016

I found Nancy through my military legal department and she agreed to take on my case for free, which helped me more than I can say. I was going through a divorce, and because I am stationed in Italy and the divorce was in Chicago, I needed assistance with making sure all of the paperwork was in order. I emailed her several times with a lot of legal questions along with personal questions and she was always very timely in her responses. She was never biased, if she felt something I was trying to do was wrong or wouldn't work, she would tell me, but then suggest an alternate course of action. Even though the case is closed now, she still offers me assistance, saying she will happily answer any questions I have and would represent me again in the future if needed. I will definitely keep her contact information and use her again in the future if needed and would happily pay for her services as I think they are worth every penny. She is a great person and obviously takes her job seriously and does everything she can to help her clients.

anonymous
May 4, 2021

I had first contacted Nancy Chausow-Schaeffer on a referral in early 2014 when my previous marriage, where I had two young children, was having alarming marital issues. Nancy was able to take an objective view and guide me through the process of divorce in a calm and patient manner while also being very professional while interacting with my soon-to-be ex-wife's attorney. The divorce went smooth and finalized quickly over two months. Nancy reassured me that she would be there for me if issues arose over the next 17 years. I ended up retaining Nancy’s services again, just a few years post decree due to a JPA modification my ex-wife requested. Over the next 5 1/2 years, my ex-wife had a few marital changes, employment changes, and created a very challenging co-parenting environment. Nancy was by my side the whole way and kept us focused non-related topics arose. With a final order in place, I believe Nancy did the best she could to obtain a fair outcome and will be by my side if challenges come up again in the future. I would recommend Nancy to anyone looking for an attorney who will objectively guide you through the divorce process and then be there when future family law needs occur.

Amy Holleman
April 1, 2021

What Nancy is doing is saving people who are going through the dark night of the soul. I know what it’s like to go through trauma. I know how much it hurts. I got to the other side. If you feel like you don’t know exactly where to go or what to do, Nancy has the answers. Regardless of how despondent you are or your situation is, Nancy will fight for you. Nancy fought for my future and negotiated my best life. There are few people walking this earth that have a rare and powerful combination of compassion and dedication for their clients.

Martina
December 13, 2019

Taryn was thorough with all issues & protected my interests with great attention. She was strong where it mattered and deeply caring & understanding of my situation. I could not recommend her more highly.

Liz
June 9, 2017

I hired Nancy Shafer to deal with a messy divorce after 26-years of marriage and a long illness. She was highly responsive and sensitive to my needs. She is experienced in court room appearances and writing MSAs. I would not hesitate to use her again for any legal work I needed.

Kellie
May 14, 2016

I was referred to Nancy by a friend whose former spouse was actually represented by Nancy in their divorce. And I couldn't be more thankful! Nancy helped me tremendously during my divorce and custody battle. First of all, Nancy was one of the first professionals who believed me about my former spouse's emotional and verbal abuse. Secondly, she is highly knowledgeable about children with special needs labels (including ADHD, Autism, and Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Thirdly, she has a great deal of experience with the intricacies of military divorces and equitable pension disbursement (she is an expert in the Navy especially). Finally, and most importantly for me, Nancy has a deep reservoir of compassion, patience, and commitment. Because of the abusive nature of my former spouse, he fought almost every request I made and our divorce and custody process took 3 years and ended with a full trial. Nancy stuck with me and fought for me. Thank you Nancy for helping me protect myself and my son. Thank you for helping us keep the economic and legal protections we needed to start a new life. I will be forever grateful. I give Nancy Chausow Shafer my greatest endorsement and recommendation!

anonymous
April 26, 2016

Nancy gets the job done and cares for the well being of her client! Not your typical attorney! Nancy made me feel safe, valued and respected during an extremely difficult time in my life. Nancy is a smart, hard working and supportive person you want on your side!

anonymous
April 22, 2016

We chose the collaborative divorce process. For various reasons, the process took longer and was more expensive than anticipated. However, the outcome was satisfactory to both parties and as yet, does not require revision. I appreciated the time and effort that Ms. Shafer put into the case. Although she was my attorney, she strove for the best settlement, given the specifics and circumstances, which I appreciated. She was always available for a quick phone consultation or advice on a particular part of the law. Finally (and perhaps most important) was that she ensured that the settlement would be acceptable to the judge.

