Top Estate Lawyers Near Me in Chicago Area

Todd resides in Beecher, Illinois and regularly meets with clients not only in Chicago, but also in the suburbs and Northwest, Indiana.

Timothy J. Ritchey practices in the areas of estate and guardianship administration, probate and trust litigation, real estate litigation, and estate planning. Over 90% of Tim's practice is dedicated to litigation, with an emphasis on contested probate litigation. He represents individuals, families, financial institutions, medical institutions and governmental organizations in cases brought in State and Federal court. Tim has been appointed Special Assistant Attorney General in numerous matters to represent the State's interests in ongoing litigation.. Tim received his Bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before attending law school, he worked at Morgan Stanley as an analyst. Tim graduated with Honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law where he interned at the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. While in law school, he received a Merit Scholarship and was regularly named to the Dean's List. Tim was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2005.. Tim authors numerous articles addressing elder law issues, including withdrawal rates from retirement funds, viatical and life settlements, and tax breaks for offspring who support their parents. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association and DuPage County Bar Association. Tim is a committee member of the Probate Practice Committee and Estate Planning Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Tim routinely gives speeches addressing the pertinent topics within his legal field. He is also involved with the Illinois State Bar Association in organizing functions to raise money for charity.

The Law Offices of Marc J. Lane and its financial services affiliates offer successful people a strategic, multidisciplinary approach to tax, investment, corporate, estate and insurance planning.. Marc J. Lane, a nationally recognized business and tax attorney, Master Registered Financial Planner, Registered Financial Counselor and Certified Investment Specialist, is the author of 34 books and Founder of Marc J. Lane Wealth Group ().. He is an expert on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance, and an influential advocate of best corporate governance practices. Twice a recipient of the Illinois State Bar Association's Lincoln Award, Marc, a “Leading Illinois Attorney” and “Illinois Super Lawyer,” has consistently earned an "AV® Preeminent™" rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, the highest ranking awarded. Martindale-Hubbell also includes him in its Bar Registry of Preeminent Attorneys. By appointment of Gov. Pat Quinn, he is Chairman of the State ofIllinois’ Task Force on Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise, as well as Commissioner of the Serve Illinois Commission.. Marc is an innovator in helping social enterprises and social entrepreneurs leverage capital to maximize financial results while driving positive social change, and teaches Social Enterprise at Northwestern University School of Law. Marc is the pioneer behind the Advocacy Investing® approach to socially responsible and mission-related investing ().. Marc has drafted and successfully championed Low-profit Limited Liability Company (L3C) laws throughout the nation, authorizing the new hybrid business form which can leverage foundations' program-related investments to access trillions of dollars of market-driven capital for ventures with modest financial prospects, but the possibility of major social impact. Marc has served as a Director of Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) and spearheaded the launch of its Chicagochapter, which he continues to serve as President and a Director. He has also chaired SEA’s affiliate, The Center for Social Enterprise Accreditation.

The attorneys at Jill M. Metz & Associates pride themselves on providing effective legal services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and couples in Chicago and throughout Cook County, Illinois. We practice law in the areas of estate planning, adoption, domestic relations or family law, probate and estate administration, small business law, and real estate.

Ryan W. Gardner is a Partner and Practice Group Leader of the the Trust and Estate Planning Practice Group at Howard & Howard, Attorneys, PLLC, a full-service law firm with over 130 attorneys in 5 offices nationwide.  Ryan regularly counsels and represents individuals and families, business owners, and diverse entrepreneurs, helping to educate and navigate simple to complex estate and business succession planning by creating sensible, customized solutions to ensure that his clients' families, assets, and business interests are protected.

