Skip to main content

Curt William Ferguson

Open for Business
Virtual Consultation
  Save
Avvo Rating10
  • Salem, IL
  • Licensed for 31 years
See more Salem Estate Planning lawyersSearch
AboutContactReviewsCost

About Curt

Practice areas

BusinessEstate planning
  1. Estate planning: 90%

    Through a unique, proactive estate planning process we help people control their future and direct their assets in such a way as to make the greatest positive impact on the lives of the people they love. It's not a document; it's a plan that works!

    32 years, 1,000 cases

  2. Business: 10%

    Your small business (corporation, LLC, etc.) must be operated with proper formalities, or it will not serve it's intended purposes. With our help, you can realize tax and asset protection benefits, then (coordinated with your estate plan) transfer the business to your chosen successor.

    25 years, 100 cases

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

1131084 1531534146

1131084 1531534429

Contact

Curt W. Ferguson, P.C.

The Estate Planning Center
919 West Main
Salem, IL, 62881-1303

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    MOGood Standing, Active200403/10/2021
    ILActive And Authorized To Practice Law198903/13/2021
    We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers92
    Legal guides0
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    "The Spoon of Integrity"National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys2009
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    President & FounderThe Estate Planning Center1989 - Present
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    National Network of Estate Planning AttorneysChairman: Drafting Development Task Force2014 - Present
    Illinois State Bar Association, Trusts & Estates SectionMember2000 - Present
    National Network of Estate Planning AttorneysMember1996 - Present
    Christian Legal SocietyMember1989 - Present
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    Illinois State Bar Association Trust and Estates NewsletterBeauty and the Beast: Spendthrift Trust meets the SECURE Act2020
    Illinois State Bar Association Trust and Estates NewsletterBeyond taxes and probate: Revive and refine the spendthrift trust2018
    Illinois State Bar Association Trust and Estates NewsletterProtective trusts without compressed tax brackets for trust management2016
    Illinois State Bar Association Trust and Estates NewsletterStepping up the Basis on Credit Shelter Trust Assets: Having your cake and eating it too2015
    Illinois State Bar Association Trust and Estates NewsletterReflections on National Network Membership2013
    ISBA Agricultural Law NewsletterMy attorney won’t tell me what I should do!2013
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    University of Texas School of LawJD - Juris Doctor1989
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    Trusts 101Trusts Used For Tax Reduction2020
    Trusts 101Grantor Trusts2020
    NNEPA CollegiumTransfer the Family Business via Sale to Grantor Trust2017
    Trusts 101 (NBI) and National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys CollegiumGrantor Trusts2016
    National Network Collegium (Orlando) [Keynote Legal Address]Powers of Appointment: Flexibility in Estate Planning2015
    National Network Collegium (Indianapolis)Clayton QTIP: an old idea for a new paradigm2015
    National Network Collegium (Indianapolis)Practical Drafting of Irrevocable Trusts2014
    National Network Collegium (Orlando) [Keynote Legal Address]ATRA 2012: It's Really Not About THOSE Taxes!2013
    National Network Collegium (Indianapolis)ATRA: Estate vs. Capital Gain Tax: A Whole New Ballgame2013
    Farm Credit CollegeEstate Planning 101: Effective Planning for Farm Families2013
    National Network CollegiumGeneration Skipping Transfer Tax Planning2012
    Legal cases
    Case nameOutcome
    Estate and Gift Tax Success100% reduction in estate tax

    Reviews

    (40)
    5 Star
    		100%
    4 Star
    		0%
    3 Star
    		0%
    2 Star
    		0%
    1 Star
    		0%
    Review Curt Ferguson

    Peace of Mind

    Posted by

    Curt set up our trusts and some very involved estate planning. Very through, very detailed. He listened to our concerns and presented many things that hadn’t occurred to us. All in all, we are relieved to have our affairs in order for the next generation.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Personal, friendly, understandable, compassionate service

    Posted by

    Curt Ferguson has been an amazing partner as our family plans to pass on our Centennial Farm to our children. Not only is he very knowledgeable and up-to-date on all the legal aspects of estate planning, he provides newsletters and workshops multiple times a year to keep us updated as well. He is a master at explaining difficult concepts in a way that is understandable and entertaining. Curt Ferguson also relates to his clients with compassion, offering personalized assistance with difficult topics. We have recommended Curt Ferguson to many of our friends.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Estate planner

    Posted by

    Curt wrote our trusts and was very detailed oriented. He was very concerned that our concerns were expressed correctly. It is very important to us that our trusts do what we want for our heirs. We are very happy we found Curt at Estate Planning. The entire staff is excellent.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    The best planning for Seniors

