Jeffery M. Leving

Jeffery M. Leving (born July 2, 1951) is an American divorce attorney and author who specializes in matrimonial and family law. He is known primarily for his vocal advocacy of fathers' rights and hosts two radio shows. His television and radio commercials are well known in the Chicago area.

Early life and education Leving was born in Chicago and raised on its South Side. His father worked as a bartender and tailor while pursuing success as an artist.

Leving attended Senn High School He also delivered testimony before both branches of the Illinois Legislature on Joint Custody, Grandparent's Visitation and Child Support Accountability bills. In 1985, Leving helped draft the Illinois Joint Custody Law, allowing judges to assign divorcing parents equal responsibility for raising their children. Manuel Gonzalez, Elian Gonzalez’s great uncle, later retained Leving to reunite Elian with his father. Leving appeared as an expert on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox National News and Court TV to analyze the Elian Gonzalez case.

Leving has frequently espoused legal reforms on radio and television shows, such as the Oprah Winfrey Show. Several complaints made to the ARDC alleged that Leving's law firm "charged clients hundreds of thousand of dollars for legal services despite accomplishing little in their cases." Mr. Leving was found to have charged and collected excessive legal fees in eight domestic relations matters between June 2014 and October 2021. The suspension became effective on October 11, 2024.

Writing and artistry

Leving is the author of three books:

Fathers' Rights (Basic Books, 1997) presents advice for fathers involved in a custody dispute. How to Be a Good Divorced Dad (Jossey-Bass, 2012), advises fathers who were either divorced or going through a divorce, and included real-life anecdotes from dads who successfully navigated their way through a divorce while maintaining strong, loving relationships with their children. The book "received an endorsement from Francis Cardinal George of the Archdiocese of Chicago and garnered praise from President Barack Obama".

Leving is also the publisher of Leving's Divorce Magazine, a magazine for divorced men that focuses on parenting and men's legal issues.