Timothy J. Ritchey is a partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC who concentrates his practice in estate and trust litigation, elder law, and guardianship. Tim has been appointed Special Assistant Attorney General in numerous matters to represent the State’s interests in actions relating to Illinois healthcare and disability law. In 2014, Tim wrote legislation and testified as an expert before the Illinois Senate on an amendment to the Illinois Probate Act regarding elder abuse and financial exploitation.

Tim has been included in the Illinois Super Lawyers list since 2012, nominated by his peers as one of the best attorneys in Illinois, an honor which is bestowed on up to 2.5% of the attorneys in Illinois annually. Tim has authored numerous articles addressing elder law issues. In 2014, Tim was selected by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of the 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch, as well as one of the Best Professionals Under Forty by Suburban Life in the western suburbs.

Tim serves as Guardian ad Litem and Court Appointed Counsel before the Probate Court. He works closely with individuals and financial institutions throughout the administration of estates and trusts. He vigorously represents all parties in contested will, trust and guardianship proceedings, in addition to assisting families to plan for disabled children and adults.


News


Publications

40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty To Watch 2014, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer

Estate Planning of the Rich and Famous, ISBA YLD Newsletter Feb. 2014

Interpleader, IICLE Chapter 9-Interpleader, 2012

Deadlines and Tips in Estate Administration and Estate Litigation, American Bar Association YLS Newsletter 2008

Summary of 2006 Tax Law Changes, Blue Cross Blue Shield, “LifeTimes” Jan. 2006

Viatical and Life Settlements, Blue Cross Blue Shield, “LifeTimes” Jul. 2005.

RETIREES: How to Withdraw 6% a Year from Your Investments and Not Go Broke, Blue Cross Blue Shield, “LifeTimes” Mar. 2005.

Summary of 2005 Tax Law Changes, Blue Cross Blue Shield, “LifeTimes” Jan. 2005

Tax Considerations When Selling Your Home, Blue Cross Blue Shield, “LifeTimes” Oct. 2004.

March 2, 2017: “Free Presentation: Hoarding and the Law,” Wyndemere Senior Living Campus, 200 Wyndemere Circle, Wheaton, IL 60187


October 11, 2016: “Ethics-Questioning Capacity,” Edward Hospital, 801 S Washington Street, Naperville, IL


April 4, 2016: “Ethics-Competency,” Scottish Home, 2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL


December 4, 2015: ““Applied Legal Ethics” for National Business Institute,” Naperville, IL


December 1, 2015: ““Estate Planning” for SRES Class,” Downers Grove for Mainstream Association, Downers Grove, IL


November 10, 2015: ““Estate Planning” for SRES Class,” North Shore Barrington Association of Realtors, Northbrook, IL


October 16, 2015: “Guardianship Bootcamp – Contested Guardianship Estates,” Illinois State Bar Association, 20 S Clark Street, #900, Chicago, IL


May 28, 2015: “Elder Law,” Senior Resource Rally, 6655 Main St., Downers Grove, IL.


May 14, 2015: “Capacity to Sign Advanced Directives,” Edwards Hospital, 801 S. Washington St. Naperville, IL 60540


May 7, 2015: “Elder Law,” Senior Resource Rally, 1114 N. Arlington Hts. Rd, Arlington Heights, IL


March 31, 2015: “Estate Planning,” SRES Group. 6655 Main St #204, Downers Grove, IL 60516


November 2, 2014: “Modification & Termination of a Guardian”, John Marshall Law School


October 27, 2014: “Turning 18: Legal Planning for Individuals with Special Needs”, Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference, Springfield, IL


May 30, 2014: “Estate Planning: Moving the Walnut Shells Around”, The Clubhouse, Oak Brook, IL


May 21, 2014: “Elder Law & Fiduciary Litigation: How to Prevent, Prosecute and Defend”, DuPage County Elder Law Committee, Wheaton, IL


May 8, 2014: “The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste”, Sunrise of Palos Park, Palos Park, IL


December 3, 2013: “Avoiding the Common Mistakes Made By Real Estate Planners”, CBA YLS Estate Planning Committee, Chicago, IL


October 25, 2013: “Claims Against the Estate”, ISBA Estate Administration Boot Camp, Chicago, IL


