Top Estate Lawyers Near Me in Wheaton Area

The Law Office of Clifford R. Holm was established in 2016 by Cliff Holm, an accomplished attorney with more than 20 years of private law firm and in-house counsel experience.. Throughout his career, Cliff has been privileged to represent many individual, family, and business clients in DuPage, Cook, and Kane counties.  By concentrating his practice in the area of wills, trusts and estates, Cliff has been able to deliver practical and cost-effective legal services to his clients.

Practice focused in Estate Planning, Elder Law, Life Care Planning and Probate/Guardianships. Frequent speaker on Elder Law issues; Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation; adjunct faculty U of I Certification programs. Peggy has a long prior career as a Registered Nurse with experience in critical care and case management of persons with catastrophic illnesses and injuries that provides her with a unique understanding of the care needs and medical/legal issues facing our aging and disabled population.

Our firm provides quality legal representation to individuals and families located throughout the western suburbs of Chicago. Attorney Mary E. McSwain has nearly 30 years of full time legal experience serving a broad and diverse clientele facing a wide variety of legal issues. We pride ourselves on offering a combination of competence, professionalism, and personal service tailored to suit each client's individual circumstances.

My main focus in law is representing clients with divorce and employment related issues.. It should go without saying but sometimes lawyers forget that clients are the most important guests on their premises. As the managing partner of MKFM Law I strive to make our firm's mission and purpose the client.. -Our clients are not dependent on us - we are dependent on them.. -Our clients are not an interruption in our work - they are the purpose of it.. -Our clients are not an outsider in our business - they are part of it.. -We are not doing our clients a favor by serving them- our clients are doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.. Most importantly, when clients voice a concern, we need to take notice and do something about it.. George Frederick

Kelly L. Petersen is a licensed attorney concentrating in the areas of estate planning and estate and trust administration, including decedent's estates and adult guardianships.  Prior to joining Huck Bouma, PC, Kelly practiced family law and represented clients in domestic relations proceedings. Kelly's experience in family law complements her practice in estate planning, particularly with respect to the negotiating and drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.. Ms. Petersen is active in the legal community, serving as a Chair of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Young Lawyers Committee and is published in the DuPage County Bar Association’s Brief.   While in law school at DePaul University College of Law, Ms. Petersen earned a certificate in Public Interest Law and received a CALI Award for the highest grade in Comparative Family Law for her dissertation on the enforcement of religious pre-marital agreements.

John P. Houlihan, co-founder of Beck & Houlihan, P.C., has been practicing law since 1986, offering clients exceptional representation in family law, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Prior to establishing the firm, John gained valuable experience at Mirabella & Kincaid, P.C., where he developed his formidable legal prowess in handling complex legal issues with professionalism and care.John’s contributions to the legal community are extensive. He has been a member of the Illinois State Bar Association since 1986 and has held numerous leadership positions within the DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA). These include serving as Chairman of the Membership Committee, Chairman of the DCBA, and Co-Chairman of the Criminal Law, Younger Members, and Civil Law Committees. John has also served as an Arbitration Judge for the DuPage County Arbitration Center and as an Arbitrator for the Domestic Relations Fee Arbitration Program. His dedication to his clients and his active involvement in the legal community reflect his commitment to excellence and integrity in the practice of law.

I was a career adminstratror and attorney with the federal courts and am also a former special education teacher. I have a keen interest in helping families achieve solutions in law and like to spend time getting to know your individual situation.

I joined Roberts & Caruso as an associate in 2006. I focus primarily on construction and mechanic’s lien law, business litigation, and contested probate. I frequently write articles on emerging issues in the law. My work has been published by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the DuPage County Bar Association and the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. I also serve as a member of the DuPage County Bar Association’s Civil Law & Practice Committee, Business Law Committee and the Publication Board, an invitation only committee responsible for publishing a ten-issue per year legal journal called The Brief.. I graduated from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. While in law school, I completed Loyola’s trial advocacy program, served as a lead article editor of the law review, advanced to the National Quarterfinals of the Wagner Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition, and worked for a federal magistrate judge and then for a large Chicago law firm. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with majors in Economics and Political Science. I am also a licensed Real Estate Managing Broker.

I believe that representing clients is a great responsibility and privilege.  I take a personal approach to each client and to each case.  You will have direct contact with the attorney handling your case, never having your legal matters handled by a paralegal, secretary or associate attorney.. As an experienced litigator with over 17 years of experience, I have experience handling the following types of cases, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support/alimony, marital property division, allocating debt, QDRO's, dividing retirement accounts, enforcement, modificaition, orders of protection, domestic violence and juvenile matters.  If you are contemplating filing for divorce, or your spouse has filed for divorce, please contact me.  I will counsel you on the divorce process and help you prepare for the future.

I am dedicated to helping my clients obtain competent legal advice for a fair price.  I utilize my eighteen years of legal expertise to assist clients in a variety of areas.  I enjoy working with others towards a common goal.

