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Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

I am a Partner with KGG LLC, in Joliet Illinois. I joined the firm as an associate in May of 2017 aftering spending 6 years with the firm of Zukowski Law Offices. In January of 2025 I became a Partner with the firm. I primarily practice in Will, Grundy, and LaSalle counties.. I practice primarily in the areas of zoning and real estate development, residential and commercial real estate sales/purchases, estate planning and estate administration. general business representation (including business formation, business sales/purchases, annual business filings, and general business counsel), and not-for-profit organizations.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

This breadth of experience also serves my clients well in drafting sound legal documents and keeping my clients and their loved ones out of court. In litigation I saw the pitfalls and missteps that get people into expensive legal disputes. So I take care to understand my clients and their goals. And I put my 17 years of legal experience to work when I help them to plan their estate, manage a trust, probate a family member's estate, or enter into a business arrangement.. I care about my community. I see apathy and cynicism arise when people feel like their needs and opinions do not matter. So I spend my free time helping to build and strengthen community organizations that empower people to make a difference. With strong community ties, I am better able to help my clients understand what resources are available for them, and help them get what they need.. Education. University of Georgia, School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2002Georgia State University, B.I.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1999. Admitted to Practice. Washington State Bar, 2003Washington State Supreme Court, 2003U.S. District Court, 2005Washington Court of Appeals, 2005United States Supreme Court, 2010. Professional Associations. Washington State Bar AssociationNational Lawyers GuildWSBA Real Property, Probate andTrust Section MemberAmerican Bar AssociationABA Business Law Section MemberWhatcom County Bar Association. Background. Operations Specialist, U.S. Navy, 1991 - 1995Operations Specialist, U.S. Navy Reserves 1995 - 1997Georgia State Senate Appropriations Committee, Aide, 1999Grant Recipient, National Association for Public Interest Lawyers, 2001. Community Service. Board President, Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, 2016 to 2018Board Member, Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, 2013 to 2020Board of Advisors, Whatcom Civil Rights Project, 2013 to presentBoard of Directors, Interfaith Coalition, 2008 - 2010Board Member, Bellingham Insight Meditation Society, 2016 - 2018Finance Project Officer, The Working World, 2017 - 2018

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

I was born and raised in Fresno, California and have lived in Fresno all of my life except for a two year period (1970-1972) when I lived in Goleta, California attending the University of California at Santa Barbara. I am the grandson of immigrants.  My paternal and maternal grandparents are Volga- Deutsch (Germans from Russia) having immigrated to the United States from the Volga Region of Russia just prior to the Russian Revolution. I am married and have two daughters, two step-sons, one grandchild and two step-grandchildren.  My hobbies include beginning  photography, walking, reading (legal and political thrillers, history, biographies) and legal career has been quite varied.  Upon my admission to the State Bar of California in November of 1978, I opened a private practice.  I then joined the Fresno County Public Defenders' Office in late 1979 where I was a defense attorney until late 1988.  In 1985, the Calfornia State Bar certified me as as a Criminal Law Specialist.  While at the public defenders' office I tried over 50 jury  trials and represented defendants in cases ranging from petty theft to the death 1989, I joined the Fresno Office of a state wide law firm now known as Ericksen, Arbuthnot where I was  the Assistant Managing Partner of the Fresno Office from 1989 to 1994 and  the Managing Partner of the Fresno Office from 1994 to 1996.  During that period of time I practiced civil law and represented defendants in product liability cases, medical mal-practice cases and wrongful death and catastropic personal injury cases. I started my solo private practice in 1997 and currently limit my practice to estate planning (drafting wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, first party and third party special needs trusts, durable powers of attorney and health care directives); probate; trust administration; and trust and estate litigation representing the fiduciary (executor or administrator of a probate estate or trustee of a trust) and the benefriciary of a probate estate or of a trust. I am a member of the State Bar of California and its Wills and Trusts Section; a member of the Fresno County Bar Association and its Probate Section; a member of the Fresno Estate Planning Council; a member of the American Bar Association; and the Fresno County Better Business Bureau.  I was a past  member of Kiwanis (1995 to 2001 and then again from 2004 to 2009) and the President of a local Kiwanis Club from 1997 to 1998 where I was awarded the Distingusihed Service Award for the year 1998 to 1999.  I was a member of the Board of Directors for Lutheran Social Services for Northern California from 1995 to 2000 and on the Board of Directors for the Fresno Branch of the American Diabetes Association during the latter part of the 1990's.  I have been practicing law for 37 years and have no current plans to retire.

