Practice areas: Elder Law, Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation; view more
Licensed in Illinois since: 1999
Education: Lewis & Clark Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2026 Amy J. DeLaney has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 13 consecutive years. She founded DDV Law, Ltd. in 1999, establishing what has become one of the Midwest’s largest and most respected elder law firms, with offices in Orland Park, Arlington Heights, and downtown Chicago.
A seasoned litigator and elder law attorney with more than 25 years of experience, Ms. DeLaney is board-certified in elder law by the National Elder Law Foundation and has been honored as a nationally recognized “Advanced Practitioner” by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Her practice focuses on safeguarding the rights of older adults, individuals with special needs, and families navigating guardianship and probate administration. Ms. DeLaney is also known for her work in the legislative arena and has written laws to protect seniors and people with disabilities, including portions of: The ABLE Act, the Illinois Power of Attorney Act, the Illinois Trust Code, and the Illinois Probate Act.
Over the course of her career, Ms. DeLaney has earned the respect of both colleagues and clients, consistently receiving top professional accolades. She holds a “Superb” rating from Avvo, an AV Preeminent® peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named among the Top 50 Female Lawyers in Illinois as well as one of the Top Ten Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network. Known for her sharp legal judgment and pragmatic approach, she is widely regarded as a trusted leader in her field.
Ms. DeLaney is former professor of law of University of Illinois at Chicago Law School (John Marshall) where she taught Wills and Trusts, Elder Law, and Special Needs Planning. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Northwestern Lewis & Clark Law School. She began her career at a large Pacific Northwest law firm litigating employment discrimination cases. Inspired by her own family’s experience struggling to find elder law support for her grandmother, she returned to Chicago and built her practice to address the unmet needs of seniors and their families.
Beyond her legal work, Ms. DeLaney is deeply committed to service and community engagement. She has served in leadership roles and as an active member of numerous organizations, including the Morgan Park Academy Board of Directors, the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society, Alvernia Manor Retirement Community, the Rehabilitation Research Foundation, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is also a frequent speaker and author on the topic of legal issues and her materials have been utilized as secondary sources in several court cases.
AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards. Board certification is not required to practice elder law in Illinois.
Practice areas
Elder Law, Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust LitigationFocus areas
Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Probate & Estate Administration, Will Contests
- 50% Elder Law
- 40% Estate Planning & Probate
- 10% Estate & Trust Litigation
First Admitted: 1998, Oregon
Professional Webpage: https://www.ddvlawyers.com/attorneys
Bar / Professional Activity
- Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee, Member
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois, Legislative Committee
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois, Board Member
- Illinois
- Oregon
- Washington
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- South Suburban Estate Planning Council, Member
- Illinois Bar Association, Member
- Member of the NAELA Executive Committee on DRA Adoption in Illinois
- Veterans Administration
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
- U.S. Tax Court
- Past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Illinois Chapter
- U.S. District Court
- Board Member, Illinois Chapter of NAELA
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified Elder Law Attorney (only one of twelve in the State of Illinois), as certified by the National Elder Law Foundation ABA Certified Program. **This certification is not required to practice law in the State of Illinois nor is it recognized by the Supreme Court in Illinois
Pro bono / Community Service
- Veterans’ Legal Aid Society
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Law Journal, Editorial Board
- University of Illinois College of Nursing, Advisory Board
- National Elder Law Foundation
- Has served on Charitable Boards including Alvernia Manor Retirement Community, Veterans Legal Aid Society, University of Illinois at Chicago Nursing School Advisory Board.
Honors
- Outstanding Chapter Member, Illinois Chapter, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2010
- Top 50 Female Attorneys in Illinois
- AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Highest Rating, Avvo
- Super Lawyer, Recipient for a decade
- Appeared, PBS to comment on the Constitutionality of the use cameras in nursing homes to monitor care
- Quoted, Daily Southtown
- Council of Advanced Practitioners, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2017
- Leading Lawyer, Top 50 Female Attorneys, Leading Lawyers Network, 2013
- Quoted, Chicago Tribune
Educational Background
- University of Illinois at Springfield, M.A.
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A.
White Papers
- In Illinois, there were several recent attempts to adopt the Uniform Trust Code (“UTC”). In 2015, the legislature introduced House Bill 6312, but the bill became stuck in committee. During the last session, legislators again filed House Bill 2526; however, the bill did not ever leave the committee. The adoption of the UTC has occurred in thirty-two (32) jurisdictions to date. Some of the greatest opposition to the adoption of the UTC has been from special needs advocates. Many attorneys who practice in the area of governments benefits planning are very concerned with how the adoption of the UTC will influence special needs trusts. The two greatest issues include: (1) Will the government be able to attach the beneficial interest of a special needs trust? (2) Will the trust be considered an available resource? The analyses of these two concerns surround three components of a trust: distribution standards, control, and spendthrift provisions. The author served as the NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) liaison to the Uniform Law Commission’s discussions held in Chicago concerning the initial drafting of the UTC, and has provided comments on behalf of the Illinois Chapter of NAELA with respect to pending legislation in the most recent legislative sessions. Illinois General Assembly, Bill Status of HB6312, Illinois Trust Code, http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=6312&GAID=13&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=95864&SessionID=88&GA=99 (last visited August 7, 2018). Illinois General Assembly, Bill Status of HB2526, Illinois Trust Code, http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2526&GAID=13&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=87948&SessionID=88&GA=99 (last visited August 7, 2018). Thirty-one (31) states and the District of Columbia have enacted a version of the UTC. The states that have enacted a version of the UTC are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. For the purposes of this article, “special needs trusts” include supplemental needs trusts and special needs trusts, Harmonizing Hodgepodge or Eliminating Individualism - A brief analysis of the UTC and its Impact on Special Needs Trusts in Illinois (2018)
- Amy DeLaney spoke with colleague, Wendy Cappelletto, from the Office of the Public Guardian in Cook County regarding the rise of non-traditional non-family guardians being appointed in Illinois. , The Rise of Non-Family Guardians, 2025
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Editor of the NAELA Journal, law review
- Lecturer, Elder Law, advising and educating other attorneys and community organizations through her service at the faculty of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the National Business Institute, and Illinois State Bar Association
- John Marshall Law School, Professor
- Maneuvering the Labyrinth of Nursing Home Admissions and Evictions, NAELA Journal (2009) Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Faculty Member and Frequent Lecturer (2005-present)
- Law Ed, Faculty Member and Frequent Lecturer (2009-present) NAELA VA Seminar, Practical Advice on Application Preparation (2011)
- Removal of Rogue Agents presented at national NAELA Conference in Las Vegas, NV (2011)
- Nursing Home Residents Rights - Recognizing Red Flags presented at national NAELA Conference in Seattle, WA, (2012)
- Contributing Author to Elder Law, published by Lexis-Nexus, Contributing Author to Advising Elderly Clients and their Families, published by IICLE
- Navigating the Labyrinth of Nursing Home Contracts, NAELA Law Journal
Other Outstanding Achievements
- 2010: NAELA, Illinois - Outstanding Chapter Member
- Consumers
- Health Care
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2026
