Sibley Estate Planning Lawyers

I am passionate about helping people in Central Illinois with their legal needs for many reasons. I grew up in Bloomington-Normal and care deeply about the people in my hometown. I also feel called to fight for justice. The lawyers and paralegals in my office are great to work with and share my vision for helping people. We have a very experienced team at Koth Gregory & Nieminski (KGN) and pride ourselves on being able to help the people in Central Illinois with nearly any legal issue they may face. Our hope is that people come see us first for...

Todd Roseberry's experience includes a period of employment with the Illinois Department of Public Aid, Springfield, Illinois,as a Public Aid Income Maintenance Specialist. He also served in the Illinois Army National Guard at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, from 1985 to 1993 as a medic and medical laboratory technician. Todd is married with three children and lives in Leroy,Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the McLean County Bar Association. He is a member of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Bloomington, Illinois where he teaches religious education to high school children. He's currently a student at...

Drew is originally from Highland, Illinois and is a Partner for Stange Law Firm, PC who manages the Illinois offices of the firm. Drew obtained his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University. After college Drew worked as a professional pilot and flight instructor where he worked hand in hand with pilots and student pilots. Drew then went on and earned his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale, Illinois. After law school, Andrew gained experience working for another law firm in Illinois and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Madison County,...

Mary Ludwig received her J.D. and M.B.A., along with a Certificate in Food and Agricultural Law from Drake University in 2005. Prior to that she received a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture Economics from the University of Illinois. Mary concentrates her practice in agricultural law, estate planning, real estate transactions and probate. Her agricultural law experience includes organization and representation of production agricultural farm operations, agricultural cooperatives, grain elevators, agricultural input suppliers, ethanol and bio-diesel plants, and specialty farm product companies, wind tower and cell tower leases and easements, pipeline, gas, public utility and fiber optic easements,...

Jennifer Bunker Skerston has worked in the Illinois Valley legal community for the past seven years handling many litigation related matters including will contests, property tax appeals, breach of contract, and personal injury claims.

Jennifer Bunker Skerston is actively involved in the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section Council. She is the Editor of the Council’s monthly publication distributed to members throughout Illinois. She also assists the Council in providing continuing legal education to attorneys, determining the need for new legislation, and reviewing and suggesting changes to current legislative proposals affecting wills, trusts and estates....

I am the founding partner of Koth Gregory & Nieminski (KGN). We take pride in helping the people in our local community.

Jim Finegan attended the University of Illinois for undergraduate school and Northwestern University for Law School. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois after graduating law school and he has over 40 years experience. He specializes in bankruptcy, real estate, and civil litigation.

After attending the University of Illinois for Undergraduate school I attended Northern Illinois University School of Law. I was a Prosecutor for the McLean County State's Attorney's office for a year and a half, before leaving the office to practice with my father Jim Finegan. I will be working closely with my father on bankruptcy, real estate and other civil cases in the Bloomington, Illinois area.

Don B. Pioletti, Jr. has practiced law for over 35 years. He graduated from the George Mason University Law School in Virginia in 1976. He then served as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General and later as an Assistant State's Attorney. He now practices at Pioletti & Pioletti in Eureka, IL doing general practice law.

Emma Curtis is a Team Leader Attorney at Stange Law Firm’s Maryville, Illinois office. She puts the needs of her clients at the forefront.

Emma graduated with her undergraduate degree from Maryville University, Emma then went on to further her education and received her Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law.

Prior to working at Stange Law Firm, Emma was an Assistant States Attorney then worked with a private firm totaling 16 years of experience in various areas of law. Emma is also proud to have served in the United States Navy.

The choice of a lawyer is an important...

I help clients protect their most valuable business assets: their ideas and inventions, their purpose, and their products. I help clients protect themselves and their assets through a combination of intellectual property management, business planning, and estate planning. I help business owners start and run their businesses successfully. I help clients keep their focus on the core parts of the business, the things that made them want to do it in the first place, by making sure their foundations and legal strategies are strong and tailored to their unique needs. My focus on clients’ legal issues takes that off their list...

Brooke A. Didier Starks is an estate planning lawyer concentrating her wills, trusts and probate practice in east-central Illinois. She enjoys counseling a wide variety of clients on all matters related to estate planning and estate administration. Brooke welcomes the opportunity to assist clients who are providing for their children, whether it is counseling them through the decision of whom to appoint as guardian for a minor child, establishing a trust for a special-needs child, or planning for college education. She especially enjoys working with farm families to preserve the family business and pass it on to...

As a former senior tax consultant for a former Big Eight accounting firm, and as a business school graduate, Todd Black is uniquely qualified to advise clients on legal matters pertaining to estate planning and administration and corporate/business planning. A practicing attorney in Champaign-Urbana since 1987, Mr. Black joined Meyer Capel in 1993. Mr. Black received a bachelor of science in finance from the University of Illinois in 1983. He attended the University of Illinois on a full athletic scholarship and served as co-captain of the U of I's varsity tennis team. He was the recipient of numerous undergraduate honors, including...

Rebecca concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, tax planning, estate administration, probate, wills, trusts and trust administration. She counsels clients on a variety of estate planning, estate administration and trust administration issues and has significant experience in drafting both basic and complex estate plans that include wills, revocable trusts (or "living trusts"), irrevocable life insurance trusts, living wills, advanced directives, powers of attorney for health care and powers of attorney for property. In addition to preparing basic estate plans and counseling clients regarding a broad array of issues such as the importance of choosing an appropriate guardian for...

