Rockton Estate Planning Lawyers

Since entering private practice, Attorney Smith has maintained a general practice with a concentration in family law. He has been a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and Winnebago County Bar Association for over forty years each. Attorney Smith is currently a member of the family law section of each of these associations. He is currently on an advisory panel for the American Bar Association. He has been a presenter to other attorneys locally on family law and child related topics.

For over forty years Attorney Michael J. Smith has provided experienced family law representation. Family law...

My legal practice is primarily focused on Personal Injury, Estate Planning, and Probate Law. With a wealth of experience spanning over thirty-five years in each of these areas, I have consistently taken on a leading role in litigation, mediation, and settlement negotiations. In my capacity as the lead attorney, I diligently prepared for and handled 10-15 trials annually. This involved a range of tasks, including interviewing witnesses, managing interrogatories, responding to requests for production and admissions, conducting and defending depositions, crafting interlocutory motions, and preparing and presenting requested instructions in jury cases. Together with my two partners, we successfully expanded our law...

Meghan N. Bolte received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Accounting and Political Science from Augustana College in 2007. She received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the John Marshall Law School in 2010, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was also a member of the John Marshall Law Review and a John Marshall Distinguished Scholar. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2010 and to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois in 2011. She is currently a member of the Illinois Bar Association and the Winnebago County Bar Association.

Attorney Militello is the Managing Parter at Prime Law Group, LLC. Prime Law Group is truly a team of lawyers and staff. Our collaborative approach often takes the form of cooperation to share past experiences and develop creative approaches to new issues. This team approach has the additional advantage that if a new issue suddenly arises or an existing project becomes a top client priority, we can quickly assign additional lawyers who will already have the background necessary to tackle the problem at full speed.

While working full time, and raising his two children, Justin started college in pursuit of becoming an attorney. His dream has been brought to fruition as he is ready and able to tirelessly represent his clients. He considers his role as an attorney to not only be an advocate for his clients, but also for the community. Justin brings passion and strong ethical fortitude to the practice of law. When not practicing law, Justin enjoys spending time coaching youth football and baseball.

EDUCATION

Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D. & Certificate in Civil Advocacy, 2016

DePaul University, B.A. Philosophy &...

Before I became an attorney, I worked for a retirement plan sponsor, learning the ins and outs of ERISA and investments in retirement plans. As part of my duties, I worked with the legal department to qualify QDROs. As an attorney, I have drafted and entered hundreds of QDROs, QILDROs and other orders dividing pensions and 401a, 401k, 403b, 457b and TSP accounts for over 23 years. I have been qualified as an expert witness in retirement plan divisions, and I have successfully litigated many retirement plan division issues. I can draft orders for you to enter or...

Robert Medansky is an experienced Divorce and Family Law Attorney providing clients and their families throughout Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and McHenry Counties in Illinois with quality guidance and legal representation. He is a skilled negotiator and accomplished trial attorney who is widely recognized and respected for his integrity and vigorous advocacy to protect his client’s rights and interests. Since 1986, Mr. Medansky has successfully represented numerous clients in complex financial and high-conflict divorce matters. He approaches every family law matter with compassion, integrity, and a focus on personal service. As a skilled negotiator, he takes a strategic...

Christina Willman earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2018. She received a degree in Agribusiness, Cum Laude, upon graduating from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2015. While in law school, Christina was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court team. In addition, Christina was a student attorney in the Clinical Law program, focusing on estate planning and general litigation. She also has completed legal internships at Vermeer Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial and agricultural equipment in Pella, Iowa, and the Michigan Farm Bureau.

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Ralph Elliott has been engaged in the practice of law in Freeport, Illinois since 1981. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Summa Cum Laude, earning Phi Beta Kappa recognition in 1978.He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1981. Ralph is admitted to the practice of law in the state of Illinois, the federal courts for the Northern District of Illinois (including the Trial Bar), the Central District of Illinois, and the Federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Kevin Bruning is a lawyer with more than twenty years of experience in the litigation field. Bruning & Associates, P.C. is a full service law firm devoted to providing high quality, cost efficient and effective legal representation to its clients. The firm was established in January 2000 and has experienced steady and measured growth since its inception. The diverse professional backgrounds of each attorney at Bruning & Associates provide a substantial compliment of expertise and specialization that permits the firm to provide comprehensive legal services to its clients.

