CONTACT INFORMATION

Chicago t 312.258.5741 f 312.258.5600 E-mail Download vCard

PRACTICE AREAS

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

News

Debra L. Stetter

Partner


"Turning Complex Estate Issues Into Manageable Decisions" — Leading Lawyers Network, October 2011


Debra L. Stetter concentrates her practice in the areas of:

  • Estate planning
  • Federal estate, gift and generation-skipping tax planning
  • Planning for closely held businesses
  • Charitable planning
  • Trust and estate administration

Her clients range from individuals and couples to large multi-generational families. She works closely with her clients to develop estate plans and strategies that reflect their personal goals and circumstances. Her practice encompasses testamentary planning for clients at all levels of wealth, special needs planning for disabled family members, the development and implementation of sophisticated wealth preservation strategies, succession planning for closely held companies, and the administration of estates, trusts and charitable organizations.

Ms. Stetter has extensive experience working with multi-generational family groups and family offices to preserve family businesses and wealth for future generations and to counsel younger generations on financial, estate planning and asset protection issues. She also works closely with corporate fiduciaries and charitable organizations on tax planning, document construction and trust administration issues.

Ms. Stetter is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a national organization of estate planning attorneys who are elected as fellows only after demonstrating the highest level of professional competence and experience. She has been selected by her peers as being one of the top ten women estate planning attorneys in Illinois.

Publications

"Retirement Benefit Planning for the Disabled Client," ABA Trusts & Investments (July/August 2004)

"Deathbed Gifts: A Savings Opportunity for Residents of Decoupled States," Estate Planning (June 2004)

"Can Incentive Trusts Encourage Children to Behave Responsibly?" Trusts & Estates (December 2000)

Illinois Estate Planning, Will Drafting and Estate Administration Forms - Practice,  (two-volume treatise) Lexis Law Publishing, 3d ed. (1999)

"Planning for Life: A Roadmap for When Disabled Children Are Involved," Trusts & Estates (September 1997)

"Analyzing GRATs: Does the Emperor Have Any Clothes?" Trusts & Estates (May 1995)

"Working Successfully With the Difficult Client," Trust & Estates (February 1995)

Awards and Honors

Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates; Litigation – Trusts & Estates
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
Illinois Super Lawyers — Estate Planning & Probate
Leading Lawyer - Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law; Top 100 Women Consumer Lawyers, Top 10 Women Lawyers, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
AV Rated — Martindale-Hubbell

Education

Northwestern University School of Law(J.D., cum laude, 1992)
Order of the Coif
Member, Northwestern University Law Review
University of Chicago Booth School of Business(M.B.A., 1987)
Bryn Mawr College(A.B., Economics, 1984)

Professional Memberships

Chicago Bar Association
Women's Bar Association of Illinois