Estate Planning lawyers in Illinois David Berek to Dutton Casey

Firm: Horwood Marcus & Berk, Chartered

500 West Madison Street , Chicago , Illinois 60661

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

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™.

Firm: Fischel & Kahn, Ltd.

190 South La Salle Street Suite 2850 , Chicago , Illinois 60603

Practice Areas: Civil , Corporate , Estate , Guardianship and Conservatorship, Real Estate , Employment & Labor, Employment & Labor, Estate Planning

Firm: Drost Kivlahan McMahon & O'Connor

11 S Dunton Ave , Arlington Heights , Illinois 60005

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Real Estate, Business

Firm: Kelleher & Holland, LLC

102 S Wynstone Park Dr , North Barrington , Illinois 60010

Practice Areas: Business Organizations, Condominium , Construction , Estate Planning, General Practice, Probate , Real Estate , Corporate & Incorporation, Corporate & Incorporation

Firm: Johnson, Westra, Broecker, Whittaker and Newitt, P.C.

380 S Schmale Road , Carol Stream , Illinois 60188

Practice Areas: Estate Planning,Real Estate

The Transportation Building   203 North La Salle S , Chicago , Illinois 60601

Practice Areas: Civil ,Civil Rights,Contracts,Corporate ,Criminal Defense ,Estate ,Estate Planning,Guardianship and Conservatorship,Leases and Leasing,Probate ,Trusts,Wills

Firm: Dennis A. Delman

4711 Golf Rd Ste 700 , Skokie , Illinois 60076

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

Firm: Rivkin, Rivkin, & Kaplan, LLC

475 Half Day Rd., Suite 100 , Lincolnshire , Illinois 60069

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

Firm: Thomas, Mamer & Haughey, LLP

30 East Main Street Suite 500 , Champaign , Illinois 61820

Practice Areas: Civil , Estate Planning, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Real Estate , Social Security Benefits & Disability, Corporate & Incorporation

Firm: Hoogendoorn & Talbot, LLP

122 S Michigan Ave Ste 1220 , Chicago , Illinois 60603

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

Deborah B. Cole is a partner and member of the firm’s Estate Planning Group. Deborah has built her practice based upon her belief that professionally done estate planning is essential for every adult American. Although some estate planners focus on the super wealthy and senior citizens, Deborah believes that estate planning is an ongoing process, beneficial for young families, single parents with young children, recent divorcees, persons contemplating marriage, new retirees, as well as persons in non-traditional relationships and families planning for a person with Aspecial needs@ often due to a disability or the receipt of a large settlement. She focuses her practice on estate planning, which includes drafting wills, trusts, asset protection plans, health care directives and mental health directives. She also handles probate and trust administration matters, real estate matters and family business succession planning.. Although Deborah is well versed in the sophisticated planning tools and techniques required by larger estates and more complex situations, Deborah prides herself on assisting all of her clients in maintaining the maximum control over their assets and affairs, avoiding conflicts and accordingly financial abuse or exploitation during periods of mental incapacity. She also has been very effective at strategies to minimize taxation, and avoid, to the extent possible, lengthy and expensive probate and guardianship court proceedings. Deborah understands that providing thorough and personal service is the basis for successful client relationships, whether she is counseling individuals, families, corporate fiduciaries, charitable organizations or family business owners.. Deborah is a certified mediator and has provided mediation services on a volunteer basis with the Center For Conflict Resolution. She has handled disputes involving property damage, neighbor disputes, and child custody and visitation. However, because of her experience with guardianship matters, she has been particularly successful not mediating disputes among family members fighting over the care and control of finances of an elderly parent or family member. To Deborah, success in these situation is achieving a resolution to the dispute that all participating family members agree to, which avoids further court interaction, allows resources that would have been consumed in litigation costs to be redirected towards enhancing the care of the elderly person, and preserves family relationships. As of 2015, Deborah has added Guardianship and Probate mediation services to her practice.. Deborah’s professional work also reflects her conviction that preserving and supporting African American business owners and charitable organizations is critical to the growth and vitality of the community and to addressing issues concerning employment, education and crime. Deborah works with for profit business owners and charitable institutions to preserve and protect their businesses through trademark and copyright protection, planning for the proper business form, best practices, reporting to the appropriate governmental agencies and general planning for growth and diversification. Deborah is particularly proud of the work that she has done with family businesses to develop plans that will allow the business to continue with the next generation or maximize profit on sale.. In her spare time Deborah plays duplicate bridge as often as she can, and enjoys reading and travel.

