Business Details
Trusted Legal Services for Estate & Business Needs
Bielski Chapman, Ltd. specializes in delivering superior legal services with a focus on estate planning, business planning, and litigation for clients in Illinois and New York. Our team combines decades of legal expertise with empathetic client care to address complex matters such as asset protection, business succession, and probate administration. Founded by professionals with firsthand experience navigating legal challenges related to aging parents and business ownership, we prioritize transparent communication and practical solutions tailored to individual needs.Our commitment to continuing education ensures we remain current with evolving laws, while our emphasis on plain language demystifies legal processes for clients. With a track record of handling over 400 probate cases across 17 Illinois counties and daily court appearances, we provide authoritative representation backed by operational efficiency and 24/7 data security measures.
Services
Estate Planning
Business Law
Brewery Law
Real Estate Law
Litigation
Probate Administration
Special Needs Planning
Asset Protection
Business Succession Planning
Guardianship
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of combined experience in estate and business law.
- Our attorneys provide clear explanations without legal jargon.
- We maintain 24/7 data security and confidentiality for client information.
- Our team handles more than 400 active probate cases in Illinois.
- We openly discuss billing options including flat fee arrangements.
What people say
Very warm and friendly
Awesome all the way through
Fantasy helpful with serious issues
Made process so easy
Quick with responses
Services
Estate Planning
Our trust-based estate planning ensures asset distribution according to your wishes while minimizing taxes and avoiding probate. We create customized documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced medical directives. Our process includes five clear steps from consultation to trust funding.
Business Law
We provide transactional legal support for business formation, contracts, and compliance matters. Our services cover entity selection, shareholder agreements, and commercial transactions. We help businesses navigate regulatory requirements in Illinois and New York jurisdictions.
Probate Administration
Our team handles probate court proceedings for estate settlement including asset distribution, debt resolution, and tax filings. We assist with both contested and uncontested probate matters while managing guardianship cases and trust litigation across 17 Illinois counties.
Special Needs Planning
We create Special Needs Trusts to protect government benefits eligibility while providing financial support for individuals with disabilities. Our planning ensures inheritance doesn't disqualify recipients from Medicaid or SSI programs through legally sound trust structures.
Asset Protection
We implement legal strategies using irrevocable trusts and business entities to safeguard assets from creditors and long-term care costs. Our Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts preserve wealth while maintaining eligibility for government assistance programs for elderly clients.
People
SJ Chapman
Managing Partner
Specializes in estate planning and Medicaid asset protection with hands-on experience navigating long-term care challenges. Leads trust creation and special needs planning while managing complex client relationships.
John Bielski
Founder, Managing Partner
Probate law expert with over 1,000 handled cases and daily court appearances. Focuses on business succession planning and estate administration with deep knowledge of Illinois probate court procedures.
Paul Porvaznik
Partner
Concentrates on business law and commercial litigation matters. Provides strategic legal counsel for corporate clients while managing complex dispute resolution cases in multiple jurisdictions.
Marny Kravenas
Of Counsel
Supports estate planning and probate cases with specialized knowledge of tax implications and trust administration. Works closely with clients requiring advanced medical directives and guardianship arrangements.
Deborah Martinez
Of Counsel
Focuses on real estate law and business transactional matters. Handles property transfers, contract negotiations, and brewery licensing while maintaining client-centered communication throughout processes.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I really need?
Every adult should have a will, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives. Depending on your situation, we may recommend revocable trusts, special needs trusts, or Medicaid protection trusts.
How does your law firm handle probate cases?
We guide executors through court procedures for asset distribution, debt settlement, and tax filings. With 400+ active probate cases, we efficiently manage both contested and uncontested matters in Illinois courts.
Can you help businesses with succession planning?
Yes, we create comprehensive plans for business continuity during retirement, disability, or death. Our services include ownership transition strategies and shareholder agreement drafting to maintain business stability.
What's unique about your special needs planning?
We focus on preserving government benefits eligibility while providing financial support through properly structured Special Needs Trusts. Our approach protects Medicaid and SSI qualification while meeting long-term care requirements.
How do you handle asset protection for aging clients?
We use Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts to safeguard homes and savings while maintaining eligibility for long-term care benefits. Our strategies protect assets from nursing home costs and unexpected medical expenses.
What payment options do you offer for legal services?
We offer transparent billing with options including flat fees for standard estate plans and detailed budget projections for hourly rate cases. No hidden charges for routine communications or document copies.
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