Todd J. Schneider

todd@levinschreder.com

Todd Schneider concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable planning, and business succession planning.  He generally focuses on developing wealth conservation strategies that are designed to reduce estate, income, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.  Todd also frequently assists clients in the acquisition and sale of business interests and the implementation of shareholder and partnership agreements.

Todd's practice also involves representing non-profit organizations, including private foundations, publicly supported charities and charitable remainder trusts.  In connection with his practice, Todd has represented several large non-profit organizations in contested estate and trust matters, recovering millions of dollars of embezzled and misappropriated funds.

In addition to his estate planning work, Todd regularly advises executors, trustees and beneficiaries on all aspects of estate and trust administration. This representation includes tax planning, court filings, the collection and distribution of assets, the preparation of tax returns, and the resolution of trust and estate disputes.

Todd has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer since 2006, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America Guide and on the City Wealth Leaders List in the areas of trusts and estates. He also has received the highest rating (AV) by Martindale-Hubbell.

Todd is actively involved in several professional organizations associated with the estate planning community.  He currently serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, a 700 member organization of estate planning professionals, and previously chaired the Estate & Gift Tax Division of the Federal Tax Committee of the Chicago Bar Association.

Publications:
"Horner Probate Practice and Estates," Vol 4 (5th ed., Thomson/West 2007)

Presentations:
"Community Property Issues," presented for The Chicago Bar Association Trust Law Committee, February 2009

"State Law Update for Retirement States," presented for the 18th Annual Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Estate Planning with the Masters Series Seminar, November 2008

"Resolving Practical Problems in the Administration of GRATs, FLPs and ILIT," presented for the North Shore (Chicago) Estate and Financial Planning Council, September 2008

"Receipts, Releases and Indemnifications," presented for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, May 2008

"Disclaimers, Renunciations, Releases and Indemnifications," presented for The Chicago Bar Association, January 2008

"Accounting for Estates and Trusts," presented for Lorman Education Services, October 2007

"Insurance Update: Why Worry About Insurable Interest?," presented for The Chicago Bar Association, May 2006

"Estate Planning Update: Hot Topics and Recent Developments," presented for the Family Office Exchange, February 2006

"Illinois Probate: Beyond the Basics," presented for the National Business Institute, February 2005

"The Probate Process for Illinois Paralegals: From Start to Finish," presented for the Institute for Paralegal Education, July 2004

"How to Draft Wills & Trusts in Illinois," presented for the National Business Institute, May 2004

"Termination of Family Limited Partnerships," presented for The Chicago Bar Association, April 2004

"Family Limited Partnerships & Limited Liability Companies," presented for the National Business Institute, August 2003

"Credit Shelter Planning After the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001," presented for The Chicago Bar Association, December 2001

Education:
J.D., Marquette University Law School, 1995 – Associate Editor, Law Review
B.A., Northwestern University, 1992

Admitted:
Illinois
Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Professional Activities:
American Bar Association – Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Wisconsin Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association – Past Chair of the Federal Tax Committee, Estate and Gift Tax Division
Chicago Estate Planning Council – Member, Board of Directors
Chicago Community Trust – Member, Professional Advisory Committee