For 20 years, I have represented clients in contested divorce and custody matters in McHenry County. I am also a court appointed guardian ad litem and mediator in family law cases. I also provide representation for clients needing estate planning and Medicaid planning.

Richard has been an attorney since 1972. He brings a wealth of experience to his work. His main areas of practice are Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, Estate Planning and Real Estate. He and his staff have been recognized in the community for their professionalism and responsiveness. He has been listed as one of Expertise.com's "Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Elgin 2021". However, the highest honor he has received throughout his career is that his clients often refer their children to him. He has proudly served multiple generations of families in the Kane County area and beyond.

Practice consists of residential and commercial real estate, wills and trusts.

Abigayle (Abby) Endress grew up in Pearl City, Illinois. She graduated from Highland Community College in 2018. In 2020, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 2023, with a certificate in Food and Agricultural Law. While in law school, Abby was selected as a teaching assistant for an introductory legal research course and worked as a student attorney in the Drake Legal Clinic. She was also a member of Drake Law Women, Drake Agriculture and Environmental Association,...

Services We Provide Include: • Probate & Estate Planning: Estate Administration, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills; • Business Formation & Transactional Matters: Creation of Business Entities (i.e. LLC, Corp., Partnerships) & Other Business Agreements including Mergers & Acquisitions; • Income Tax Returns: Planning & Preparation (Individuals, Partnerships, Corp., Trusts, Gift & Estate Tax, Tax-Exempt Org., Payroll & Others); and • Audits & Appeals: Representation in Problematic Tax & Regulatory Matters.

I am a lifelong Chicagoland resident with a passion for helping families plan their estates so their loved ones are cared for upon their passing. I utilize wills, trusts, powers of attorney for property and healthcare, with the goal of both ensuring that assets pass to your intended loved ones and to make sure that the right people are acting on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions. For families with a recently deceased loved one, I will represent the appointed fiduciaries in administering the estate, be it probate administration or trust administration. I am licensed to practice in...

Philip M. Fornaro is the managing attorney at Fornaro Law. Adopting a “never give up” attitude, Philip has become known for his ability to succeed where others fail for the last 20 years. His decision to diversify his practice in 2004 has resulted in the creation of a full service law firm which provides quality representation in a variety of legal areas. Philip follows the rule that positive energy will yield positive results. This energy is the driving force behind the success of Fornaro Law. He has become adept at creating a network and team between clients,...

Janice, lovingly known by the nickname “Apple” in her family, is a passionate attorney specializing in family law. She was born in Angeles City, Philippines at the location previously known as Clark Air Force Base and relocated to Chicago, Illinois with her family when she was just three years old. Fluent in Tagalog, Janice is particularly interested in serving the legal needs of the Filipino community in Chicago. Janice graduated in 2005 with honors from the University of Chicago and earned her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University in 2012. She has been a practicing attorney in Illinois since...

47 years experience in Immigration and International Law, Complex Bankruptcy and Health law Visiting Professor of International Law DePaul University College of Law Global Faculty International Law, Faculty of Law ,University of Liverpool School of Law U.K. Advanced law degree (LL.M) DePaul University Dissertation supervisor University of Cumbria U.K. Salford University U.K.. Assistant Professor Tulane School of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, New Orleans

Lisa A. Copland has significant experience in several areas of the law including domestic relations, civil litigation, probate, breach of contract and real estate law. She represents men and women in divorce cases, which includes division of property, allocation of parental responsibilities, child support and parenting time. Lisa routinely represents buyers and sellers in residential and commercial real estate transactions. Through the firm's full service approach, attorneys also assist clients in estate planning and civil litigation.

Ray recieved his J.D. at Northwestern University in 1974 and M.B.A. at Northwestern University in 1972 with a B.A. at California State, L.A. in 1968. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Rock Island County Bar Association.

Former Public Administrator of Rock Island County

Former Public Guardian of Rock Island County

HUD Foreclosure Commissioner

Mazyar M. Hedayat is the principal of M. Hedayat & Associates, PC, a law firm that has represented Clients for nearly 25 years in the areas of business law and litigation, bankruptcy law and litigation, real property transactions and litigation, construction law and mechanics liens, corporate law, and more. After attending the University of Chicago and University of Michigan, Mr. Hedayat received his MBA from the U.M. Ross School of Business, and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Mr. Hedayat is a title insurance agent and operated a full-service title company for 6 years....