Ronald E. Webb practices in the areas of estate planning, estate administration and business law. He drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. His practice commonly involves asset protection, probate, real estate, business succession planning, general corporate law, and business transactions, including partnerships and limited liability companies. He also organizes family limited partnerships and drafts life insurance trusts and special needs trusts for disabled persons. Ron practices tax law in the areas of gift and estate taxation.. Ron graduated with a Bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola University of Chicago and received the degree of Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School. While a student at the John Marshall Law School, Ron was a staff editor for the John Marshall Journal of Computer & Information Law and authored an article entitled "Borders Online, LLC v. State Board of Equalization: It's Time for Congress to Weigh the Possibilities of this California Decision", which was published in the Journal; Volume XXIV Number 4, Summer 2006. Ron is also listed in the 2009 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.. Ron is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and his local Chamber of Commerce.

Puneet is a Partner at Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC. Puneet concentrates his practice in the areas of tax planning, trust and estate administration, probate practice, minor and adult guardianship, estate and trust litigation, asset protection planning, and business succession planning. Puneet has experience in the administration of trusts and estates and the preparation of estate and gift tax returns, drafting post-nuptial and pre-nuptial agreements, generation-skipping trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, special needs trusts, qualified domestic trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts, and organizing and creating limited liability companies, corporations and limited partnerships. Puneet designs estate plans to meet the personal and business needs of a wide variety of clients, including (a) small to medium sized business owners seeking to transfer their business, (b) wealthy individuals and families seeking to facilitate the transfer of wealth within the family structure while minimizing the imposition of gift, estate or generation-skipping tax, (c) young professionals and families seeking to accumulate and protect their wealth and (d) families with special needs.

Principal of this 6 attorney law firm that concentrates its practice in all aspects of Civil Trial Practice and Appeals in all State and Federal Courts in the Northeastern Illinois geographical area with a focus on catastrophic bodily injury and death claims concentrating in the representation of clients in their nursing home neglect, motor vehicle negligence and premises liability claims. The firm also represents clients in their Workers Compensation Act claims and their commercial and residential real estate transactions and associated litigation.. Previously represented cases, published works, Associations, and Memberships here:

Paige N. Fox (she/her), is the founder of Fox Law, LLC dba Fox Elder Law & Estate Planning, LLC, a fully-remote Illinois law firm where legal advocacy is rooted in clarity, compassion, and a deep commitment to client care. With extensive experience in elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning, Paige helps families navigate life’s most complex legal transitions with confidence and peace of mind.. Known for translating legalese into real talk, Paige empowers clients of all ages to make informed, thoughtful decisions—especially during moments of stress or uncertainty. Her approach is holistic, grounded, and unapologetically human, combining strategic thinking with heart-led guidance.. Paige doesn’t just think outside the box—she reimagines what the box could be. Whether she’s developing innovative planning strategies, mentoring new attorneys, or guiding a client through long-term care challenges, she brings more than legal expertise—she brings presence, empathy, and a fierce dedication to doing what’s right. She believes the law can be both deeply professional and deeply personal.. Paige’s mission is to make the law accessible, compassionate, and deeply human—using it not only as a tool for protection, but as a pathway to empowerment.. Outside her legal work, Paige finds balance in movement and mindfulness—whether that’s flying through the air on a trapeze rig or exploring the connection between sound frequencies and mental well-being. She believes you can be both grounded and expansive, both professional and authentic—and her work reflects that every day. In her free time, Paige immerses herself in a diverse array of physical activities, participating in coed sports and dance classes, while also pursuing her passion for flying trapeze and circus arts. Paige expanded her skill set by becoming a certified Zumba and WERQ instructor. Her love for sports extends to all varieties, including fantasy football, and she remains a devoted Chicago Bears fan.

Our firm has been representing families and victims of negligence for over 60 years.

Offices in Chicago and Orland Park serving public, closely held for profit and not-for-profit entities, entrepreneurs and professionals in the health care, education, sports, construction and entertainment industries and their families with legacy preservation, estate planning, real estate, health care, business, trust administration, complex civil litigation, serious injury, adoption, agency, elder law, guardianship, professional responsibility and white collar criminal matters.. "Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.  Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time.  As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man.  There will still be business enough."  Abraham Lincoln in 1850.

My practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable planning, and business succession planning. A significant portion of my practice is devoted to representing musicians, songwriters, entertainers and recording artists. Many of these clients have special estate planning concerns that include the valuation and disposition of intellectual property rights, royalty income, valuable memorabilia and artwork, and merchandising contracts. Many non-profit entities, including private foundations, charitable trusts, and publicly supported charities also rely on me for legal advice. In connection with this practice, I have represented several large charitable organizations in contested estate and trust matters, recovering millions of dollars of embezzled and misappropriated funds. In addition, I regularly advise executors, trustees and beneficiaries on all aspects of estate and trust administration. This representation includes tax planning, court filings, the collection and distribution of assets, the preparation of tax returns, and the resolution of trust and estate disputes. I am actively involved in several professional organizations associated with the estate planning community, including ACTEC (American College of Trust & Estate Counsel), the premier national organization of trust and estate lawyers. I also serve as the Vice President of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, an organization of more than 650 estate planning professionals. In addition, I previously chaired the Estate & Gift Tax Division of the Federal Tax Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Finally, I am a member of Professional Advisory Committee of the Chicago Community Trust, one of the largest public charities serving the greater Chicagoland area. When not practicing law, I enjoy playing golf, reading historical fiction, biking, scuba diving, and spending quality time with my wife and three young daughters.

My practice focuses on probate and trust administration, probate litigation, trust litigation, fiduciary litigation, and estate/asset protection planning. I advise individuals and families in contested matters with an emphasis on will, trust, and guardianship proceedings. I counsel executors and trustees during the probate/trust administration process and assist them in the preparation of estate and fiduciary tax returns. I also help individuals and families meet their estate and asset protection planning needs.

My legal practice focuses on tax and estate planning for individuals and families. I represent executives, physicians, lawyers, traders, farmers, business owners as well as family offices. My experience ranges from addressing routine estate planning matters to the most sophisticated estate tax and asset protection concerns for wealthy individuals including family limited partnerships, charitable remainder trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, sales to grantor trusts, private annuities, domestic asset protection trusts and other irrevocable trusts. I am a Certified Public Accountant and LL.M. in taxation graduate. As such, I focus a substantial portion of my practice helping clients navigate complex income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax issues. I have received the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating of "AV Preeminent" for professional expertise in estate planning and taxation. I am also the leader of the Chicago Iowa Club (). Please feel free to let me know if you ever have any estate questions or would like more information about the club.

My journey to becoming a lawyer and advocate for families was anything but straightforward. It began with a deep desire to help others, leading me to a career in social work where I spent nearly a decade immersed in the complexities of the human experience. I witnessed firsthand the struggles individuals and families faced, and I knew I wanted to do more to empower them.. That calling led me to law school and then to a career as a legal aid attorney. I represented countless people in emotionally charged divorce, family, and order of protection cases. The weight of those experiences, particularly the prevalence of domestic violence, stayed with me.. Then, life took an unexpected turn. I went through my own divorce, a process that shook me to my core. Despite my legal training, I found myself trapped in a contentious battle that left my family wounded and my co-parent and me unable to effectively work together. The adversarial system, designed to protect, had instead caused immense harm.. That's when I made a promise to myself – to help others avoid the same trauma and outcome. I sought extensive training in mediation and collaborative divorce, determined to offer a different path. These approaches, focused on cooperation and mutual respect, resonated deeply with my values.. Today, I find immense fulfillment in guiding families through separation and divorce with compassion and understanding. Whether it's through mediation, collaborative law, or when necessary, litigation, my priority is to empower my clients to make informed decisions that protect their well-being and their future.. My commitment to helping others extends beyond family law. My experience with disability issues fuels my passion for creating comprehensive estate plans, particularly for families with special needs. This work is deeply personal to me. Having witnessed the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families, I understand the importance of careful planning to ensure their security and well-being. I'm dedicated to crafting estate plans that provide for their unique needs and protect their future.

