Forrest Estate Planning Lawyers

Assisting small businesses with a variety of issues, including applications for government assistance, real estate transfers and asset protection.

I founded The Heartland Law Firm and ElderSmart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families during the Elder Transition. With nearly three decades of experience, I have served as an attorney, mentor, and trusted guide through life’s most challenging moments. Initially, I did not always enjoy being a lawyer. In my early years, I felt the profession was overly focused on documents and fees rather than on people. This perspective shifted as I started working with families dealing with loss, aging, and uncertainty. I realized the profound impact of blending legal knowledge with compassion, and from that point, I fully committed...

SK Walker Law, LLC in Marion, IL, is a Marine Corps Combat Veteran owned law firm with SIU School of Law Alum, attorney Scott Walker, who focuses his practice to the area of Personal Injury, Probate, Wills, Trust, Estates, Contract, Real Estate, Business and Mass Tort law. I use my military and mechanic background and training to troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve our issues. I listen and relate to my clients through my real-world experience, which includes 14 years of military service, with combat tours during Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom, and over twenty years of managerial experience in the maintenance, mining, and...

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...

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.

Blake Behme Gilbreth Links, P.C. has offices in Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Carlyle and Effingham, Illinois. AREAS OF PRACTICE: Probate Law, Family Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Estate Planning, including Business, Child Custody, Child Support, Collaborative Divorce, Commercial Real Estate, Consume Protection, Debt Settlement, Divorce, Divorce Mediation, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Breaches of Fiduciary Duty, Family, Foreclosure, Landlord/Tenant, Legal Malpractice, Litigation, Civil Lawsuits, Military Divorce, Nursing Home, Personal Injury, Probate, Estate Settlement, Real Estate, Securities, DCFS, Tax, Internal Revenue Service, Illinois Department of Revenue, Illinois Department of Employment Security and White Collar Crime.

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

Ms. Hicks has been practicing law in St. Clair and Monroe Counties for more than 18 years. She has successfully tried numerous divorce and custody cases. She is also an experienced mediator. Ms. Hicks grew up in a small town in Monroe County and returned to the area to practice law. She resides with her husband and son in Columbia.

In my past life as a former prosecutor, I prosecuted literally thousands of traffic cases. I know the ins and outs of the system, where things can go wrong and exactly how harsh traffic penalties can be. After spending years as a prosecutor, I got tired of being on that side of things. I got tired of being the “bad guy” and having to charge people ridiculous fines.

As an attorney, I have worked in the areas of corporate law, criminal defense and divorce, but the majority of my experience is with traffic violations. As a prosecutor in the Pulaski County,...

P.K. Johnson V, born in 1970, gained admission to the Illinois Bar in 1995 and the Missouri Bar in 1996. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with honors from the University of Illinois in 1992 and attained his Juris Doctor degree with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1995. During his leisure hours, P.K. finds joy in quality time with his wife and two sons, indulging in golf, and exploring new destinations. Beyond his personal pursuits, P.K. contributes actively as a member of the Swansea, Illinois Board of Police Commissioners and holds a position on the Wolf Branch School District...

Megan M. Nolan was born in 1983 in Belleville, Illinois. Ms. Nolan received a B.A., Honors Diploma, from Murray State University, in 2006, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Criminal Justice. Ms. Nolan received her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2009, where she pursued a concentration in Civil Litigation. She was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 2009, and the Illinois Bar in 2010.

About Bill

Bill is a Southern Illinois native. He and his wife live in the Carbondale area with their five children. He attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He later earned Masters’ degrees in Special Education and Counseling Psychology, from McKendree University. He in Special Education classrooms in public and private schools.

Later, Bill worked as a counselor-intern for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and as a clinician for Chestnut Health Systems. He provided mental health and addiction recovery services, clinical analysis, and employee assistance support. His clients included Federal and State probation,...

Amy F. Spector is a managing partner with Hicks & Spector, L.L.C. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois . Ms. Spector holds a B.S. in Business Administration from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she majored in Marketing and minored in Psychology. Ms. Spector received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale, Illinois, where she was an active member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, as well as the student division of the American Bar Association.

After law school, Ms. Spector went on...

