Thomas Joseph Carroll

Thomas J. Carroll is a general practitioner with over twenty-four years of experience who assists his clients in estate planning and probate matters, including helping parents of special needs children and adults, real estate, family law, civil litigation and governmental representation. Tom spends the majority of his time in the firm’s Harvard, Illinois location, but also sees clients regularly in Crystal Lake.

Tom’s estate planning practice includes assisting clients with their estates through:

• Drafting wills and/or trusts and Powers of Attorney.

• Probating wills and estates in Court.

• Serving as a Court-appointed Guardian ad Litem for the minors and alleged disabled adults.

• Drafting special needs trusts for parents of special needs children.

Tom also helps clients buy and sell real estate, and represents numerous homeowners’ associations, as well as landlords in forcible entry and detainer proceedings. Tom is able to provide valuable assistance and expertise in matters involving governmental bodies and regulation. Tom also assists clients in Family Court in divorce proceedings, both pre and post decree, paternity and adoption.

Background

Tom received his undergraduate degree in 1985 from the University of Iowa and his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University in 1988. He is admitted to practice in Illinois (1988) and the United States District Court and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the United States (1989) and the United States Supreme Court (2010). He is a member of the Illinois State and McHenry County Bar Associations (past president of the McHenry County Bar Association) (2005).

Tom previously was appointed a special Public Defender by the Circuit Court in McHenry County. He also was previously appointed and served as First Assistant State’s Attorney in McHenry County as well as an Assistant Attorney General for Illinois. Tom has been a frequent public speaker on Open Government Topics, including FOIA and the Open Meetings Act. Tom is a member of the adjunct faculty of McHenry County College and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Options and Advocacy, Inc. of McHenry County, a non-profit organization providing assistance to children and adults with developmental disabilities.