Special Needs Planning Attorneys in Illinois

42 special needs planning firms in Illinois, by city, county and firm type.

State

County

City

Practice Area

All Areas

Planning ahead

Estate Planning42 Tax Planning14 Special Needs Planning42

Settling an estate

Trust Administration22 Probate40 Probate Litigation21

Capacity and care

Elder Law22 Conservatorship31 Guardianship31

Firm Type

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.

42 firms

Acton & Snyder, LLP

220 N. Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832

Danville firm serving Vermilion County, with a second office in Hoopeston. Handles wills, powers of attorney, trusts including special needs trusts, probate administration, small estate affidavits, and title transfers. The firm dates its Danville practice to 1904.

Since 1904Serves 1 countyEstate PlanningProbateSpecial Needs PlanningWills Trusts

1-217-442-0350

Ariano Hardy Ritt Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C.

2000 McDonald Road, Suite 200, South Elgin, IL 60177

South Elgin and Huntley firm serving Kane, McHenry, DuPage, DeKalb, Kendall, and Cook counties. Handles wills and trusts, probate, trust administration, guardianships, and special needs trusts, and represents executors and beneficiaries in will contests and estate litigation.

Serves 6 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationConservatorship+3

1-847-695-2400

Benckendorf & Benckendorf, P.C.

101 NE Randolph Avenue, Peoria, IL 61606

Peoria firm serving Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton, Knox, and McLean counties, with a second office in Morton. Represents executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries in probate court administration, fiduciary and estate tax returns, small estate affidavits, and estate claims. Also handles guardianships, special needs trusts, and Medicaid planning.

Since 1981Serves 6 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+4

1-309-673-0797

Brave Law Center, P.C.

330 NE Perry Ave, Peoria, IL 61603

Peoria firm handling estate and probate matters in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and Fulton counties. Guides executors through the inventory of assets, creditor claims, court hearings, and final distribution, and handles guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults alongside wills, trusts, and special needs trusts.

Serves 6 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningWills Trusts

1-309-685-7900

Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP

816 West State Street, Jacksonville, IL 62650

Jacksonville firm serving Morgan County and west central Illinois since 1876. Handles probate administration along with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, guardianships, special needs and life insurance trusts, Medicaid planning, and business succession. Taxation and agricultural law are separate practice areas of the firm.

Since 1876Serves 6 countiesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax PlanningConservatorship+4

1-217-245-7111

Bougher, Krisher & Clark, Attorneys at Law, P.C.

32 West Side Square, Macomb, IL 61455

Macomb general-practice firm on West Side Square, serving McDonough, Hancock, Henderson, Fulton, Schuyler, Warren, and Knox county families. Estate administration work covers probate, small estate affidavits, will contests, and inheritance and estate tax returns. Farm estates and farm succession planning are a recurring emphasis.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax PlanningSpecial Needs Planning+2

1-309-833-1702

The Law Firm of Capps, Ancelet, Icenogle & Wallace

55 S. Adams Street, Carthage, IL 62321

General-practice firm in Carthage, the Hancock County seat, serving western Illinois. Estate work covers wills, powers of attorney for healthcare and property, transfer-on-death instruments, revocable living trusts, supplemental needs trusts, and estate and income tax minimization. The firm traces its roots to Wilbur D. Capps, who began practicing in 1941.

Serves 5 countiesEstate PlanningTax PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningAgricultural LawBusiness Law+3

1-217-357-2107

Cowlin, Naughton, Curran, Cuda & Hanzel

20 Grant Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Crystal Lake firm of five attorneys serving McHenry, Lake, and Kane counties. Guides families through Illinois probate — validating the will, inventorying and appraising property, paying debts, and distributing assets — and handles guardianships for adults and minors, with attorneys appointed as guardian ad litem. Wills, trusts, and real estate round out the practice.

Serves 3 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planning+2

1-815-459-5300

Crain, Miller & Wernsman, Ltd.

