Maureen E. Loughran

Maureen E. Loughran is an experienced attorney concentrating her practice in tax and estate planning, probate administration and litigation (guardianship estates, decedent estates and trust estates), and special needs planning. She serves as a trusted adviser to individuals and families, financial institutions, small businesses and corporations, often representing fiduciaries in contested probate estates, trust administration, and estate planning matters. Maureen is frequently appointed by judges in the Cook County Probate Division as Guardian ad Litem and as counsel for Respondents in Adult Guardianship cases. Notably, Maureen is the only private practice attorney in Cook County to be selected for the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission’s Probate Subcommittee to help design probate forms for all counties throughout the state.

Since every client situation is unique, Maureen centers her focus on devising cost-effective solutions that will best serve each client’s individual needs. Her approach to client matters balances compassion with tenacity as she proactively guides her clients through emotionally-charged and complex legal issues to reach resolution in a timely and efficient manner. This approach has allowed Maureen to successfully assist clients to obtain guardianship authority, settle protracted family disputes, recover millions of dollars in assets, and obtain sizable case settlements.

When she is not assisting clients, Maureen actively supports both the legal and local communities she is a part of. She currently serves in multiple leadership roles for several legal organizations and volunteers for non-profit groups. In her leisure time, Maureen enjoys spending time with rescue animals, traveling, and discovering new restaurants.

Bar Admissions

• State of Illinois

Professional Affiliations

• Illinois Supreme Court Commission for Access to Justice, 2019-present, Probate Subcommittee
• Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
  • Executive Council Director, present
  • Estate Planning Committee Chair 2018-present
  • Serving Our Seniors Committee Chair, 2017-present
  • Probate Practice Rules & Forms Subcommittee member
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois Chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
• Center for Disability and Elder Law Young Professionals Board, 2016-present, current President, past Vice President and Committee Chair

Community Service

• Chicago Legal Charter Academy Mentor, 2018-present
• Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, 2016-present, Pro Bono Guardian ad Litem
• One Tail at a Time (no-kill animal rescue and shelter), foster program volunteer, 2015-present

Professional Experience

• Lawrence Kamin, LLC, Associate Attorney, 2019-Present
• FMS Law Group LLC, Associate Attorney, 2017-2019
• Spain, Spain & Varnet P.C., Associate Attorney, 2015-2017
• Law Office of James C. Siebert & Associates, Associate Attorney, 2014-2015

Education

• DePaul University College of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2014
  • Certificate in Family Law
• Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, Ill., Certified Mediator, 2014
• University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill., Bachelor of Arts, 2011
  • Dual B.A. with Distinction in Political Science & Spanish (Linguistics)

• Represented client under limited guardianship in compelling client’s guardian to maintain prosecution of client’s divorce.
• Represented guardian and assisted with successful appellate action to confirm guardian’s authority to execute estate plan for disabled person.
• Assisted in recovering over $2 million in misappropriated assets and utilizing treble damages provisions for elder financial exploitation in representation of guardian.
• Represented client alleged to be disabled in trial contesting hospital’s guardianship litigation.
• Successfully obtained a majority share of settlement in wrongful death/survival action in dependency hearing for client.
• Counseled corporate health care services client’s executive staff on numerous involuntary discharge actions and advised on establishing company procedures for doing so.
• Assisted in obtaining judgment for over $180,000 in disgorged legal fees on behalf of minor beneficiaries.
• Represented corporate fiduciary client in reversing election by minor’s natural parent of conversion of beneficiary IRA and savings of $60,000 in tax liability.
• Recovered $400,000 in unclaimed assets on behalf of minor in representation of corporate fiduciary.
• Successfully defended corporate fiduciary client in complaint filed with the Illinois Department of Financial Regulation.
• Obtained successor trusteeship for corporate fiduciary client in trust administration matter spanning several countries.
• Counseled client through closing of leasing and management contracts of farmland and commercial properties.