Levin & Schreder is one of the largest law firms devoted exclusively to estate and income tax planning in the Chicago area.

Practice Focus

Estate Planning
Levin & Schreder provides advice on estate planning techniques which can be used not only upon death but during lifetime to enable wealth to pass to a client's intended beneficiaries in the most tax efficient manner. These transactions can include a variety of trust and entity vehicles which can be used to shift the growth in the value of assets out of a client's estate. In developing the plan, we also look closely at the type of assets involved.
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Income Tax Planning
We advise our clients of techniques which can be employed to minimize or defer recognition of income, independent of any estate tax planning, such as installment sales, private annuities, deferred payment arrangements and tax-deferred exchanges. In addition, we are actively involved in helping our clients determine the most income tax efficient structures to use for their business activities.
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Charitable Planning and Planned Giving
We assist our clients in the creation and administration of trusts, funds, private foundations and supporting organizations for the purposes of tax-effective charitable contributions. We also provide guidance to charitable organizations in the administration and creation of effective planned giving programs and compliance with the numerous IRS and local rules.
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Probate, Estate and Trust Administration
A significant portion of our practice is devoted to advising fiduciaries charged with the administration of estates and trusts. The probate estates we administer include both decedents' estates as well as guardianship estates for minors and disabled adults. The trusts we administer vary in size and complexity. When circumstances warrant, we also assist clients in the formation of family offices and private trust companies.
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Contested Estate, Trust and Guardianship Matters
Levin & Schreder represents fiduciaries and individuals in the litigation and mediation of estate, trust and guardianship matters. We also represent fiduciaries and individuals in the construction and reformation of wills and trusts. Further, we are one of the few law firms that has the experience and skill to engage in tax planning and prepare and administer "OBRA payback trusts" for disabled persons and have them approved by the guardianship court.
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Business Succession Planning
Some of our clients have worked years to build their businesses and want that success to continue, even after they are gone. We work closely with these types of clients to develop a plan which will minimize estate tax on their death while at the same time, pass the business on to the next generation.
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Business Structuring, Choice of Entity Issues
We routinely work with our clients' other legal counsel to ensure that tax issues in a complex corporate or real estate transaction are appropriately addressed and that the transaction is structured in the most advantageous manner for tax purposes.
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Family Law
We draft pre-marital and post-marital agreements and advise clients regarding the form of asset ownership in anticipation of marriage. In actions for dissolution of marriage, Levin & Schreder works with divorce attorneys as “special tax counsel” to minimize the tax consequences associated with dissolution of marriage. The firm also represents trustees of family trusts who may become involved as third parties in divorce proceedings.
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International Tax Planning
Levin & Schreder represents clients - both United States citizens or residents as well as foreign nationals - in international tax planning matters concerning their ventures in Canada, Europe, South America and the Middle East. We examine the interaction between the tax structures of the U.S. and foreign nations as it relates to their personal and business investments and interests.
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Audits and Tax Controversies
Although a primary focus of our practice has always been planning and counseling, we also represent our clients in both administrative and court proceedings involving tax disputes, particularly with the IRS.
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