About Edward

Biography

Blake Behme Law Group, P.C. was founded in 1983 and provides a full range of legal services.

Negotiations in family law cases involve custody, visitation, child support, property, and much more

Protecting Your Interests in Will Contests, Trust Litigation and Probate Litigation

Practice Areas

Family 20%

46 years

20%

Probate 20%

46 years

20%

Real Estate 20%

20%

Estate Planning 15%

15%

Tax 15%

15%

General Practice 10%

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Payment Methods

Cash
Check
Credit Card

Awards

2019 2018 2014

...

+ 1

Licenses

Licensed in Illinois for 47 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 1978

Active and Authorized to Practice Law

No misconduct found

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Location

Blake Behme Links Raney, P.C.

Richland Executive Plaza II, 521 West Main Street, Suite 100, Belleville, IL, 62220

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Blake Behme Links Raney, P.C.

201 Hillsboro, Suite 206, Edwardsville, IL, 62025

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Blake Behme Links Raney, P.C.

1355 North Bluff Road, Suite B, Collinsville, IL, 62234

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Blake Behme Links Raney, P.C.

553 9th Street, Carlyle, IL, 62231

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Blake Behme Links Raney, P.C.

305 West Professional Park Avenue, Effingham, IL, 62401

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Online Presence

Other places you can find Edward online.

Edward James Blake Jr.'s Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

52 Client Reviews

5 star (49)

4 star (0)

3 star (0)

2 star (1) 1 star (2)

Showing 1 - 5 of 52 client reviews from Avvo

Posted by Jadon Abshire | January 4, 2022 | Consulted Attorney

Excellent Attorney

Richard helped me in an urgent matter. His style is quick, thorough and very professional - everything an attorney should be. Would recommend to anyone seeking legal help. Thank you Edward James!

Posted by anonymous | September 10, 2020 | Hired Attorney

Precise with advanced planning to make a positive outcome without you coming out from under the tires

Wish he could run for President! Too many events coming and this 2019 was the beginning. Probate an almost done lock down courthouse 2020. He did what was promised and expected with calm leadership to get it done months later because of Corvid 19 Then one month later roofing extensive damages inside ...out. Contractor disappears with$6500.00 and more more more. I hired Blake! He does what he is hired to provide. Trustworthy. Dont hesitate to make him your legal representative.I hired him to brush up a legal will and trust.

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Edward Blake

Replied last February 11, 2022

Thank you very much for your positive input. As you know, we have offices throughout the Metro East and beyond. We have particular emphasis in the legal fields family law, estate law, real estate law, tax law and estate planning. We have a Martindale-Hubbel “AV” rating. We have received the Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Platinum Award, which is the highest combination of peer reviews, which would include other attorneys, as well as client reviews, as identified by Martindale-Hubbell. Since you took the time to share with us your generous comments, we will share with you an excerpt from one of our success stories brochures. Over $375,000 saved - Resolution Reached with the Internal Revenue Service. We were hired by a client who had previously paid in excess of $20,000.00 to a national tax representation firm that advertised on the media throughout the United States. Nothing had been accomplished that benefitted the client. After we took over, we immediately began communicating with the Internal Revenue Service, worked out a resolution, saved our client hundreds of thousands of dollars, kept our client in business and our client was grateful for the results obtained. We had recommended to our client that a new accountant be retained and we made a referral to a local accountant and tax return preparer. We filed suit against the national tax firm to recover substantial amounts on behalf of our client. We isolated the old corporation and then created a new limited liability company, to basically continue with the customers in regard to future work. This strategy saved our client in excess of $400,000.00. There was no criminal prosecution. We worked closely with our client for a period of time which included frequent office conferences, correspondence and telephone calls. At each step of the way our client was in contact with us regarding issues and concerns. We used a team approach which, in this case, meant that since more than one attorney was working on the file, someone was always available to respond to the concerns of the client and/or handle communications with the Internal Revenue Service. We treated the Internal Revenue Service with respect and responded to all telephone calls and inquiries. We explained to our client that the Internal Revenue Service has a job to do which is basically follow the law.