My extensive experience in the areas of estate planning, estate litigation and taxation provide a unique background that enables me to anticipate client needs, minimize costs and thereby maximizing value.  Earned a C.P.A. in 1995, graduated from Loyola Law School in 1996 and worked in private practice including the Estate and Trust department of a large Chicago law firm prior to opeing my own practice in mid-2002.

Mr. Berek is a Partner in the Trusts & Estates group at Horwood Marcus & Berk. He focuses his practice on Family Office Structuring and Administration, Wealth Transfer Planning, Income Tax Planning, and Trusts & Estates.. Prior to joining Handler Thayer, LLP, Mr. Berek was a Director at Credit Suisse, acting as a Family CFO in their family office group (formerly Frye Louis ) and ran their wealth planning group for the US Central Region advising clients of the private bank on family office and wealth transfer techniques. Prior experience includes practicing law in trusts and estates most recently with McGuireWoods LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP; tax and trust planning with Arthur Andersen LLP and Coopers & Lybrand LLP; and estate administration with The Northern Trust Company.. Mr. Berek is currently the editor of the two-volume treatise “Illinois Estate Planning, Will Drafting and Estate Administration Forms with Practical Commentary” published by LexisNexis. Mr. Berek is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University where he teaches Estate Planning, Estate, Gift and GST Tax, Income Taxation of Decedents, Estates and Trusts, and Tax Research in the Masters of Science in Taxation program; and at The John Marshall Law School where he teaches Advanced Income Tax, and Fiduciary Income Tax, in the LL.M Graduate Tax program.. Mr. Berek earned a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from DePaul University, a Juris Doctorate, cum laude (Law Review, Moot Court), and an LL.M. in Employee Benefits, with honors, from The John Marshall Law School.. He is a John S. Nolan Tax Law Fellow of the American Bar Association, Tax Section, a former chair of the Tax Practice Management Subcommittee, and a former Current Developments reporter of the Estate and Gift Tax Subcommittee.  He is past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates Section Council, and a past co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association Estate Planning Committee, Young Lawyers Section.. Mr. Berek is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Florida and is awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell for both legal abilities and ethical standards.  Mr. Berek is also a Certified Public Accountant (Illinois), and a Certified Financial Planner™.

Michael focuses his practice on estate planning and business matters.  Prior to joining Regan Law, Michael was a Post-Graduate Fellow in the Finance and Economic Development division of the City of Chicago’s legal department.  While working for the City, Michael represented the Department of Planning and Development in their issuances of loans, municipal bonds, tax increment financing funds, and tax credits for the financing of low-income housing developments and other development projects throughout Chicago.. Michael received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. from Clemson University.  While in law school, he was an associate editor of the Michigan Journal of Private Equity and Venture Capital Law and a student lawyer in the University of Michigan Entrepreneurship Clinic.  As a student lawyer, Michael counseled and provided legal services to student start-ups on various issues, including entity formation, employment matters, and intellectual property matters.

Max Elliott, Managing Attorney and Founder of The Law Offices of Max Elliott, Ltd., is a nationally recognized estate planning, probate, and business planning attorney. Her firm, with offices in Chicago and New York City, focuses on unique families, the LGBTQ community, and women small business owners, and services include estate planning for taxable and non-taxable estates, estate administration, and advising small businesses in start-up, growth, restructuring, and succession planning phases.. Ms. Elliott routinely speaks to lawyers, students, and community groups on the intersection of estate and retirement planning; small business essentials, including legal entity selection, succession planning, generational wealth transfers, and cybersecurity program planning; and fiduciary selection and other protective measures for seniors and the LGBTQ community.. Her recognitions and memberships include but are not limited to:. In addition to her legal experience, Ms. Elliott has more than 20 years of non-legal experience, including several years’ employment in the American Bar Association’s International Liaison Office and several years with Fortune 500 companies, including a former “Big 8 Accounting Firm” and a leading international management consulting firm.. Throughout her career, she has also assisted entrepreneurs in creating viable business planning solutions, such as creating and implementing marketing plans, strategic operation plans, securing capital, and business succession. She has worked with start-ups in the personal care, healthcare, small manufacturing, and nonprofit sectors. This experience provides a solid foundation for the business advisory services she provides to small business owners.. Starting in law school and continuing through her legal career, Ms. Elliott has received numerous awards for her commitment and dedication to advocating for and supporting the rights and needs of marginalized individuals and communities.