    Posted by

    My wife and I set up our trust years ago and we thought we did everything right. As years past we begin to think differently about what we wanted our trust to accomplish. We've known Curt for many years and he has helped many of my clients set up their trust to perfection. We called Curt to explain that we needed a complete review of our current trust. What surprised me the most was his next comment, (I would be happy to help you and your wife but I would recommend that you both attend our Truth About Estate Planning work shop). We agreed to his advice and set our dates to attend these meetings at his office in Salem,Il. My wife and I attended a total of five meetings and all I can say we were so pleased with the information we received and the total dedication by Curt and his staff to meet our needs. We are now part of the LifeSpan program and we are convinced that our needs will be met and what we were able to accomplish for our heirs will leave a lifetime legacy.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Great character, very thorough

    Posted by

    We were very pleased with the service we received setting up our estate plan. Curt is VERY thorough. He works very hard at explaining difficult topics in easy to understand ways, and goes overboard to try to make sure he creates a plan that is exactly what you want, even if it is not typical. His process is not for everyone - it is time consuming, detailed, and will require attention to detail on the part of the client. We also came away knowing that his Christian faith compels him to go beyond just doing legal work and he also works hard to help clients create a "life legacy" - not just create a legal document.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Estate Planning made easy!

    Posted by

    Curt and Sam at the Estate Planning Center, as well as Sherry and the other team members, went out of their way to make a confusing and many faceted experience a success. They were always available, returned any and all calls, answered all our varied questions - and all with a smile. I would recommend their services to anyone wanting to set up a trust. They made the entire process easy.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Estate Planning Attorney

    Posted by

    Curt Ferguson has done excellent work creating and estate plan for my wife and me. His work has demonstrated that he has our needs front and center and that enhances our trust in him.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Top Notch Guy

    Posted by

    We are in the process of doing estate planning with Curt. It's one of the best investments we have made to protect our children and grandchildren. Not only are we passing on our assets; but also our legacy which we feel is equally important. Would highly recommend him to anyone wishing to do estate planning.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Estate planning

    Posted by

    We hired Curt to do our Trust. He did a very good job. He explained in detail how it would work. He was great at answering our questions. We are extremely happy with the results.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Happy Client!

    Posted by

    Designed individual and family trusts. Very concerned with keeping plans updated. In general, attentive, personal, family-oriented.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney
    See all reviews

    Attorney endorsements

    (7)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

    Chris Godfrey, Estate planning Attorney on Dec 8, 2016
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    Curt is my go-to guy whenever I have a problem affecting our farming families. Not only is he very knowledgeable but his experience provides an invaluable perspective that is unique in our field. I enjoy spending time with him. A prospective client would be well-served by him and his exceptional team at the Estate Planning Center.

    Joseph Ferraro, Estate planning Attorney on Oct 22, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Curt is one of the brightest minds in the estate planning profession. His cutting-edge strategies influence how attorneys practice across the country. He also combines this expertise with an incomparably high level of dedication to his clients and their estate plans. I highly recommend Curt without hesitation.

    David Crandall, Estate planning Attorney on Apr 27, 2015
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    I have known Curt for about seven years due to our mutual involvement in the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys. I consider him one of my mentors in providing the highest quality estate planning for my clients. He is a caring and incredibly intelligent lawyer, exhibiting the very highest of ethical standards as a Christian attorney. I could not recommend him more highly.

    Scott Williams, Estate planning Attorney on Mar 17, 2015
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    It has been my sincere pleasure to have had the opportunity to work closely with Curt on a number of complex legal projects over the past 10 years. Curt is by far one of the most technically strong estate planning attorneys I have ever worked with. I am particularly impressed with his ability to sort through complex legal issues to find common sense and practical solutions for his clients. He is exceptionally committed to finding innovative ways to ensure each of his clients' estate plans achieve the purpose for which they were put in place. His work ethic is beyond reproach and he genuinely cares for each of his clients. I could not give a higher endorsement for this friend and colleague.

    Tamara Cain, Estate planning Attorney on Sep 7, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I have worked with Curt Ferguson in the estate planning arena for a number of years. His law firm is truly education-focused. Curt has developed a unique approach to estate planning that makes the complex subject of estate planning easy to understand, organized, and cost effective. He and his team at The Estate Planning Center establish life-long relationships with their clients, their client's helpers, and their client's families. Curt understands that estate plans must be maintained and updated because of changes in the law, the tax system, the family, mobility of family helpers, and Curt's constantly evolving methods for addressing his client's issues. I endorse Curt Ferguson and The Estate Planning Center for the process they have developed to make sure that their client's estate plans work as intended.

    William Coyne, Estate planning Attorney on Jun 25, 2014
    Relationship: Other

    I have known Curt for more than ten years. Curt is that rare lawyer who is both technically very knowledgeable and dedicated to achieving a client's personal goals for the family. I have learned a great deal from him -- both about cutting edge tax minimization techniques, and about creative ways to design, implement, and maintain plans to achieve a client's long term goals.

    Gary Waitzman, Estate planning Attorney on Mar 21, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. I have know Curt for many years as a joint member of the NNEPA a national estate planning group for attorneys. I know from working with him and being around him that he is one of the most intelligent, hard working, spiritual and dedicated attorneys I have ever met. He consistently goes the extra mile for his clients and the results speak for themselves. I highly recommend and endorse Curt.