Bill
April 4, 2016

Nancy is very thorough and gets the job done. It did help that I was on top of all documents and organized, which I highly recommend that you be when hiring any divorce lawyer. You should never rely solely on your lawyer to do everything for you. Nancy also is very personable, level-headed, and very experienced. If I ever get divorced again, she would be rehired immediately :)

Stephanie
April 4, 2016

Ms. Nancy was extremely helpful from beginning to end. I was originally blessed to have Ms. Nancy through the Pro Bono program due my inability to pay for the fees and desperate need of help while serving in the military. I was experiencing an excessive amounts of stress and not only did she resolve my child custody issue but she out of the kindness of her heart assisted me in my entire divorce process including child support. I never felt pressured or lied to during this process. Ms. Nancy was clear and ALWAYS assisted me in making the best decisions for not only me but for my child. There were several times where I was confused and almost made poor decisions but Ms. Nancy stepped in and not only gave her advice as a lawyer but also as a wise woman. Her staff was extremely helpful and I was always made aware of my options and the next steps; especially with Ms. Taryn. I felt as if they had my best interest. I didn't feel the need to question their motives nor argue their advice. There were many times when I needed things explained over and over again and I was always provided with the information. There was something about Ms. Nancy's calmness that made me feel comfortable. I wont get into personal details but Ms. Nancy provided me with assistance that she did not have to and I am forever thankful! I honestly did not see my issue getting resolved without her. The other parties lawyer was often rude and aggressive but Ms. Nancy ALWAYS won the battle. I highly recommend her and I KNOW if I have any future issues with my previous case she will be the FIRST one I call. It's not everyday where you will find a lawyer who will go above and beyond to help you out the kindness of her heart. She saw first hand how difficult something was for me and how I was being treated and took it upon herself to support me and not leave me hanging. No one understands how thankful I am and how many tears of joy I've cried!

Christopher
April 3, 2016

I found Nancy through my military legal department and she agreed to take on my case for free, which helped me more than I can say. I was going through a divorce, and because I am stationed in Italy and the divorce was in Chicago, I needed assistance with making sure all of the paperwork was in order. I emailed her several times with a lot of legal questions along with personal questions and she was always very timely in her responses. She was never biased, if she felt something I was trying to do was wrong or wouldn't work, she would tell me, but then suggest an alternate course of action. Even though the case is closed now, she still offers me assistance, saying she will happily answer any questions I have and would represent me again in the future if needed. I will definitely keep her contact information and use her again in the future if needed and would happily pay for her services as I think they are worth every penny. She is a great person and obviously takes her job seriously and does everything she can to help her clients.

anonymous
May 4, 2021

I had first contacted Nancy Chausow-Schaeffer on a referral in early 2014 when my previous marriage, where I had two young children, was having alarming marital issues. Nancy was able to take an objective view and guide me through the process of divorce in a calm and patient manner while also being very professional while interacting with my soon-to-be ex-wife's attorney. The divorce went smooth and finalized quickly over two months. Nancy reassured me that she would be there for me if issues arose over the next 17 years. I ended up retaining Nancy’s services again, just a few years post decree due to a JPA modification my ex-wife requested. Over the next 5 1/2 years, my ex-wife had a few marital changes, employment changes, and created a very challenging co-parenting environment. Nancy was by my side the whole way and kept us focused non-related topics arose. With a final order in place, I believe Nancy did the best she could to obtain a fair outcome and will be by my side if challenges come up again in the future. I would recommend Nancy to anyone looking for an attorney who will objectively guide you through the divorce process and then be there when future family law needs occur.

Amy Holleman
April 1, 2021

What Nancy is doing is saving people who are going through the dark night of the soul. I know what it’s like to go through trauma. I know how much it hurts. I got to the other side. If you feel like you don’t know exactly where to go or what to do, Nancy has the answers. Regardless of how despondent you are or your situation is, Nancy will fight for you. Nancy fought for my future and negotiated my best life. There are few people walking this earth that have a rare and powerful combination of compassion and dedication for their clients.

Martina
December 13, 2019

Taryn was thorough with all issues & protected my interests with great attention. She was strong where it mattered and deeply caring & understanding of my situation. I could not recommend her more highly.

Liz
June 9, 2017

I hired Nancy Shafer to deal with a messy divorce after 26-years of marriage and a long illness. She was highly responsive and sensitive to my needs. She is experienced in court room appearances and writing MSAs. I would not hesitate to use her again for any legal work I needed.