Posted by Mike Faust | May 16, 2019 | Hired Attorney

Ed Blake- Class Act

Despite my parents' best efforts, several issues arose with my mother's passing. Life insurance, vehicle ownership, and real estate issues were successfully addressed by Mr. Blake and his team, in a timely fashion, enabling us to avoid probate proceedings. Mr. Blake and his staff were consummate... professionals: highly competent, and very personable. They ably represented us at a critical juncture in our lives, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Blake Behme Gilbreth Links, P.C., for first-rate legal representation and services.

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Edward Blake

Replied last August 26, 2019

Thank you for taking the time to extend your generous comments. Knowledge of the law, decades of experience, and a proven track record, by a seasoned law firm providing quality legal services focusing on competency, integrity, trustworthiness and hard work are hallmarks of our practice. We have a Martindale-Hubbel “AV” rating. We have received have received the Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Platinum Award, which is the highest combination of peer reviews, which would include other attorneys, as well as client reviews, as identified by Martindale-Hubbell. Since you took the time to share with us your generous comments, we will share with you an excerpt from one of our success stories brochures. Over $200,000 Recovered for Sisters. We represented sisters from South Carolina and New York in regard to a case involving their deceased mother, before she passed away, but at a time when her brother had power of attorney, unknowingly conveyed the family farm to her brother thereby depriving our clients in their share of the family farm upon the death of their mother pursuant to the estate plan of their mother.

Posted by Jim | February 27, 2019 | Consulted Attorney

Bank executive

I have consulted with Ed Blake on numerous real estate transactions over the years and have always had positive results. His knowledge in this area is excellent. I would not hesitate to work with Ed in the future.

Edward Blake

Replied last March 1, 2019

It was great of you to take the time to provide us with your generous comments. We attempt to exceed the expectations of our clients. Competency, integrity, trustworthiness and hard work are of paramount importance to us in providing zealous representation of our clients. Whether tax law, family law, estate law, real estate law or estate planning, we have decades of experience, and a proven track record, in obtaining successful results for clients under challenging circumstances. Since you took the time to share with us your generous comments, we will share with you one of our success stories. $9,000,000 Estate Administration Settlement. We represented a surviving spouse who was scheduled to receive basically an income interest from her predeceased husband’s fortune while the husband’s substantial corpus was to be given to his distant relatives. After contested proceedings involving numerous parties and law firms in Illinois and Missouri the surviving spouse ended up with an estate in excess of $9,000,000.00 which she was then able to leave as she wished, to her side of the family and friends, including on a tax-free basis since she passed away in 2010, at time when there was no estate tax. If the surviving spouse had not contested matters timely, and if appropriate and aggressive action had not been taken immediately, she would have had relatively little to leave to her side of the family and friends upon her death.

Posted by Kevin | February 22, 2019 | Consulted Attorney

Excellent Attorney

I have had many dealings with Attorney Ed Blake over the last 25 years. He has always handled this business in a professional and expeditious manner. He has good overall knowledge of the law. I would recommend Mr. Blake.

Edward Blake

Replied last February 25, 2019

Thank you for taking the time to extend your generous comments. Knowledge of the law, decades of experience, and a proven track record, by a seasoned law firm providing quality legal services focusing on competency, integrity, trustworthiness and hard work are hallmarks of our practice. Since you took the time to share with us your generous comments, we will share with you an excerpt from one of our success stories brochures. Over $200,000 Recovered for Sisters. We represented sisters from South Carolina and New York in regard to a case involving their deceased mother, before she passed away, but at a time when her brother had power of attorney, unknowingly conveyed the family farm to her brother thereby depriving our clients in their share of the family farm upon the death of their mother pursuant to the estate plan of their mother.

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Edward James Blake Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Edward

Jeanna Storment

General practice lawyer | Dec 08

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Mark Silvermintz

Estate planning lawyer | Jan 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Nathan Links

Unknown lawyer | Dec 11

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer."

Megan Gilbreth

Unknown lawyer | Dec 03

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer."

Heather Siddle

General practice lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer."

Joshua Schaufelberger

Unknown lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jennifer Behme

Unknown lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer."