I am an attorney focusing on family law, estate planning and tax preparation. My practice areas include the following: 1. Estate Planning I prepare living trusts, living wills, pour-over wills, last wills, health care powers of attorney, property powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), irrevocable trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), and family limited liability companies and partnerships (FLLCs and FLPs). I help fund trusts and I also administer trusts after the death of the trustors. 2. Tax Preparation I prepare individual (1040), business (1120, 1065), trust (1041),  estate (706), and gift (709) tax returns. 3. Business Start-Up I prepare and maintain the documents that are necessary to start-up a partnership, S-corporation, or limited liability company. 4. Probate I determine whether a probate is necessary, prepare the requisite paperwork, go to court, and administer the estate from beginning to end.. 5.  Divorce and Paternity. I have experience in the area of complex financial litigation and I have worked on the distribution of multi-million dollar estates and I do the following:. 1. Dissolution of marriage proceedings, including child custody, child support, maintenance, and post-decree matters;2. Parentage cases; and3. Preparation of Pre-Nuptial Agreements.

HEINZ J. BRISSKE graduated from Monmouth College in 1971 with an A.B. degree in Economics and German, and then received his law degree from Duke University School of Law in 1974. He earned a certificate of completion of prescribed specialization courses in Estate and Personal Financial Planning from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1995, and an LLM degree in Taxation from the same institution in 1997.. Mr. Brisske began his legal career as an associate with the law firm of Hinshaw, Culbertson, Moelmann, Hoban and Fuller (now Hinshaw & Culbertson) in Chicago, Illinois. After three years, he and two other attorneys from the same firm formed the general practice law firm of Murphy, Jones and Brisske in Lombard, Illinois. That firm merged with the practice of Allen S. Greene in Wheaton in 1978. The firm of Greene, Jones & Brisske was active in the legal community in DuPage County for over 20 years.. Mr. Brisske co-founded the law firm of HUCK & BRISSKE, LLC of Wheaton, Illinois, with Kevin Huck in 1999. In 2013, after the retirement of Kevin Huck, he merged the law firm of Huck & Brisske with the law firm of Huck Bouma, P.C., of Wheaton, where the estate planning group is now known as the Life & Legacy Planning Group. He currently concentrates his practice in the area of Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning.. Currently residing in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife of 44 years, Mr. Brisske still enjoys spending time with his two children, Laura and David. Even though they are no longer living at home, they have a close relationship and spend time together regularly. Laura is now married to Corey, and they have two daughters, Lilia and Josephine. Laura is a stay-at-home mom, living in Kalamazoo, MI. David is married to Jona; they have a daughter, Klara. David is a Partner at Permira, a London-based private equity firm, working out of their New York City offices. An avid photographer and wine collector, Mr. Brisske also enjoys the occasional round of golf. The Brisskes' favorite way to relax is to spend time at their getaway in Scottsdale, Arizona, no matter the season.. - Area of practice:. Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning. - Education/Degrees:. A.B. from Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois. J.D. from Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina. L.L.M. in Taxation from John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois. - Publications:. Estate Planning Traps and Pitfalls, DCBA Brief, 1995. Implementation of and Substitutes for Advance Medical Directives, DCBA Brief, 1996. The Family Limited Partnership: An Overview, DCBA Brief, 1997. The "Five Wishes" Document: Is it a suitable substitute for a Statutory Power of Attorney in Illinois?. - Speaking Engagements:. Mr. Brisske conducts Practice Building Boot Camps for estate planning attorneys in various cities throughout the country for WealthCounsel, LLC. Over the years, Mr. Brisske has also spoken on various subjects in the field of Estate Planning, Retirement Planning and Family Limited Partnerships in numerous forums.. - Professional Affiliations/Memberships:. DuPage County Bar Association. Chairman: Estate Planning and Probate Committee 1993 - 1994. Chairman: Business Law Committee 1992-1993. Suburban Chicago Planned Giving Council 1997 - 1999. Illinois State Bar Association. DuPage County Estate Planning Council. WealthCounsel. ElderCounsel. Elder Law Answers

For the last ten years, I have concentrated my practice exclusively in the area of family law. This area, of course, encompasses a wide variety of legal issues, including custody, child support, maintenance, property distribution, etc. In addition, I am certified to represent children as a Guardian ad Litem, Child's Representative, Attorney for Child in difficult family law cases. Finally, as more non-traditional methods of dispute resolution become popular, I have become a licensed and certified mediator and licensed by the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois.

Eron McCormick serves as Principal Owner of The McCormick Law Firm, LLC. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2014, where he held the position of Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical and Practical Law. Prior to law school, he studied Political Science with a minor in Communications at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. During his time there, he presided over Student Government, competed on the Model Illinois Government Moot Court Team, and was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.. His practice encompasses real estate transactions, business matters, and estate planning. Recognizing that purchasing or selling a home ranks among life’s most significant decisions, he strives to guide clients through each step with clarity and care. Whether overseeing closing documents, negotiating business agreements, or drafting wills and powers of attorney, he remains committed to keeping clients apprised of their options and the legal considerations they face. By adopting a conversational manner, he ensures that complex issues are explained in accessible terms and that every question is met with a straightforward answer.. Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2014 and to practice in Wisconsin in 2022, Mr. McCormick and his team believe firmly in community service. He offers reduced fees for first responders, veterans, and military families as a token of gratitude for their sacrifice.. Away from the office, Eron finds solace in the Wisconsin Northwoods. He returns frequently to Land O’Lakes with family and friends, and he and his wife share fond memories of their engagement trip to Lake Geneva. To help clients who wish to enjoy the region themselves, he maintains a Wisconsin real estate law license and assists Illinois residents in acquiring property or addressing other legal affairs there.