I have been practicing law for over 35 years. I graduated 3rd in my class from law school, so I had the opportunity to work at one of Chicago's largest law firms on Michigan Avenue, Ross & Hardies, right out of law school. At that time my experience was mostly in the area of personal injury law having clerked during law school for one of the nations top personal injury lawyers, Leonard M. Ring & Associates. In April of 1991 I started my own firm that has continued to prosper under the philosophy of providing, "Quality,...

Benedict Schwarz, II has limited his practice to matrimonial and family law for over 40 years. He is a past director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is also a trained divorce mediator; Mr. Schwarz has taught numerous 40-hour divorce mediation training and conflict resolution seminars and has also co-authored chapters on the subject in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education publications.

In 1992, Mr. Schwarz was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Commissioner of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). In 2001, Mr. Schwarz was appointed the Chairperson of the Commission from January...

Over 30 years ago, Bill Wilson began his legal career along side his dad, James T. Wilson and practiced with him until his passing in 2008. Bill carries on the legacy of compassionate, expert legal counsel concentrating in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning, Business Succession, Medicaid Planning and Estate Planning for Families that have Children with Disabilities.

Bill feels a “profound obligation to provide counsel that ensures the safety of the hard earned assets of families.”

He extends that obligation outside of his practice too. Currently, he serves as President of Aging Care Connections Board, a not-for-profit agency in La...

Founder of Front Door Legal LLC, Justin Strane focuses his practice primarily on commercial and residential real estate transactions, and estate planning. His firm is located in Chicago, and he provides representation to people and businesses throughout the greater metropolitan area. In addition to his real estate practice, Justin handles a variety of other types of business matters for his clients, and he is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Justin attended the University of Michigan, where he studied political science and music and received a Bachelor of Arts in...

I work with senior citizens, their families, and small business owners to get their affairs organized, safeguard their estates, and prepare succession plans. In matters of probate or trust administration, I work with personal representatives to properly manage the administration of the estate and advise them of their legal duties along the way. My experience in these practice areas has been exclusive since I have been private practice. In 2010, I expanded my practice territory to include Lake County, Indiana by obtaining an Indiana law license.

If you are going through a divorce or family law matter, it can feel like your whole life is hanging in the balance. Not knowing what will happen to you or your family can can be overwhelming. To help clients with divorce and family law matters in their time of need, Stange Law Firm, PC has limited their practice to divorce and family law matters. For your convenience, we have offices in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma in places such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, Wichita, Tulsa and beyond. We also respond to all phone...

Masah S. SamForay, has earned national recognition as a force for her clients. Beyond being recognized as a Top 100 Lawyer, Masah SamForay knows the concerns of clients, intimately. She is a divorcee and working mother who understands what it means to fight for her family during a difficult divorce.

Atty. SamForay is a Co-Founder and Past-President of the Black Bar Association of Will County. She is a member of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. and served on the 2017-2018 Board and as the Co-Chair of the Small and Solo Firm Committee from 2013-2016. She is a...

Since 1996, Illinois elder law attorney Carol A. Nolan, has been providing valuable legal advice for seniors and their families. As a skilled Wheaton estate attorney, Ms. Nolan is devoted to the rights and legal options of elderly and disabled people in DuPage County and Chicago's western suburbs. Her Lisle law office handles a wide range of financial, health care, and estate planning matters, including Medicaid applications and planning, disability planning, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), guardianships, wills, trusts, and probate administration.

Carol A. Nolan has been a frequent speaker on Elder Law, Medicaid issues, estate planning, probate and trust administration,...

Christine’s focus as an attorney is on helping her clients through the most difficult situations life offers. Whether her clients are facing criminal charges, the end of a marriage, issues related to children, or end of life concerns, Christine’s passion for helping them through these issues is evident through her honesty, patience, and ability to make even the most complex legal issues make sense to her clients. Christine attended the Northern Illinois University College of Law, where she graduated cum laude with Juris Doctorate degree. During her tenure at NIU College of Law, she earned a Certificate in Criminal Practice. She...