Michael Andrew Otte

Michael A Otte, Associate Attorney, is in his sixth year with the practice.  His practice focuses on trust and probate administration.  Additionally, Michael’s particular area of expertise is in elder law matters, including  Medicaid planning, Veteran’s Benefit planning, guardianship, nursing home contract review, and other issues affecting the legal needs of older people.  Michael enjoys giving seminars on his areas of expertise in order to educate the public on important estate planning concepts. Mr. Otte is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.   

After earning his BA at the University of Iowa in Economics, Michael spent one year in Austin, TX as an Americorps VISTA volunteer and later earned a teaching certificate and taught history in Austin for two years.  Upon his arrival In Chicago, Michael worked for Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago in the city of Chicago, where he taught classes on mortgages, credit, and lending.  Additionally, he worked under contract with AARP to counsel seniors on elder financial matters, with a specific emphasis on reverse mortgage counseling. While he was a law student, Michael clerked for a law firm that specialized in elder law and estate planning. Following law school, he worked as an attorney for that practice, sharpening his skills in elder law and Medicaid planning.  

Education

Mr. Otte received his B.A. in Economics at the University of Iowa, spending almost a year in their overseas program at Goethe Universitat, Frankfurt, Germany. He received his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, serving as associate editor on the Consumer Law Review.

Personal

Born and raised in Decorah, IA, Michael now lives in Skokie, IL with his wife Nia, 3-year-old son Andrew, and newborn twin daughters Helen and Georgia.  He enjoys reading, running, following the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings, and trout and bass fishing.  Michael sits on the Board of Directors of Senior Connections, an Evanston, IL-based not-for-profit aimed at recruiting, training, and supporting volunteer visitors who befriend isolated older adults in the community.  Michael is also an adjunct professor at the College of DuPage in the Paralegal Program, leading a course on Elder Law for Paralegals