Michael Shannon Delaney

We are pleased to announce that Michael Delaney is the President of the National Elder Law Foundation, which is the governing organization for the board certification of elder law attorneys as recognized by the American Bar Association. 

A partner at DDV Law, Ltd, Michael Delaney is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with Dedication, Diligence and Vigilance to Elder Law issues for his clients. Mr. Delaney focuses specifically on Guardianship and Probate litigation, Medicaid Appeals, and court cases involving civil rights for nursing home residents and Medicaid recipients.

Mr. Delaney is an experienced GAL (Guardian ad Litem), and he is frequently appointed by Courts to represent the best interests of an elder during a Guardianship Proceeding. Additionally, Michael serves families seeking to aid a disabled loved one to obtain the protection of a Guardian. He has recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars for many clients on cases helping victims of financial exploitation and undue influence bamboozled by unscrupulous individuals.

What is the most interesting about Michael is his technical aptitude.  He is a lawyer by licensing, but a computer expert by passion. He is very adept at selecting the best software for law firms, especially those who practice in the area of elder law. He also codes software in his own practice and to help other attorneys and clients. Michael recently attended the University of California - Berkeley program on Leadership in Technology. 

Mr. Delaney is an author for Illinois Jurisprudence, published by Lexis-Nexis, and is a contributing author of the legal treatise Ethics in Elder Law. He has also served as the Chicago Bar Association Chairperson of the Elder Law Section. Currently, Michael serves on the Chicago Bar Association Probate Law Forms Committee. Mr. Delaney also has extensive training and experience counseling older clients and their families, which permits him to meet each client’s unique needs and concerns expertly.

Serving as a frequent lecturer to other attorneys as a faculty member of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the National Business Institute, and a moot court judge at the John Marshall Law School (now UIC Law), Mr. Delaney is passionate about using his knowledge to educate and mentor others. Mr. Delaney earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He resides in Chicago with his wife and law partner, Amy Delaney, and their family. In his free time, Mike is an avid golfer and in 2022, he was the club winner and team winner of the Chuck Tanis Club Championship at OFCC.