623 E. Broadway Street, Centralia, IL 62801

Centralia firm founded in 1939, serving Marion County and the surrounding southern Illinois counties. Collects and manages estate assets and debts, pays taxes, distributes property to heirs, and closes the estate, and also handles trust administration, nonprobate administration, contested wills, and guardianships of minors and disabled adults.

Since 1939Serves 5 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+4

1-618-547-1613

Law Office of Johann Chau

111 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604

Downtown Chicago estate and probate practice on West Jackson Boulevard serving Chicago neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs. Guides executors and trustees through Cook County probate and trust administration, and drafts special-needs and Medicaid asset-protection trusts. Consultations are offered in English, Cantonese, and Vietnamese, in person or virtually.

Solo PracticeSince 2011Serves 1 countyFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawConservatorship+3

1-312-529-7853

Dodd & Wambold

723 Insight Ave, Suite 100, O'Fallon, IL 62269

O’Fallon estate and elder-law firm on Insight Avenue serving Metro East families in St. Clair County. Guides executors and trustees through probate and trust administration — inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing to heirs — plus guardianships and special needs trusts. Attorneys Heidi Dodd and Kelly Wambold also handle long-term-care planning.

Serves 3 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawConservatorship+3

1-618-235-6335

Dynasty Law, LLC

875 N. Michigan Avenue, 31st Floor, Chicago, IL 60611

North Michigan Avenue practice in Chicago, with suburban appointments in Oakbrook Terrace. Handles Illinois probate and trust administration after a death — inventorying and appraising property, paying debts and estate taxes, and retitling trust assets to beneficiaries — plus adult guardianship and conservatorship. Attorney Jacklyn Truppa bills flat fees agreed in advance rather than hourly.

Solo PracticeServes 2 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningConservatorship+3

1-312-248-4304

Deck Baron & Provost

200 E. Court Street, Suite 508, Kankakee, IL 60901

Practices from the Executive Centre in downtown Kankakee, serving Kankakee and Iroquois counties. Represents executors and trustees through probate, trust administration, small estate affidavits, estate and trust disputes, and estate and gift tax returns. Attorneys Gregory Deck, David Baron, and Neeley Provost also handle agricultural and banking work.

Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+6

1-815-939-7373

Edelson Law, LLC

8401 Crawford, Suite 104, Skokie, IL 60076

Skokie solo practice serving Skokie, Evanston, Niles, Glenview, Rogers Park, and Chicago’s north side. Handles estate administration and uncontested probate after a death, referring contested matters out, alongside Medicaid and long-term-care planning and special needs trusts. Attorney Zisl Edelson makes house and hospital calls for an additional charge.

Solo PracticeSince 2014Serves 1 countyEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningWills Trusts

1-847-410-9131

Embrich & Elliott Law, LLC

120 West Main Street, Suite 201, Belleville, IL 62220

Belleville firm serving the Metro East (St. Clair and Madison counties), with an Edwardsville office by appointment. Handles probate for executors and heirs — filing the will, appointing the representative, inventorying assets, creditor notice, tax filings, and distribution — plus will contests and estate mediation. Both founding partners are certified mediators.

Since 2023Serves 8 countiesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationSpecial Needs PlanningFamily LawWills Trusts

1-618-551-0451

Frankfort Law Group

10075 W. Lincoln Highway, Floor 1, Frankfort, IL 60423

Frankfort firm on West Lincoln Highway serving Will, Cook, and Kankakee counties and clients across Illinois. Opens estates in the county probate court, prepares inventories and creditor notices, and handles ancillary probate for out-of-state decedents with Illinois property, alongside trust administration, guardianships, and special needs trusts. Free consultation.

Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawConservatorship+3

1-708-766-7333

Farooqi & Husain Law Office

2 Trans Am Plaza Drive, Suite 160, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Oakbrook Terrace firm serving DuPage, Cook, Will, and Kane counties. Represents trustees and named beneficiaries in opening, administering, and closing estates — probate court appearances, property management, final tax returns, small estates, and will contests. Attorneys Ausaf Farooqi and Naveed Husain also draft Islamic wills and trusts.