Lou began his practice of law in New York in 1984 prior to moving to Chicago, where he became an equity partner at Gould & Ratner in 1992. He also held the same position at Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg and Much Shelist, prior to forming Bernstein Law Firm in 2009. During those formative years, Lou garnered experience representing clients throughout the United States, in complex civil litigation matters before trial courts, arbitration panels, mediators, and numerous state and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Lou also served as chairman of the litigation department and governing bodies of several of those firms. However, large firm politics and adherence to the bottom line took its toll. As Lou liked to joke, “I could not wait to get out of the office and into court for some peace and quiet.” Lou then decided to build upon his experience and open his own law firm to better represent his clients and provide a work environment more conducive to relationship building and fostering collegiality among the attorneys and staff of the firm.. Over the years Lou has primarily focused his area of expertise on complex civil litigation matters. The breadth of these representations has run from a multitude of real estate developers in the Chicagoland area, the Crown family, class action defense for Bumble Bee Foods and JPMorgan Chase, franchise litigation on behalf of Pepperidge Farm and in the fashion industry, most prominently, Tom Ford, AG Jeans and Carine Roitfeld. Some highlights include:. Lou is Chairman Emeritus of The Mankind Project International and a member of The Executives' Club of Chicago.  He is a featured speaker and regular panelist on timely issues of business, banking, real estate, and finance law at legal and business conferences around the country and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Northwestern University School of Law.

Lindsey Paige Markus assists business owners and families plan their estates, protect assets, transfer wealth, and minimize taxation.  Lindsey works closely with clients to formulate succession plans, advise on business formation, wealth preservation and gift and estate taxation.An associate with the law firm of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. since 2006, Lindsey received her J.D. degree from Loyola University of Chicago.  Lindsey was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006 and the Florida Bar in 2007.  Founded in 1987, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. has over sixty attorneys who concentrate in a variety of areas which include estate planning, asset protection corporate transactions, secured lending, as well as civil and commercial litigation.Lindsey’s early career in business and finance and clinically applied neuroscience and neuroeconomics gives her a unique perspective.  She is comfortable with numbers and understands how her client’s needs are most effectively secured in our dynamic economic environment.  Lindsey assesses how the law affects her clients, generates creative solutions to their complex situations, and carefully communicates these options.In 1998, Lindsey earned her M.A. in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University. Upon receiving her Masters Degree, Lindsey worked in the areas of finance and business development, where she structured joint ventures with domestic and international media conglomerates.  Lindsey leverages her international studies and work experience with her work on the “Welcome to the United States” program – a comprehensive program of services for Chinese corporations and high net worth individuals.Prior to attending law school, Lindsey studied cognitive restructuring training to maximize intelligence, a part of the evolving science of teachable intelligence.  She participated in NASA's Critical Thinking Project from 2001-2004.  Lindsey also co-authored Retrain Your Business Brain: Outsmart the Corporate Competition, published by Dearborn Press in 2003.  Retrain Your Business Brain has also been published in China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia.  She also co-authored The Road Trip: A Parable About Where to Lead, When to Follow, and How to Get Out of the Way, published in 2008.Lindsey graduated with honors from Brandeis University in 1997 with a B.A., cum laude, in Economics and minors in Spanish and Managerial Business.  As part of her M.A. program, Lindsey studied abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. She speaks Spanish and conversational Italian.