Forrest Heyman joined the firm as a summer associate in 2011 and became an associate attorney following his admission to the Illinois Bar in 2012. His areas of practice include business planning, corporate transactions, real estate, and estate planning and administration. Forrest is a locally-raised attorney with an international perspective. Hailing from Paxton, Illinois, Forrest attended Butler University from 2005 to 2008, where he earned a bachelor of science in economics, with honors. Following a semester in Hong Kong, Forrest was named Sigma Nu National Man of the Year and joined The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, where he...

Planning and Estate

John H. Elder brings a special degree of experience to the clients of Meyer Capel. John works with his clients to deal with the tax issues of estate planning, but has always realized that this is only one component of the planning process. It is very important that an attorney work with the family members to learn about the needs and personalities of the various individuals and to develop a plan that meets the family goals and objectives. Some of the greatest qualities of an estate planning attorney are compassion, trust, and communication skills and it is only...

With a focus on estate planning and administration, Marjorie A. Harris works closely with individuals and families who are seeking ways to provide financial security for today and protect their assets for the next generation. In addition to advising clients on trust and estates and tax planning matters, Marjorie's practice also includes the establishment and representation of nonprofit and charitable organizations, and charitable gift planning. A magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, Marjorie earned a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in applied mathematics and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. She went on to earn...

Ward F. McDonald brings a wealth of experience in real estate, banking and commercial law to the clients of Meyer Capel. His background includes 13 years as CEO of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., a title insurer with multi-state operations, and 25 years as an attorney in private practice. Over the course of his career, Ward has handled numerous transactions in the $1-100 million range for commercial and residential real estate developments, including sales, acquisitions, refinancing and consolidations. Ward holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Land Economics from the University of Illinois as well as his Juris...

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.

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.

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...

Bill is an Illinois and New York licensed attorney operating a general law practice in Chicago. He represent clients throughout the Chicagoland area on matters ranging from tenant evictions and judgment collections, to divorces and much more. Having grown up on the South Side of Chicago, Bill understands the value and importance of high quality service at a reasonable price. His main goal is to carry that mantra into his law practice and provide excellent and effective representation at an affordable price. By operating a virtual law office, he has been able to operate a more mobile...

With almost 20 years of legal experience, Tim O'Brien brings a mature eye to estate planning. As the father of young kids, he also understands and appreciates the needs of families with school-age children. In his work with O'Brien Estate Law, LLC, Tim works to make sure his clients don't get cookie cutter estate plans. He takes the time to understand each person's or family's wishes and builds the plan around their specific circumstances. Tim also firmly believes that an estate plan is not just something you do and put on a shelf. Each plan needs to be reviewed as...

Nick Nelson was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2008. Since then he has focused on serving his clients and offering practical legal advice that accomplishes the goals of his clients and serves their best interest. Nick's personality, knowledge, and skills have proven beneficial for clients in legal disputes ranging from divorce, civil litigation, business guidance, and negotiations. Nick has won numerous awards and recognition from the legal community, including AVVO Excellent Rating, AVVO Featured Attorney Divorce, AVVO Top Contributor, AVVO Clients' Choice, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 10 Best for Client Satisfaction, The National Advocates Top 40 Under...

Attorney Dion U. Davi has extensive experience in family, real estate and estate planning throughout Illinois. DuPage family law attorney Dion U. Davi is a skilled negotiator who seeks to resolve legal disputes with a favorable settlement whenever possible. When needed, however, he has the skills and experience to effectively and zealously advocate for his clients in court.

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

Kerry Peck is the past president of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and founder of the Elder Law Committee of the CBA. He is also the managing partner of the Chicago law firm, Peck Ritchey, LLC, whose clients include families, hospitals, banks, the State of Illinois, County of Cook, and City of Chicago. He provides legal representation for trust and guardianship litigation, business planning, and estate planning.

Mr. Peck is well experienced in guiding his clients through the probate process, assisting in the transfer of assets and resolution of claims, and implementing estate plans. He is also very dedicated in...

Ms. Sexauer focuses her practice on probate matters, including: elder law, guardianship, estate planning, wills, trusts, and will contests. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. Stephanie speaks Spanish fluently and is regularly selected by Cook County judges to serve as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem for disabled adults. Stephanie also serves on the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association.

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...

Sean Robertson is an experienced business law and real estate attorney with more than 14 years of experience. He graduated from DePaul University College of Law and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he gained a strong background in taxation law during his time in law school. Sean Robertson's legal experience has been varied and has involved issues surrounding business litigation, wealth management, estate planning, divorce, and family law.

During the last recession, Sean worked to litigate a wide variety of cases involving loan disputes, business interests, creditor/debtor contracts, and post-judgment law. This background gives him the understanding needed to...

At O’Flaherty Law, we are your community law firm. We are committed to providing personalized, efficient, and quality legal service. We pride ourselves on our “above-and-beyond” approach to client care, affordable fees, and communication. Please call us today at (630)324-6666 to schedule a free in-person or phone consultation. We are located in Downers Grove, Illinois. Our attorneys are happy to meet with you at our office or any other location convenient to you in order to work to accomplish your legal goals. Our team has experience in many areas of law including but not limited to divorce and family...

Katrine R. Fleishman’s (née Lazar) practice is focused in the areas of real estate and estate planning, including trusts, wills, and powers of attorney for health care and property. Katrine helps her clients – whether they are first time homebuyers, experienced investors or anyone in between – navigate the closing process, successfully closing hundreds of real estate transactions. She works with her estate planning clients, tailoring a plan for their future that fits their individual needs.

Katrine has been with Newland and Newland, LLP since 2015. Before joining Newland & Newland, LLP, she was an associate at a Chicagoland firm where...