As an advocate for the family members and financial institutions who serve either as guardians or trustees for disabled individuals, Mark counsels clients in planning for, managing and resolving issues related to death, dying and disability. He spends much of his time in court, not only administering estates and trusts but also litigating contested guardianships and will and trust disputes. A fighter for his clients’ rights, he enjoys the challenge of finding practical solutions to resolve each case in the best interests of his client.
Mark takes a direct and pragmatic approach with clients, offering an honest assessment of the problems, risks and costs involved in each case. He is upfront about what objectives may or may not be worth pursuing and outlines a reasonable strategy for moving forward.
He is often appointed by the court to serve as a Guardian Ad Litem or Special Administrator in adult disabled and decedent’s estates. Mark also has developed a strong niche in working with financial institutions to administer disability and pension benefits for veterans’ guardianships.
Drawing from his deep experience with probated wills and trusts, Mark welcomes opportunities to help families and individuals create strong estate plans that can avoid pitfalls down the road. His extensive experience with guardianships also benefits estate planning clients in considering disability and end-of-life contingencies.
After graduating from law school, Mark served for three years as Assistant Public Guardian for Cook County and eight years as private counsel for the Cook County Public Administrator’s Office. Together, these positions gave him invaluable experience and know-how about all aspects of guardianship, probate, and trust administration, as well as litigation related to all three areas.
Mark has spoken on estate administration issues for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and regularly speaks to community groups on estate planning and disability issues. He has previously served on and was also chair of Chuhak & Tecson’s Finance Committee and has served on the Compensation Committee.
He participates actively as a board member for the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, a Wheaton-based non-profit agency dedicated to helping individuals with low vision lead full and productive lives, and the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services, the only international accrediting body devoted to serving organizations that provide programs for blind and low vision consumers. Mark also serves as a member of the Oak Park – River Forest Chamber of Commerce.
When he can get away, Mark is passionate about scuba diving and relishes every chance he gets to explore the natural wonders under the sea. He also enjoys seeing the world with his wife and young daughter.