Like most law firms, we offer full representation to clients upon payment of an up-front retainer. But unlike most law firms, we don't believe that clients unable to afford an initial retainer should be denied access to high-quality legal services. This is why we also offer unbundled "pay-as-you-go" legal services at an affordable flat-fee.. With unbundled legal services, a/k/a “limited scope representation,” an attorney and client agree that the attorney will handle some, but not all, aspects of a client’s legal matter. The client is responsible for handling all other aspects of his or her own case for which the attorney has not been retained. This allows the client to choose the level and scope of representation he or she desires, and provides predictable control over the cost of various legal services. Most significantly, with unbundled legal services, instead of charging an up-front retainer for full legal representation, clients can pay for individual services as they are needed at a reasonable flat-fee rate.. Whether you desire one of our many unbundled legal service options, or full representation, we have an option for you. Please contact our office to learn more about the full list of legal services we provide, and to discover our current flat-fee rates.

Kenneth M. Bloom is a partner at Latimer LeVay Fyock, LLC. Mr. Bloom, a CPA as well as an attorney, is rated among the top six percent of Illinois estate planning attorneys, as selected by his peers and the American Research Corporation, and has received the highest rating of distinction by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory. Ken is listed in the Who’s Who in American Law as well as the National Register of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals. In addition, Ken was named to the exclusive roll of 2007-2015 Illinois Super Lawyers. Ken lectures extensively and is regularly published in several journals including those published by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Chicago Bar Association, as well as the Chicago Tribune. In addition, Ken has attended the Stetson University Law School’s Special Needs Trust Symposium for many years and is active with the Special Needs Alliance, an invitation-only national group of attorneys dedicated to meeting the estate planning needs of the disabled.

Joseph is known for his ability to make sophisticated legal issues and tax planning understandable and is highly regarded for his devotion and commitment to the diverse needs of business clients. Joseph represents corporations, partnerships and tax-exempt entities, as well as family-owned and other closely-held businesses, and their owners. He also represents high net worth individuals, lottery winners and professionals, including doctors, lawyers, accountants and wealth management advisors.. Joseph advises his corporate and business clients on critical financial, tax and business matters, including entity structure and formation, and asset ownership for asset protection and tax savings. He also assists closely-held and family-owned businesses and their owners with business succession planning for wealth preservation and to transition the business/ownership to younger generations and key employees. Joseph offers his individual clients a full range of estate, trust and tax planning services, from the drafting of wills, complex trust agreements and advanced wealth-preservation plans, to the formation of family foundations and other philanthropic entities to accomplish charitable objectives.. In addition to income and estate tax planning, a significant portion of Joseph's tax practice involves representing individual, business and corporate clients in administrative tax-controversy matters before the Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Joseph is frequently asked by banks and financial consultants in the Chicago area to speak on wealth preservation, tax and estate planning, and business succession.. When not finding solutions to meet his clients' needs, Joseph enjoys spending time with his wife Karen and children Dominic, Gianna, Mia, Isabella and Vincent.

James G. Lakerdas, senior partner and co-founder of Chadwick & Lakerdas also graduated from John Marshall Law School and has been practicing law for over 30 years in Chicago. Mr. Lakerdas specializes in personal injury law and workers’ compensation law but also excels in areas relating to medical malpractice law and product liability law.. Mr. Lakerdas’ hard work and dedication to Chadwick & Lakerdas has helped build the firm from the ground up and with the help of Sturgis E. Chadwick has made Chadwick & Lakerdas a successful business. Mr. Lakerdas’ clients can expect the same hard work and dedication when working with Mr. Lakerdas as his 30-year track record for excellence and success reflects this.. Mr. Lakerdas is licensed to practice law in Illinois state court and federal court. Mr. Lakerdas is also bilingual, fluent in both English and Greek.