Kellie
May 14, 2016

I was referred to Nancy by a friend whose former spouse was actually represented by Nancy in their divorce. And I couldn't be more thankful! Nancy helped me tremendously during my divorce and custody battle. First of all, Nancy was one of the first professionals who believed me about my former spouse's emotional and verbal abuse. Secondly, she is highly knowledgeable about children with special needs labels (including ADHD, Autism, and Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Thirdly, she has a great deal of experience with the intricacies of military divorces and equitable pension disbursement (she is an expert in the Navy especially). Finally, and most importantly for me, Nancy has a deep reservoir of compassion, patience, and commitment. Because of the abusive nature of my former spouse, he fought almost every request I made and our divorce and custody process took 3 years and ended with a full trial. Nancy stuck with me and fought for me. Thank you Nancy for helping me protect myself and my son. Thank you for helping us keep the economic and legal protections we needed to start a new life. I will be forever grateful. I give Nancy Chausow Shafer my greatest endorsement and recommendation!

anonymous
April 26, 2016

Nancy gets the job done and cares for the well being of her client! Not your typical attorney! Nancy made me feel safe, valued and respected during an extremely difficult time in my life. Nancy is a smart, hard working and supportive person you want on your side!

anonymous
April 22, 2016

We chose the collaborative divorce process. For various reasons, the process took longer and was more expensive than anticipated. However, the outcome was satisfactory to both parties and as yet, does not require revision. I appreciated the time and effort that Ms. Shafer put into the case. Although she was my attorney, she strove for the best settlement, given the specifics and circumstances, which I appreciated. She was always available for a quick phone consultation or advice on a particular part of the law. Finally (and perhaps most important) was that she ensured that the settlement would be acceptable to the judge.

Bill
April 4, 2016

Nancy is very thorough and gets the job done. It did help that I was on top of all documents and organized, which I highly recommend that you be when hiring any divorce lawyer. You should never rely solely on your lawyer to do everything for you. Nancy also is very personable, level-headed, and very experienced. If I ever get divorced again, she would be rehired immediately :)

Stephanie
April 4, 2016

Ms. Nancy was extremely helpful from beginning to end. I was originally blessed to have Ms. Nancy through the Pro Bono program due my inability to pay for the fees and desperate need of help while serving in the military. I was experiencing an excessive amounts of stress and not only did she resolve my child custody issue but she out of the kindness of her heart assisted me in my entire divorce process including child support. I never felt pressured or lied to during this process. Ms. Nancy was clear and ALWAYS assisted me in making the best decisions for not only me but for my child. There were several times where I was confused and almost made poor decisions but Ms. Nancy stepped in and not only gave her advice as a lawyer but also as a wise woman. Her staff was extremely helpful and I was always made aware of my options and the next steps; especially with Ms. Taryn. I felt as if they had my best interest. I didn't feel the need to question their motives nor argue their advice. There were many times when I needed things explained over and over again and I was always provided with the information. There was something about Ms. Nancy's calmness that made me feel comfortable. I wont get into personal details but Ms. Nancy provided me with assistance that she did not have to and I am forever thankful! I honestly did not see my issue getting resolved without her. The other parties lawyer was often rude and aggressive but Ms. Nancy ALWAYS won the battle. I highly recommend her and I KNOW if I have any future issues with my previous case she will be the FIRST one I call. It's not everyday where you will find a lawyer who will go above and beyond to help you out the kindness of her heart. She saw first hand how difficult something was for me and how I was being treated and took it upon herself to support me and not leave me hanging. No one understands how thankful I am and how many tears of joy I've cried!

Christopher
April 3, 2016

I found Nancy through my military legal department and she agreed to take on my case for free, which helped me more than I can say. I was going through a divorce, and because I am stationed in Italy and the divorce was in Chicago, I needed assistance with making sure all of the paperwork was in order. I emailed her several times with a lot of legal questions along with personal questions and she was always very timely in her responses. She was never biased, if she felt something I was trying to do was wrong or wouldn't work, she would tell me, but then suggest an alternate course of action. Even though the case is closed now, she still offers me assistance, saying she will happily answer any questions I have and would represent me again in the future if needed. I will definitely keep her contact information and use her again in the future if needed and would happily pay for her services as I think they are worth every penny. She is a great person and obviously takes her job seriously and does everything she can to help her clients.