Firm: Buckley Fine, LLC

201 S. Grove Avenue , Barrington , Illinois 60010

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

David P. Buckley, Jr. is a co-founder and managing partner of Buckley Fine Law. He concentrates his practice in estate planning and corporate representation. For over 25 years, Dave has assisted high net worth individuals and families with advanced estate planning, asset protection, the administration of complex estates, and estate tax planning. As a lawyer, CPA and business owner, Dave takes a comprehensive approach to finding the best solutions for his clients. From inception to sale, Dave represents business owners throughout the lifetime of their organization, including business formation, financing, buying and selling business, and succession planning for the next generation.

Firm: Besserman Law Office

2301 Pontoon Road. , Granite City , Illinois 62040

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

Firm: DLAW, PC

28 N. 1st St., Suite 101 , Geneva , Illinois 60134

Practice Areas: Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, Family , Housing , Landlord & Tenant, Estate Planning

Deanna L. Aguinaga Walker is an attorney and President of DLAW, PC. She assists clients in a wide variety of estate planning and bankruptcy matters, as well as residential real estate matters and landlord representation. She graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois College of Law in 1995 and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree at Judson University, Elgin, Illinois. She is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois and to appear in the Northern District of Illinois federal bankruptcy court. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys.. Deanna’s objective as an attorney is to identify the specific needs of a client and provide legal services tailored specifically to address each client’s need.  Deanna knows that any contact with attorneys and the legal system can be overwhelming to clients. Her goal is to bring relief and help her clients move forward.. To schedule a free initial consultation, visit Deanna's website or call .

Firm: Hedeker Law

1 Overlook Point , Lincolnshire , Illinois 60069

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

Dean R. Hedeker is a leading Chicago-area authority on estate and tax planning, business law, and investments. Dean has more than 37 years' experience helping business owners and families grow, protect, and pass on their hard-earned money through tax planning, estate planning, and investment management services. Over the past 10 years alone, Dean has created more than 2,000 estate plans and every year he handles more than 300 complex tax returns for business and families. Currently, he manages the wealth of more than 80 hard-working families. Dean is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has a Bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor-both with highest honors-from DePaul University. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Pennsylvania. He is also a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) and has served as an education adviser, Fellow and most recently appointed to Board of Governors of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. Dean has made presentations at more than 500 events attended by legal, financial, and healthcare professionals and has been a featured source for WBBM's Noon Business Hour, WGN Radio, WLS Chicago, and CBS 2 Chicago. He has also co-authored three additional books on estate planning. He is principal at Dean R. Hedeker, Ltd., and principal of Hedeker Wealth Management Group, LLC.. Most recently Dean co-authored the book CUT YOUR TAX IN 2010 whichprovides the straight talk on why poor estate and retirement planning can cost you dearly.  Plus, the book provides insights on the capital gains trap, the tax benefits of living trusts, and other tax-saving tips. Many of the techniques discussed are the building blocks of a good estate plan. Without an estate plan, you’re paying too much in taxes on your assets right now. And your family will pay dearly—maybe even more than they can afford—after you’re gone. To learn more about this book go to

Firm: Costigan & Wollrab PC

308 E Washington , Bloomington , Illinois 61701

Practice Areas: Corporate , Estate Planning, Real Estate , Corporate & Incorporation

Firm: Semmelman & Semmelman, Ltd.

