66/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 254 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Estate Planning And Probate Lawyers in River Forest, IL: 2026 rankings
535 estate planning and probate lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in River Forest: The Heartland Law Firm, LFR Score 66/100; 4.8★ from 254 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 3
Open 24 hours (per Google): Bott & Associates, Ltd., posts 24/7 hours; ranked #3 of 535.
- 10
Most-reviewed: Malman Law, 5,402 Google reviews at 4.8★, the most of 535 ranked; ranked #10.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
535 River Forest estate planning and probate lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 47 are open 24/7, 106 open Saturdays and 56 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 535 rated law firms.
Top 10 estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest at a glance
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Heartland Law Firm | 66 | 4.8★ (254) | Glenview, 13 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | Theresa Clancy Law | 66 | 4.9★ (216) | Oak Park, 1 mi away | Sat · Evenings | — |
| 3 | Bott & Associates, Ltd. | 66 | 4.9★ (234) | Rolling Meadows, 16 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours |
| 4 | Nowling Law | 64 | 5.0★ (267) | Saint Charles, 24 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 5 | Dominick R. Villa Attorney at Law | 63 | 4.9★ (105) | Brookfield, 7 mi away | Sat | — |
| 6 | Tuohy Law Offices | Estate Planning Attorney & Personal Injury Attorney | 63 | 4.9★ (120) | Downers Grove, 9 mi away | Sat | — |
| 7 | Ezzi Law LLC | 62 | 5.0★ (37) | Naperville, 19 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 8 | Dynasty Law, LLC | 62 | 4.5★ (15) | Chicago, 10 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 9 | Probate Stoppers | 62 | 5.0★ (8) | Morton Grove, 9 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 10 | Malman Law | 62 | 4.8★ (5,402) | Chicago, 9 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Most reviews |
All 535 estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest, in rank order
Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.
Based in Oak Park, 1 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 216 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Rolling Meadows, 16 mi away
66/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 234 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#4 Nowling Law
Based in Saint Charles, 24 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 267 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Brookfield, 7 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 105 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Downers Grove, 9 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 120 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#7 Ezzi Law LLC
Based in Naperville, 19 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 37 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chicago, 10 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Morton Grove, 9 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#10 Malman Law
Based in Chicago, 9 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 5,402 Google reviews, the most in River Forest.
Based in Oak Park, 1 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Northbrook, 17 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 20 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Lombard, 9 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 129 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chicago, 10 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chicago, 8 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in South Holland, 24 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 462 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#17 Magnolia Law LLC
Based in Des Plaines, 8 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 32 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Lincolnwood, 9 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 138 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chicago, 9 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Elmhurst, 7 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 127 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chicago, 9 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 37 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Oak Park, 1 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#23 AvoidProbate
Based in Lombard, 8 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 27 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Naperville, 19 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 387 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Lombard, 9 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 76 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Estate planning and probate lawyers ranked #26 to #50
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #50, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile. We publish the top 50 of 535 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers here; the rest are on their profiles.
Also serving River Forest
20 more estate planning and probate lawyers within 25 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a practice area we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.
| Business | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony I. Moree | 5.0★ (2) | 10 mi |
| Campbell Sanuw Law Offices, LLC | 5.0★ (2) | 8 mi |
| John Belconis | 5.0★ (2) | 8 mi |
| John M. Varde, P.C. | 3.0★ (2) | 9 mi |
| Law Office Of Mark L. Amenta | 5.0★ (2) | 5 mi |
| Law Office of Tracey N. Duval | 5.0★ (2) | 9 mi |
| Law Offices of Alexander S. Michalakos, P.C. | 3.5★ (2) | 6 mi |
| Law Offices of Sandra K Burns | 4.6★ (9) | In River Forest |
| LJS Law, LLC | 5.0★ (2) | 2 mi |
| Lowry & Ivory LLC | 5.0★ (2) | 6 mi |
| O'Flaherty Law | 5.0★ (2) | 1 mi |
| O'Hara Brian J | 1.0★ (1) | In River Forest |
| Oath - Park Ridge Estate Planning & Investment Attorneys | 5.0★ (2) | 8 mi |
| Orlowsky & Wilson, Ltd. - Alan Orlowsky | 5.0★ (2) | 9 mi |
| Quantum Capital Investments and QCI Tax Savings | In River Forest | |
| Rodriguez Legal Group | 5.0★ (2) | 8 mi |
| The Law Office of Jennifer A. Pritz | 4.1★ (9) | In River Forest |
| The Oracle Legal Group, LLC | 3.0★ (2) | 9 mi |
| Thomas J Dwyer & Associates | 5.0★ (1) | In River Forest |
| Zivkovich Law Offices LLC | 5.0★ (2) | 9 mi |
How we ranked River Forest estate planning and probate lawyers
We scored 535 River Forest estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In River Forest data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Bar status | 10% | An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded) | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 | Measured |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
How to choose an estate planning lawyer
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many estate planning and probate matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
- Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
- Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
- Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
- Ask what the flat fee includes: funding a trust, updates after life changes, and signing with witnesses.
- Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.
Questions to ask an estate planning lawyer
- How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
- How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
- Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
- Do I need a trust, or is a will enough for me?
- What does probate usually cost here, and how long does it take?
- Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?
Terms explained
- Contingency fee
- A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
- Retainer
- Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
- Flat fee
- One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
- Limited-scope representation
- Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
- Good standing
- A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
- Law society
- The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
- Board certification
- Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
- Attorney–client privilege
- The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
- Conflict check
- The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
- Pro bono
- Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
- Legal aid
- Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.
Estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest: frequently asked questions
Which estate planning lawyer has the highest LFR Score in River Forest?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked estate planning lawyer in River Forest, IL is The Heartland Law Firm with an LFR Score of 66/100. It has 4.8★ from 254 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Theresa Clancy Law (#2) and Bott & Associates, Ltd. (#3) follow. We ranked 535 estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many estate planning and probate lawyers are there in River Forest?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 535 estate planning and probate lawyers serving River Forest, IL. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest are open 24/7?
47 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are The Heartland Law Firm (#1), Bott & Associates, Ltd. (#3) and Nowling Law (#4). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest work on weekends?
106 of 535 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers post Saturday hours and 56 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are The Heartland Law Firm (#1), Theresa Clancy Law (#2) and Bott & Associates, Ltd. (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do River Forest estate planning and probate lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 535 rated estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest is 4.8★, with a median of 19 reviews. Malman Law has the most, 5,402 reviews, and ranks #10. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does LawFirmsRanked rank estate planning and probate lawyers?
Each estate planning lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.
Do estate planning and probate lawyers outside River Forest count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the River Forest city center, our service radius for estate planning and probate lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.
Can estate planning and probate lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?
No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.
How do estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest, IL charge?
Many estate planning lawyers charge a flat fee for wills, trusts and powers of attorney. Probate is billed hourly or, in some states, by a fee set by statute (California Probate Code §10810, for example). Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $391 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
What happens if someone dies without a will?
State law decides who inherits (intestate succession), usually the spouse and children in set shares, and a court appoints someone to manage the estate. A will or trust lets you decide instead. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of estate planning and probate lawyers in River Forest, IL ranked?
By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.
Does a lawyer need an office in River Forest?
No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.
Update log for River Forest
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 535 estate planning and probate lawyers serving River Forest.
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