Lauren Gearhart

Unknown lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kelly Walsh

Unknown lawyer | Aug 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Paul Durr

General practice lawyer | Jun 24

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have known Ed for years and worked with him on many cases, he is an excellent attorney. I endorse this lawyer."

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Anthony Swarringin

Unknown lawyer

Andrew Kim

Unknown lawyer

Jeremy Burns

Unknown lawyer

Ronald Boyer

Unknown lawyer

Jeanna Storment

Unknown lawyer

Lawrence Waldman

Unknown lawyer

Matthew Cate

Unknown lawyer

Stephen Tillman

Trusts lawyer

Thomas Jones

Defective and dangerous products lawyer

John Hopkins

Medical malpractice lawyer

Ellie Harris

Trusts lawyer

Joel Kunin

Commercial real estate lawyer

Steven Wallace

Chapter 11 bankruptcy lawyer

Nathan Links

Unknown lawyer

William Gavin

Unknown lawyer

William Wimmer

Unknown lawyer

Gunnar Gitlin

Unknown lawyer

Paul Lauber

Unknown lawyer

Mark Silvermintz

Unknown lawyer

Daniel Nester

Unknown lawyer

Experience

Rating: 10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2018

Platinum Client Champion Award, Martindale-Hubbell

2016

Best Attorneys of America, Best Attorneys of America

2016

Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers

2016

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2015

Senior Counsel, College of Master Advocates and Barristers

2015

100 Family Lawyers in the State of Illinois, American Society of Legal Advocates

2015

Top One Percent Attorney, National Association of Distinguished Counsel

2015

Million Dollar Advocate Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum

2015

AVVO Superb 10 Rating, AVVO

2014

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2013

AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubble

2013

Leading Lawyer, Illinois Leading Lawyer Network

2012

AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubble

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Work Experience

2014 - Present

Managing Partner, Blake Behme Gilbreth Links, P.C.

2011 - 2014

Managing Partner, Blake Behme Law Group, P.C.

2004 - 2011

Managing Partner, Blake & Allen, P.C.

1983 - 2004

Attorney, Edward J. Blake, Jr. P.C.

1983 - 2014

Managing Partner, Blake Law Group, P.C.

1981 - 1981

Assistant States Attorney, St. Clair County Courthouse

1978 - 1981

Attorney, Pope & Driemeyer n/k/a Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.

1977 - 1978

Law Clerk, Listeman, Bandy & Hamilton

1976 - 1976

Law Clerk, Kassly Bone Becker & Carlson

1976 - 1976

Law Clerk, Cadagin, Cain & Tognarelli

1970 - 1974

Third Round Draft Choice, Baltimore Orioles

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Associations

2019 - Present

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Brehm Preparatory School

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

John Burroughs School

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Refuse to Lose - Mike Kelley Foundation

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

This Able Veteran (TAV)

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Immaculate Conception Catholic Grade School`

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Helping Strays of Monroe County

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Fisher House Foundation

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Carlyle Youth Sports

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Boys Football Club of Belleville

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Belleville Area Humane Society

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Southwestern Illinois College

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Granite City High School

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Granite City Park District

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Shriners Hospital for Children

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Annual Contribution

2019 - Present

Greater St. Louis Honor Flight

Annual Contribution

2014 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Senior Lawyers

2014 - Present

American Agricultural Law Association

Agricultural Attorney

2014 - Present

American Institute of Family Law Attorneys

Family Law Attorney

2014 - Present

National Academy of Family Law Attorneys

Family Law Attorney

2014 - Present

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Elder Law Attorney

2014 - Present

American Society of Legal Advocates

Legal Advocate

2014 - Present

American Bar Association

Real Property, Trusts and Estate Law

2014 - Present

American Bar Association

Family Law

2012 - Present

Madison County Bar Association

Member

2011 - Present

Brehm Preparatory School Board of Trustees

Board Member

2009 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Trusts & Estates

2009 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Family Law

2009 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Agricultural Law

2009 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Civil Practice and Procedure

2008 - Present

Gibault Catholic High School