DAVID F. ROLEWICK graduated from Loyola University School of Law in 1971.  He worked as a clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Daniel Ward, then as Assistant Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts.  He has been in private practice since 1979.  He has served in numerous positions in the Illinois State Bar Association and has been a hearing board Chairman of the ARDC since 1994.  In 2001, he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as Chairman of the Special Supreme Court Committee On Professionalism, and he was then named as Chairman of the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.  He has tried and arbitrated commercial disputes in state and federal courts in Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, and has authored several articles on business law.  In 2006, he was elected to serve as a Director of the Illinois Bar Foundation.

Carleton W. Yoder joined Huck Bouma, PC in 2013. Carleton, a Director with the Firm, concentrates his practice in the areas of Trusts and Estates, tax and transactional matters, business succession planning, estate and gift strategies, and wealth transfer through estate and gift planning.. Carleton handles estates both large and small, and represents his individual and business clients’ transactional and operational needs through the custom drafting of Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, and business succession plans. He believes in taking the time to understand his clients’ needs, objectives, and desires before applying the tools available to fulfill those needs.Carleton attended Pepperdine University where he graduated, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He later returned to Pepperdine to attend its School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor. After graduating law school, Carleton moved back to DuPage County. Carleton enjoys the study of taxation, and during his first year with Huck Bouma, distinguished himself by finishing his Master of Laws in Taxation (LLM) at Chicago-Kent College of Law, earning the CALI award in Tax Accounting and State and Local Taxation.. Carleton was born in Chicago, raised in DuPage County, and currently resides in Wheaton with his family. He enjoys photography, automobiles, and going on bike rides with his family on the Illinois Prairie Path.

Because the law is a demanding profession, it requires an analytical mind combined with good common sense. Unfortunately, those talents too often come from aloof and unapproachable individuals, whose higher concern too often appears to be their own wallet. You need to feel comfortable with your attorney. You need to be confident you're working with someone who understands your needs and can fight on your behalf. I want to do that for you.I come from a hard-working family in which I was the first to ever graduate from college and then law school. My goal and passion has been to serve those who feel unrepresented and disconnected from honest, reliable legal advice in a complex legal system. I want to give you the access, the advice and a voice that can guide you in solving your legal problems.

Attorney William A. Deitch founded The Estate Planning Law Group in 1996. His practice is dedicated to assisting successful individuals, families, and business owners create a secure and prosperous future. He built the practice upon a commitment to provide the highest possible level of service to client families. The focus of Bill’s estate planning practice is based on his own straightforward personal goals — fortifying families, protecting legacies, shielding against the problems brought about by incapacity, and ensuring that the dreams parents have for their children are not lost to taxes, poor planning or procrastination. In particular, Bill enjoys working with business owners who are planning to transition their business to the next generation. He provides comprehensive and customized planning solutions to address the individual needs and concerns of his clients.. Bill has assisted over a thousand clients in creating estate plans that work. Each client receives personal attention and the time necessary to ensure that their individualized plan meets their needs and is well understood. Clients often comment on Bill’s ability to make complex concepts understandable so that they can make the best possible decisions to protect themselves and their families. The Estate Planning Law Group is committed to fostering a team oriented planning model which actively includes our client’s trusted advisors in our unique planning process.. Bill will get to know you as a person and ask about your hopes and dreams so that he can understand what makes you most proud about your life and family. That’s the foundation. From there, he applies a mastery of the law, legal theories, taxes, and court and administrative decisions to create an estate plan that’s not only technically airtight but is animated by the spirit and values that define you—your work ethic, your devotion to family, your generosity.. The plan, and the documents that make it work for you, will be explained in straightforward language you and your family can understand. And, if you become incapacitated, or when you pass away, the caring staff at The Estate Planning Law Group will be there to assist your loved ones in protecting and settling your estate.. Bill received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and his J.D. from DePaul University, where he was involved in student government, the International Law Society, and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Bill is an Adjunct Professor at the College of DuPage, where he teaches a highly regarded estate planning course to C.P.A.’s. He is also a frequent speaker on the topic of Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning and is a contributing author of the Estate Planning book titled “Your Life, Your Legacy,” which was published in 2003. Bill has taught thousands of accountants, financial advisors, insurance professionals, and members of the public about the full range of estate planning topics.. He is a member of WealthCounsel, a nationwide organization of attorneys and financial advisors dedicated to providing their clients with the most sophisticated and comprehensive planning solutions available. He also participates in the Illinois Wisconsin Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys.. Bill is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area and has lived in Winfield for the past 20 years.  He is married to Amy and has four children.  Bill keeps busy chasing his kids around and enjoys his workouts and family vacations.