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...

You believe you deserve an attorney who focuses on his client's needs, rather than on his bottom line. So do we. Ask our clients, and they’ll tell you that we take the time to get to know our clients to understand their particular situation to give them the most practical and effective legal solution. And, many of our services are provided based on a flat-rate arrangement.  It helps us to earn our clients' trust and lifetime relationship.

Mr. Feldman provides legal assistance to clients concerning a broad range of business and estate planning matters, including business formation and organization, contract review,...

Makedonka “Miki” Baloski is a highly accomplished attorney with extensive experience across a wide range of legal disciplines, including estate planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, real estate transactions, and contested guardianships. With over two decades of legal expertise, she is a trusted advocate for individuals, families, and businesses navigating complex legal challenges. At Kelleher + Holland, LLC, Miki focuses on estate and trust administration, delivering comprehensive solutions tailored to her clients’ unique needs. Miki’s experience spans litigation and transactional law, having defended multinational corporations in toxic tort and product liability cases, assisted clients with business disputes, handling probate matters,...

Dean Hedeker is a leading Chicago-area authority on estate and tax planning, business law and investments. A long-time resident of north suburban Lincolnshire, Dean has more than 25-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. Dean is among a rare breed of professionals because he possesses wide-ranging experience and certifications in the fields of law, estate, tax and financial planning and accounting. Over the past 10 years alone, Dean has created more than 2,000 estate plans and every year he handles more than 300 complex...

Anthony (Tony) Perrelli is a partner of Hedeker & Perrelli and has provided his legal expertise to the firm since 2005. A resident of north suburban South Barrington, Tony specializes in estate planning, estate administration, and business and tax law. Clients rely on his smart, honest and compassionate approach to helping ensure their Hedeker & Perrelli LifePlan is protected from creditors, predators and the IRS. Tony is trusted by the hundreds of families and businesses who rely on Hedeker & Perrelli to plan and preserve their wealth. He has a deep understanding of tax laws and the estate planning process...

Stella Day is a seasoned litigation attorney with a focus on probate and guardianship matters. She brings her wealth of experience to Johnston Tomei Lenczycki & Goldberg, LLC, following a successful tenure at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. With over 16 years in the field, Stella has adeptly handled a variety of complex felony and misdemeanor cases, including DUI, Aggravated Battery, Sexual Assault, and Murder. Her track record includes successful litigation in numerous jury trials and evidentiary hearings across different courtrooms. Stella has also extensively dealt with cases involving mental health and competency issues. As a guest speaker on trial...

-Former Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County from 2001 through 2004;
-Associate in private law firm from 2004 through 2014 practicing criminal defense, real estate law/closings and local village prosecutor for two municipalities;
-Partner in former law firm of Nutschnig & Cavanaugh Attorneys at Law P.C. from 2014 through 2019
-Current president and founder of the Law Offices of Jeffery J. Nutschnig LLC
-Almost 20 years legal experience;
-Member of the Lake County BAR Association;
-Illinois State Bar Association member;
-Member/Counselor of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois;
-Honest and truthful legal representation;

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...

For the past 25 years, my practice has focused on helping individuals, families, and small businesses to overcome financial setbacks and obtain a Fresh Start. Sometimes this means fighting foreclosures or defending against credit card suits. Very often, it involves filing bankruptcy to eliminate multiple debts or to consolidate several debts into one smaller monthly payment that my clients can actually afford. I treat my clients with dignity and respect and am proud to have served more than 10,000 people in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois.

Jared possesses a varied background from family and divorce law to criminal law.

Emily is a determined and fierce advocate for her clients. At the same time her welcoming smile and friendly personality will put you at ease when discussing your legal problem. Emily has spent the last 12 years representing clients in real estate, eviction and installment sales contract cases. Whether it is negotiating a settlement or taking a case to court, Emily’s experience allows her to get results for her clients.

Emily has an Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a law degree from Southern Illinois University. While in law school, she worked for...

