Business Details
Your Trusted Legal Partner in Pontiac, Illinois
Johnson & Taylor has served Central Illinois and beyond for over six decades, combining deep legal expertise with a client-centered approach. Our firm traces its roots to the 1800s, offering tailored legal strategies that reflect our clients' unique goals and circumstances. With a strong professional network and a commitment to understanding each client's needs, we provide comprehensive representation in estate planning, agricultural law, real estate, and municipal matters. Our attorneys and support staff prioritize clear communication, ethical standards, and practical solutions to protect our clients' interests.For generations, families, businesses, and government entities have relied on our legal counsel to navigate complex legal challenges with confidence. Our agricultural law practice, led by Mary C. Ludwig, draws on firsthand farming experience and specialized education to address the evolving needs of the agricultural community. We maintain a reputation for professional excellence through dedicated service to individuals, farms, and organizations across multiple practice areas.
Services
Estate Planning
Agricultural Law
Real Estate Transactions
Probate Administration
Municipal Law
Tax Preparation
Highlights and features
- We combine 60+ years of local legal experience with generational agricultural knowledge.
- Our attorneys hold specialized credentials in agricultural law and estate planning.
- We provide personalized legal strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances.
- Our team maintains active involvement in agricultural organizations and community initiatives.
- We offer comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas under one roof.
Associations and certifications
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
What people say
Outstanding in taking me through the process
Excellent representation
Seamless closing
Trust her decisions
Incredible assistance
Services
Estate Planning
We create customized estate plans including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Our attorneys help families navigate probate administration and small estate affidavits. We specialize in farm succession planning to ensure smooth transitions between generations while minimizing tax liabilities and maintaining agricultural operations.
Agricultural Law
Our agricultural law practice covers farm leases, land transactions, and regulatory compliance. We assist with wind tower agreements, drainage easements, and 1031 exchanges. With firsthand farming experience, our attorneys provide practical legal solutions for family farms, agribusinesses, and cooperatives across Central Illinois.
Real Estate Transactions
We handle residential, commercial, and agricultural property transactions. Our services include title examinations, purchase agreements, and closing documentation. We specialize in complex farm land sales, partition agreements, and real estate leases for agricultural operations and utility easements.
Municipal Law
We represent fire districts, park districts, and municipalities with legal compliance and governance. Our services include ordinance drafting, financial reporting, FOIA compliance, and employment policy development. We provide ongoing legal counsel for local government entities to ensure regulatory adherence and effective governance.
Tax Preparation
Our firm prepares federal and state income tax returns for individuals and businesses. We handle estate and gift tax filings, respond to IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue inquiries, and provide tax planning strategies. Our tax services are integrated with estate and agricultural law practices to offer comprehensive financial solutions.
People
Mary C. Ludwig
Attorney
Mary C. Ludwig specializes in agricultural law with firsthand farming experience. She holds a J.D., M.B.A., and Certificate in Food and Agricultural Law from Drake University. With over a decade of practice, she advises on farm succession, estate planning, and real estate transactions while maintaining active roles in agricultural organizations.
Taylor F. Johnson
Attorney
Taylor F. Johnson provides legal counsel with multi-generational experience serving Illinois farmers. He focuses on estate planning and tax preparation, maintaining long-standing relationships with agricultural clients. His practice spans four generations of farming families, offering continuity in legal representation for rural communities.
Julie Ralph
Paralegal
Julie Ralph serves as paralegal with 30 years of experience in probate and tax matters. She specializes in estate administration, wills, and municipal government support. Her agricultural background informs her work with farm families, while her local knowledge benefits Pontiac-area clients requiring detailed legal documentation.
Amber Ray
Legal Assistant
Amber Ray supports legal operations with expertise in office administration and bookkeeping. She assists with estate documents, real estate transactions, and tax processing. Growing up on a central Illinois farm, she brings practical understanding to agricultural clients' legal needs while managing day-to-day office functions.
Questions
What areas of law does Johnson & Taylor specialize in?
We focus on estate planning, agricultural law, real estate transactions, probate administration, municipal law, and tax preparation for individuals and organizations.
How does your firm handle agricultural legal matters?
Our agricultural law practice includes farm succession planning, land transactions, lease agreements, and regulatory compliance, informed by firsthand farming experience and specialized legal training.
Can you assist clients outside of Illinois?
While based in Illinois, we regularly work with out-of-state clients on agricultural transactions and estate matters, providing remote legal representation and coordination.
What experience do you have with multi-generational family farms?
We've served four generations of farming families, offering continuity in estate planning, land transfers, and business succession strategies tailored to agricultural operations.
How do you handle urgent legal questions?
While we don't offer 24/7 emergency services, we prioritize prompt responses to urgent legal matters during regular business hours and maintain clear communication channels for time-sensitive issues.