900 North Shore Dr. #250 , Lake Bluff , Illinois 60044

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Real Estate , Trusts

Firm: Gould and Ratner, LLP

222 North La Salle Street Eighth Floor , Chicago , Illinois 60601

Practice Areas: Business & Commercial,Estate Planning,Taxation - State & Federal

Firm: Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe, LLP

191 E. Deerpath , Lake Forest , Illinois 60045

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

David M. Lutrey is the managing partner of the Lake Forest law firm of Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe, LLP.  For the past 20 years, Mr. Lutrey has counseled individuals and corporate fiduciaries as a seasoned litigation attorney in the areas of trusts, estates, probate and guardianships.  He assists individuals in the creation of wills, trusts and other estate planning documents that preserve and transfer meaningful legacies.. In addition to representing individuals and corporate fiduciaries in their capacities as trustee, executor, guardian or agent, Lutrey also represents financial institutions in their own right with regard to the creation and implementation of trust and estate policy manuals, risk management strategies and employee training.. David Lutrey is a powerful and effective litigator and has chaired numerous trials in Lake, Cook and McHenry Counties as well as appearing in Federal District Court involving complex trust and estate issues.  His trial successes include a recent $1,000,000 undue influence award in the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in Lake in the estate of Augusta Gershman, deceased.  He has also been involved in numerous appeals addressing or creating new law, including the published decisions of the Estate of Helen Weiland, Deceased, and the Estate of Walsh, Deceased.. Lutrey is a respected and frequent speaker and writer on estate planning, administration and litigation issues. He served on the legal education and outreach committees of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Estate Planning Short Course from 2009-2016.  He is a member of the ISBA’s Trusts and Estates Section Council and the Chicago Estate Planning Council.  He is a Past President of the Lake County Estate Planning Council and recently completed his fifth consecutive term as Chair of the Lake County Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Committee.. Lutrey is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”) and Litigation Counsel of America (“LCA”), and was an adjunct trust and estate professor at Loyola Law School in Chicago from 2012 – 2015.  In 2015, Lutrey drafted portions of the Illinois trust legislation allowing distributions of trust in further trust (“decanting”).. David Lutrey is well known and respected by his peers. He was rated “AV” by both the bar and judiciary according to Martindale Hubbell; he was selected by Thompson Reuters as a “Super Lawyer” for the years 2014 through the present; and selected by the Law Bulletin Publishing Group as a “Leading Lawyer” for the years 2016 through the present.

Firm: Edwards Group LLC

3223 S Meadowbrook Rd , Springfield , Illinois 62711

Practice Areas: Appellate , Banking & Finance, Debtor/Creditor Rights, Probate , Real Estate , Taxation - State & Federal, Trusts, Wills, Estate Planning

As the child of school teachers, I grew up in a home where being an educator was considered a noble profession. The ability to make the complicated seem logical, while guiding others to deeper understanding seemed instinctive. It wasn’t until I went away to law school that I realized most attorneys didn’t approach life, or their clients, in the same way. My vision in establishing Edwards Group LLC in Springfield, Illinois, was to create a different kind of law practice — one that focuses on lifetime planning for real life issues.. Throughout my career, I have actively balanced my professional pursuits with civic involvement, including service on the Rutledge Youth Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Youth Philanthropists Steering Committee for the Sangamon County Community Foundation, the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, the Advisory Council of Brother James Court, the Board of Directors for the Illinois Baptist State Association, and leadership in my local church.. I reside in Springfield with my wonderful wife, Michelle, who is a nurse with a home health agency, and I have two children: daughter, Bailey, and son, Cole. In my free time I love spending time with my family and pursuing musical interests. I can play the piano, guitar and euphonium. I'm currently learning to play the violin along with my daughter.

Firm: Dutton Casey & Mesoloras

65 E Wacker Pl , Chicago , Illinois 60601

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Elder