Serves 4 countiesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax PlanningSpecial Needs Planning+2

1-630-909-9114

Greenwood Law

4333 B 18th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201

Rock Island office on 18th Avenue probating estates through the Rock Island County Circuit Court, with offices in Chicago and Davenport, Iowa. Handles estate administration, estate and trust litigation, guardianship and conservatorship, and special needs trusts. The veteran-owned firm discounts fees for service members, disabled veterans, and union members.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationConservatorship+3

1-855-528-6022

Adam C. Gynac & Associates LLC

63 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432

Joliet practice on North Chicago Street serving Will County families. Attorney Adam C. Gynac counsels executors through probate of a family member’s estate and drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and special needs trusts, alongside minor guardianships and family law. Free consultations.

Solo PracticeServes 1 countyFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planning+2

1-815-582-3600

Jonathan D. Groll, Ltd.

830 North Boulevard, Suite A, Oak Park, IL 60301

Two-attorney practice in historic downtown Oak Park serving Cook County families. Handles probate estate administration, small estate affidavits, bond in lieu of probate, trust administration, wills, special needs trusts, and elder law. Attorneys Jonathan Groll and Ruth Anne Brendemuhl offer evening and weekend appointments and Spanish-language service.

Serves 1 countyEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planning+2

1-708-358-8565

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Estate planning attorneys in Illinois average $334 an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $1,002 to $2,004 for a simple individual will and $3,680 to $5,520 for a basic revocable trust. An online service prices the same documents in the tens to low hundreds of dollars; the Illinois will cost calculator sets the two side by side.

In Illinois, estates with personal property of $150,000 or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit. That route is a form rather than a court case, and most families handle it without an attorney. Above the line, formal probate generally benefits from counsel for the procedural work, even when nothing is contested. The Illinois probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.

In Illinois, the situations where counsel is typically worth the cost are: a blended family with children from a prior relationship; a business, rental property or significant investment assets; a dependent with special needs, who needs a special-needs trust to keep benefits; an estate near or above the Illinois estate tax threshold of $4,000,000; substantial property in more than one state. Where none of these apply, an online or self-help document is often enough.

Filter the directory by county and by the practice area you need, and look for experience with your situation; a board certification in estate planning, trust or probate law is a strong signal. Most Illinois estate planning attorneys offer an initial consultation, some free and some for a flat fee. Ask up front whether the firm bills by the hour or by package, and what your situation is expected to cost.

Special Needs Planning Attorneys in Illinois

Illinois attorneys average $334 an hour for wills and estates work. A basic will from an attorney runs $1,002–$2,004; online services cost $30–$300.

Illinois imposes its own estate tax separate from the federal one, kicking in well below the federal exemption. Estates near the state threshold benefit from real planning — not because every family needs it, but because the line is lower than people expect.

Worth knowing: estates under $150,000 can use Illinois's simplified affidavit instead of formal probate. If your situation is straightforward and the estate fits, you may not need an attorney at all.

Legal Sources

(4)·Updated October 15, 2026

SimplyTrust Editorial

Data sourced from Illinois statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Illinois

Free forms for planning your estate in Illinois: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Illinois.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

Get Started

Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Illinois treats a power of attorney as durable by default, and it is signed before 1 witness and a notary.

Get Started

Free

Last Will and Testament

In Illinois, a will is signed before 2 witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavit.

Get Started

All Illinois forms

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Illinois

Free tools for planning your estate in Illinois: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Illinois and read its answer.

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Illinois runs $3,680 to $5,520 for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In Illinois, four years at a public university cost about $108,856 and the cost of living is near the U.S. average; the state levies an estate tax above $4,000,000.

Calculate the Amount

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Illinois runs $3,680 to $5,520 and a simple will $1,002 to $2,004, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

Illinois automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorce; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.

Get the Answer

All Illinois tools

Special Needs Planning Attorneys in Illinois

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Illinois

Revocable Living Trust

Financial Power of Attorney

Last Will and Testament

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Illinois

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

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Special Needs Planning Attorneys in Illinois