Tyler Phillips began his legal career as solo practitioner following graduation from the St. Louis University School of Law in 2012. Thereafter, Tyler joined Blickhan, Timmerwilke, Woodworth & Larson in Quincy, Illinois and engaged in a diverse area of practice including divorce, domestic relations, real estate, estate planning, criminal defense, and civil litigation, in both Illinois and Missouri. Tyler joined the firm of Hauk and Owens in 2016 where he continued his practice in both Illinois and Missouri. Tyler joined the firm Rober Law, P.C. in October of 2022, as a partner where he continues to advocate for his clients...

Author: The Illinois Guide Book to Auto Accidents The Illinois Guide Book to Semi Truck Accidents Avvo Rating: 10.0 Superb American Association of Justice/American Trial Lawyers Association Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

As the founder of the firm Kaufman Law Group, LLC, Jay C. Kaufman practices in the areas of business law and estate planning. For nearly 35 years, he has been practicing at his own firm. Attorney Kaufman is a proud member of ElderCounsel, WealthCounsel, American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. He received both his undergraduate and Juris Doctorate degrees from North Illinois University. Mr. Kaufman has earned an 8.5 Excellent rating on Avvo.com. For a case review, please contact his firm today.

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...

Craig D. Pierson has been practicing law in Illinois for 20 years. Craig focuses on estate planning, real estate, and business law. As an estate planning attorney, Craig has advised clients on sophisticated estate tax planning techniques, including GRATs, QPRTs, family limited partnerships, generation-skipping tax, charitable remainder trusts, and insurance trusts. In his practice as a real estate lawyer, Craig has advised clients on condominium conversion, environmental concerns, tax challenges, and has created appropriate corporate and other companies with which to hold real estate. His real estate practice includes the representation of general contractors, construction managers, real estate...

Stan R. Weller is a practicing attorney in the Southern Illinois/Metro East St. Louis area. He established the Weller Law Firm in 2006 after a number of years in private firms, as well as a period with the Illinois Attorney General’s office working in the Sexually Violent Persons Unit. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1992 and his Juris Doctorate degree from the Southern Illinois University of Carbondale in 1998. He is a certified mediator, arbitrator, and former guardian ad litem, but concentrates his practice in the areas of family law and...

Hrant “Hud” Norsigian, Jr. is the founder and owner of Norsigian Law Office located in O’Fallon, Illinois. Mr. Norsigian has over 34 years’ experience as an attorney and is licensed in both Illinois and Missouri. Mr. Norsigian graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in 1985 receiving his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in mathematics and a minor in economics. Mr. Norsigian graduated from Washington University School of Law (J.D. 1988), Magna Cum Laude and earned Order of the Coif honors. He was also awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for the...

I am a thrid generation attorney originally from Quincy. I focus my practice on estate planning and estate administration because its a topic that is so important to every family. Whether it's a young family like mine where primary concern is ensuring children are taken care of in the event something happens to the parents, a family with adult children who need a little protection from themselves (or an ex-spouse), or a multi-million dollar estate with complex tax planning issues; everyone needs an estate plan. I try to make the process as easy as possible for you so that a...

Accomplished attorney with background in the areas of real estate, business law, consumer law, wills, trusts, & estate planning, employment law, and dispute resolution. Extensive experience drafting and negotiating contracts and legal documents, particularly in the corporate and real estate areas. Able to identify core issues and obtain solid results. Approved Mediator for the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors Arbitration panelist in the Madison County Mandatory Arbitration program

Michael is a licensed attorney in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota who founded the Virtual Attorney to bring estate planning and business law into the 21st century. Through the use of technology and the internet he offers estate planning to young families, co-habitating couples, homosexual couples, and everyone in between. The Virtual Attorney is also the one-stop shop for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Starting out is tough and you don't have money to throw away on an in-house lawyer. With the Virtual Attorney's flat-fee based Essential In-House Counsel arrangements you'll get exactly what you need and you won't pay unexpected hourly...

Estate Planning: James has conducted estate planning matters including creation of wills (last will and testament), trusts, special needs trusts, irrevocable creditor protection trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, beneficiary planning and beneficiary designation, corporate succession planning, tax planning, and transfer on death instruments. Litigation: James has litigated matters including probate disputes, elder abuse claims, debt collection issues, contract disputes, and conducted other litigation as required by his clients. James has practiced across Iowa and Illinois.