Ms. Meiser regularly advises clients on all matters related to estate planning, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, and elder law. She works closely with clients to identify their estate planning goals and prepares the necessary Wills and Trusts to implement the clients’ wishes.. Points of Distinction. Ms. Meiser works in close partnership with her clients on the development of their estate plans.  Ms. Meiser understands that estate planning conversations about private family matters and finances may be uncomfortable.  She meets clients where they are and recognizes that each family is unique.  She is there to help.. Her philosophy is holistic.  She builds a relationship with her clients and their families, so she has them covered legally and can jump right in should her clients experience an emergency.  As part of the planning process, Ms. Meiser offers a family meeting to help all family members and friends named as agents, personal representatives or trustees understand her client's intentions.. Ms. Meiser helps her clients make the decisions that will provide their loved ones financial, emotional and physical protection.  Her estate plans provide asset protection and minimize estate and income taxes.. To ensure her clients' estate plans are properly implemented, Ms. Meiser assists her clients with updating beneficiary designations and proper titling of assets.  She works closely with the other advisers in her clients' lives, such as their financial advisers, accountants and insurance advisers.. Ms. Meiser guides her clients through the process of choosing the best suited agents and trustees.  She is fluent in German and Spanish and welcomes clients who may feel more comfortable in discussing their estate plans in their primary language.. Special Needs Planning. Ms. Meiser understands that planning for special needs individuals is complex.  Each case is specific to that person's needs and abilities.  Ms. Meiser helps families resolve concerns beyond legal matters.. She focuses on financial security, safe housing, quality caregiving, strong advocates, and providing a structure to give the greatest possible degree of independence for the individual.  Ms. Meiser understands the importance of protecting continuing eligibility for available services, such as social security, medical assistance and services with the DDA—the Developmental Disability Administration, as well as home and community based waivers.. Ms. Meiser prepares special needs trusts as the overarching plans for the entire life cycle of the individual. There are several types and Ms. Meiser helps clients choose appropriately.  Her trusts are flexible to anticipate future changes in the law and government benefits. She understands the tax code, and how to strategically preserve clients' assets. She addresses the use of ABLE Account, Guardianships and alternatives to Guardianship.. Bar Admissions. Maryland and California. Professional Associations and Memberships. Ms. Meiser is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), the American Bar Association (ABA) Section on Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section (RPTE), the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the National Associaton of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC), and the Howard County Estate Planning Council (HCEPC).. Ms. Meiser is a volunteer attorney with the Maryland Volunteer Legal Services (MVLS).. Awards and Special Achievements. Tennessee Law Review, Materials Editor, 2001-2002. University of Tennessee, College of Law Awards for Extraordinary Achievement in Transactional Tax Planning, Service to the Mediation Clinic, and to the University of Tennessee Pro Bono Hispanic Assistance Project, 2000-2002. Civil Mediator under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31, 2001

I am committed to helping my clients achieve their business and family objectives while reducing the impact of state and federal taxation. I  work with affluent individuals and their families, helping them plan for retirement, inter-generational wealth transfers, protection of family assets, business succession plans and for other transfers of business interests and assets.  In addition to the practice of tax law, I frequently serve as a mediator for other attorneys, facilitating the efficient resolution of complex tax, business and commercial matters.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Counsels clients on wealth transfer and estate planning ranging from. simple wills to complex trust arrangements. Creates comprehensive business succession plans. Assists fiduciaries in the administration of trusts and the estate, distribution of non-probate assets and the preparation of estate tax returns. Tailors each estate plan to best accomplish the goals of his clients, taking into consideration the tax implications presented by each client’s circumstances. Represents business entities, individuals, married couples, unmarried. couples and unmarried parents who want to continue a unified plan for their children

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2000.  My current practice focuses on estate planning and probate.

I help families understand and plan for the transition of wealth and values at the lowest possible overall cost.  I create plans designed to preserve and protect family values and their wealth. When decedents fail to plan or the plan does not work, I help resolve disputes between interested parties.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

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Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

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Experienced Estate attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.