Mitch appreciates that neither estate planning nor the administration of trusts and estates occurs in a vacuum. The effectiveness of even the most meticulous and well-considered plan is largely dependent on how well it is implemented after its creator passes away. Conversely, the ability to efficiently and conclusively wind up an estate in a way that comports with the decedent’s wishes as well as the law requires an intuitive grasp of how and why plans are structured the way they are.
The rare practitioner who is able to deliver such end-to-end representation, Mitch has helped countless clients secure their futures and care for their loved ones, complementing his technical skills with a deep appreciation for the human dimensions involved in contemplating the end of one’s life or grieving and moving forward after the loss of a loved one. From starting a family and planning for the future to protecting the interests of those with disabilities to handling probate and trust administration, Mitch serves as an indispensable ally, advisor and advocate.
In his estate planning work, Mitch prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, irrevocable life insurance trusts, family limited partnerships, charitable foundations and other estate planning documents. His efforts are focused not only on accomplishing his clients’ objectives but also on ensuring they understand the rationale behind their plans and how they work in practice. Personable, responsive and demonstrably committed to his clients’ well-being, Mitch makes the process comfortable and clarifying, delivering peace of mind and personalized representation in equal measure. He serves not only as trusted counsel to his clients but also as a respected collaborator with allied professionals, such as CPAs and financial advisors, whose work can enhance and complement both the plans he prepares and the estates he administers.
Mitch also leverages his collaborative inclination in his complex trust and estate administration practice, working closely with institutional and individual fiduciaries, as well as beneficiaries, to manage and close estates with clarity, efficiency and conclusiveness. His technical aptitude with the legal, practical and financial aspects of estate and trust administration, a product of his extensive involvement and understanding of the entire estate planning lifecycle, ensures that assets are accounted for and distributed according to the decedent’s wishes and in compliance with the law. From accountings and estate tax returns to resolving debts and claims to integrating his work with associated business succession plans, Mitch manages even the most complicated engagements in a way that maximizes the amount distributed to beneficiaries.
As important, Mitch meets his clients where they are and tailors his counsel accordingly, especially when a fiduciary is a family member or other individual who may not have the knowledge, time or resources to navigate the unfamiliar, multifaceted fiduciary obligations inherent in their role. With patience and a recognition of the grief and other hard realities that follow the loss of a loved one, Mitch takes that heavy burden off their shoulders, relieving them of stress and providing much-needed peace of mind.
An experienced and accomplished litigator as well, Mitch has amassed an impressive record of successful outcomes in complex, often highly charged disputes involving estate and trust issues, including will contests, trust contests, joint tenancy disputes, fiduciary lawsuits and estate tax issues. Additionally, he has been involved in a substantial number of mediated family settlement agreements. Mitch’s extensive litigation experience facilitates the counsel he regularly provides fiduciaries on how to avoid the pitfalls that lead to litigation.
Mitch has served in several leadership roles within Chuhak & Tecson, the Chicago Bar Association and the community. He has been a member of the Probate Practice Committee of the Chicago Bar Association since 1999, serving as a past chairman, and has been a member of that committee’s rules and forms subcommittee. Mitch was also a member of Chuhak & Tecson’s Executive Committee, Strategy Development Committee and Finance Committee.
