Shannon K. Briggs is a Partner at DDV Law, Ltd. and a dedicated advocate for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and their families. Her practice focuses on guardianship, special needs planning, elder law, estate planning, and probate and estate administration.
Shannon is particularly experienced in complex and contested guardianship matters. She helps families navigate difficult decisions involving medical care, financial management, and the protection of vulnerable individuals, always with an emphasis on preserving dignity, independence, and quality of life. She is frequently appointed by the Cook County courts to serve as Guardian ad Litem, investigating matters and advocating for the interests of individuals with disabilities.
Her approach combines careful legal analysis with compassion and practical problem-solving. Shannon understands that guardianship and disability-related legal matters often arise during challenging and emotional periods for families, and she works closely with clients to develop thoughtful solutions tailored to each individual’s circumstances.
A significant part of Shannon’s practice is devoted to advocating for children and young adults with disabilities and helping their families plan for the future. She assists families in navigating the legal and educational systems that affect their children’s services, accommodations, and long-term stability.
Shannon works with families regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans, helping them advocate for appropriate educational services, accommodations, and therapies. She recognizes the importance of effective advocacy during a child’s school years and the role that thoughtful planning can play in supporting a successful transition to adulthood.
As young adults with disabilities transition into adulthood, Shannon helps families address the legal and financial issues that can affect their continued access to essential services and public benefits. She assists clients in navigating Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) considerations and develops special needs planning strategies designed to provide financial support while preserving eligibility for critical government benefits.
Her work includes the creation and administration of special needs trusts, allowing families to provide for loved ones with disabilities while carefully considering their eligibility for public benefits.
Shannon has developed extensive experience handling guardianship and probate matters involving complex legal, financial, and medical considerations. She represents families in contested proceedings and assists clients with the administration and protection of estates and guardianship assets.
Her experience as a Guardian ad Litem gives her a valuable perspective when investigating and advocating for the interests of individuals who may be unable to fully advocate for themselves. Shannon approaches these matters with careful attention to the individual’s circumstances, rights, preferences, and overall well-being.
Shannon’s knowledge and experience have earned recognition within the legal community. She was published in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Adult Guardianships, Advance Directives, and Mental Health Law, 2021 and 2025 Editions, where she authored Chapter Two, “The Appointment Process.”
Since 2022, Shannon has been recognized by Super Lawyers as an Illinois Rising Star, an honor recognizing a select percentage of attorneys in the state.
Shannon also serves on the faculty of the National Business Institute, where she teaches attorneys about the probate process and the complex tax considerations that can arise in guardianship and probate administration.
She remains actively involved in the legal and elder law communities as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Shannon is also an accredited attorney authorized to represent clients before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Shannon’s practice reflects her commitment to helping families address both immediate legal challenges and long-term planning needs. Whether assisting with a contested guardianship, advocating for a child with disabilities, developing a special needs plan, or guiding a family through probate administration, she strives to provide clear legal guidance while keeping the individual and family’s needs at the center of the process.
Shannon graduated from the University of Missouri–Columbia and later earned her Juris Doctor from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, graduating cum laude.
University of Missouri–Columbia — Undergraduate Degree
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law — J.D., cum laude
A lifelong Chicagoan, Shannon enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and taking long walks with her German Shepherd.