October 24, 2013: “Estate Planning”, Seniors Real Estate Specialists, Downers Grove, IL


September 27, 2013: “Elder Abuse – Applicable Law to Family, Finances and Feuds”, Elder Law Conference, ElderCounsel, Rosemont, IL


September 19, 2013: “Estate Planning in Uncertain Times”, Nichols Library, Naperville, IL


September 18, 2013: “Ethical Decisions Related to End of Life”, Tinley Park, IL


September 12, 2013: “Affordable Care Act and Seniors”, Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, IL


May 21, 2013: “Self Neglect & Elder Abuse: When to Step In”, The Breakers, Chicago, IL


May 2, 2013: “Advanced Directives and Powers of Attorney”, Cadence DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL


March 13, 2013: “Estate Planning”, Seniors Real Estate Specialists meeting, Downers Grove, IL


February 23, 2013: “Estate Planning”, Active Adult Event, Carillon Club, Naperville, IL


February 8, 2013: “Celebrity Sized Problems”, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, Wheaton, IL


January 31, 2013: “Hoarding”, Edward Hospital, Naperville, IL


January 17, 2013: “Hoarding”, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL


December 3, 2012: “Estate Planning Overview”, Senior Services Task Force meeting, Arlington Heights, IL


November 29, 2012: “Celebrity Elder Abuse”, Park Place of Elmhurst, Elmhurst, IL


October 17, 2012: “Guardianship Litigation”, Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Illinois


August 14, 2012: “Elder Abuse”, Edward Hospital, Naperville, IL


June 29, 2012: “Ethical Issues When Representing a Client with Diminished Capacity”, IICLE, Chicago, IL


June 26, 2012: “Estate Planning and Asset Protection”, Institute of Real Estate Management, Chicago, IL


May 22, 2012: “Ethical Issues with Competency Cases”, The King Home, Evanston, IL


May 8, 2012: “Celebrity Elder Abuse”, Oakbrook Terrace, IL


May 2, 2012: “Common Mistakes in Estate Planning: Avoiding Litigation & Navigating Litigation When it Happens”, Chicago Bar Association YLS Estate Planning Committee, Chicago, IL


April 19, 2012: “Mediation”, The Kenwood of Lakeview, Chicago, IL


April 4, 2012: “Dealing with Dementia”, Belmont Village, Buffalo Grove, IL


March 21, 2012: “Family, Finances & Feuds”, Gardens of Bloomingdale, Bloomingdale, IL


March 8, 2012: “Celebrity Elder Abuse”, The Breakers, Chicago, IL


March 2, 2012: “Hoarding”, Marianjoy Acute Rehab, Wheaton, IL


January 31, 2012: “Hoarding”, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL


December 7, 2011: “The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste: Ethical Issues with Competency Cases”, Highland Park Hospital, Highland Park, IL


October 6, 2011: “Hoarding”, Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL


September 8, 2011 “Ethical Considerations in End of Life Issues”, The Kenwood, Chicago, IL


June 16, 2011: “A Legal Perspective on Guardianship & Competency Issues”, Lexington Health Care Center, Schaumburg, IL


May 18, 2011: “Guardianship”, The Fairview Center, Downers Grove, IL


April 28, 2011: “Financial Exploitation & Elder Abuse”, Skokie, IL


April 7, 2011: “Hoarding in Older Adults: A Clinical & Legal Perspective”, The Arlington Rehab, Long Grove, IL


September 29, 2010: “Avoiding Financial Exploitation”, Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire, IL


March 17, 2010: “Guardianship, Powers of Attorney, and the Health Care Surrogate Act”, Skokie Hospital, Skokie, IL


Practice Areas

  • Estate and Guardianship Administration
  • Probate and Trust Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Fiduciary Defense Litigation
  • Elder Law
  • Estate Planning and Administration

Recognitions

  • awards
  • awards
  • awards
  • awards
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers 2023

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., Honors
  • University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana B.A., Finance

Bar Admission

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

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
    • Chair, Probate Practice Committee
    • Estate Planning Committee
    • Legislative Committee
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • DuPage County Bar Association
  • Kane County Bar Association
  • Chicago-Kent College of Law Alumni Board
    • Chair, Young Alumni Council
    • Past Vice President, Executive Committee