Agnes A. Ptasznik

Principal

P 312 849 4139 F 312 368 9129

Languages Spoken: Polish

As a Principal in the Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice group, Agnes Ptasznik understands that the work she does is as much about her clients’ values as it is about their assets. By first understanding each client’s “why,” she can craft and implement the “how” – the tailored, comprehensive documents and plans that provide peace of mind, confidence and an enduring sense of security.

Overview

Agnes appreciates both the importance and sensitivity involved in securing one’s legacy and providing for loved ones. Professional yet personable, experienced and empathetic in equal measure, she takes the time to develop rapport and earn the trust that can make an often intimidating process much less so. At the end of every initial consultation and long after the ink has dried, Agnes wants her clients to fully understand their plan, why it is beneficial and aligned with their goals and how to maximize its benefits. Given her demonstrable personal investment in her clients’ satisfaction and well-being, it is unsurprising that Agnes forges enduring relationships with the individuals and families she serves.

For high-net-worth individuals and those with more modest estates, for those preparing for retirement with a complex portfolio of assets or those who are starting a family and want to ensure their child is provided for, Agnes puts in place the structures that achieve her clients’ financial and personal objectives. She is equally adept at crafting fundamental yet sophisticated wills and trusts as she is at addressing more concentrated needs, such as those related to adoption, surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology. For families dealing with the grief and challenges of losing a loved one, Agnes guides them through the estate administration process with clarity and compassion, relieving them from the stress, uncertainty and burdens that are the last things they need during an already difficult time.

Agnes credits becoming a parent and her subsequent concern about her two young daughters’ futures, should she not be around, as the catalyst for making estate planning the focus of her practice. After a distinguished two-decade career at the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Illinois, Agnes earned her LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2019. While serving as an assistant attorney general and supervising attorney, she gained extensive litigation experience which instilled in her the zealous advocacy that now inures to her clients’ benefit.

In order to continue delivering quality service to her clients, Agnes also seeks out opportunities for professional development, including staying up-to-date with changes in estate planning law and attending educational opportunities such as seminars and continuing legal education courses.

Fluent in Polish and the daughter of immigrants who both cultivated and celebrated Polish culture throughout her childhood, Agnes is passionate about being a resource for members of Chicago’s Polish-speaking community in need of estate planning services. She is an active member of several organizations aimed at promoting Polish culture, and in recognition of all her service to Polish interests both locally and internationally, she was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit by the President of Poland in 2014.

Agnes’ community and philanthropic efforts also include serving as a member of the board of directors of Holy Trinity Polish School and a member of the associate board of the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR). She serves as an ambassador for Chuhak & Tecson’s Women Helping Women program and previously served on the firm’s Website Committee.

Credentials

Education
University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, LL.M. , 2019
University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, J.D. , 2010
Loyola University Chicago, B.A., 2003

Bar Admissions
Illinois, 2010

Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2010

Memberships & Associations
  • Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, main delegate
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Noteworthy
  • Gold Cross of Merit – Republic of Poland (2014)
  • Outstanding Community Service Award – City of Chicago (2012)
Community Involvement
  • Advocates Society – The Association of Polish-American Attorneys
  • Amicus Polonaie – Polish Legal Aid Clinic
  • Chicago-Warsaw Sister City Committee
  • Chuhak & Tecson’s Women Helping Women program, ambassador
  • Holy Trinity Polish School, member, board of directors
  • Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR), member, associate board
  • Wills For Heroes
Lectures/Speaking Engagements
  • Cracking the Code: Navigating the Illinois Trust Code for Advanced Paralegals, Fall Education Conference, Illinois Paralegal Association (October 2025)
  • Estate Planning: Basics and Trends, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Illinois Chapter (October 2023)
  • Estate Planning & Elder Law, Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (June 2023)
  • Recent Updates on Assisted Reproductive Technology, Posthumously Born Children and other related issues, Chicago Bar Association (April 2023)