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Cook County Special Needs Attorneys

At O'Flaherty our Cook County special needs attorneys have the experience to navigate special needs legalities to get you or your loved one the benefits you need.
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Smiling womanAttorney Kevin O'Flaherty

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

Top 3 Qualities to look for in Your Attorney

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We believe your attorney should not speak in legalese

Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese.  You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand.  You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.

We believe your attorney should be accessible

The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls.  Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails.  An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.

We believe your attorney should be realistic with you about costs and outcomes

Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs.  Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible.  It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.

Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.

Client Testimonials

Christi M.

Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.

Marvin

"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."

Rachel B.

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

More information about our Cook County Special Needs Attorneys

If you or a loved one are receiving benefits based on a disability, our Cook County special needs attorneys will assist you in preparing a Supplemental Needs Trust to ensure that you can earn an income, receive gifts and inheritances, and accumulate assets without putting your benefits at risk. Our Cook County special needs attorneys are cost-effective, client-focused, and experienced.

Expertise Best Child Support Lawyers in Chicago 201710 Best 2016 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law AttorneysAvvo Clients' Choice 2016 DivorceRising Stars Kevin P. O'Flaherty SuperLawyers.com10 Best Law Firms 2018 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Legal Counsel Attorneys Estate Planning Law40 under forty

Contact Us

Please contact our friendly lawyers to Schedule a Consultation.

(312) 736-1384
chicago@oflaherty-law.com

What to Expect From a Legal Consultation

The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.

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Location

Office Address

1941 N. Elston Ave., Ste. A

Chicago, Illinois 60642

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Hours of Operation

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Attorneys

Meet the Owner

I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team.  Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys.  Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us.  They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates.  We are here to help!

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- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Further Reading from our Cook County Special Needs Attorneys

What are Special Needs Trusts?

In this video, our Cook County special needs attorneys explain how special needs trusts are also useful tools in the estate plans of the parents of disabled children.  Typically we recommend that the parents’ wills and trusts provide that the inheritance that would normally go to the disabled child be disbursed instead to that child’s pre-established Special Needs Trust.  This avoids having a child who is reliant on SSI income lose that income because his or her assets have increased above $2,000.00 as the result of inheritance.  If the inheritance instead goes directly into the child’s pre-established Special Needs Trust, the child’s SSI income will not be reduced based on the receipt of the inheritance.  It is important to note that in order for this strategy to work, the Special Needs Trust must be created BEFORE the parent passes away.


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First Party Special Needs Trusts vs Third Party Special Needs Trusts in Illinois

In this video, our Cook County special needs attorneys discuss the three different types of special needs trusts. Those trusts are: First party trust, third party trusts, and pooled trusts. Depending on your situation depends on where the assets used to fund the trust are coming from. If they are assets owned by the beneficiary, then a first party special needs trust is appropriate. However, gifts and inheritances should be placed in a third party special needs trust rather than being commingled with assets owned by a first party trust in order to avoid those assets being used to pay back Medicaid when the individual with special needs passes.

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