Stephen J. Costello

Steve was so easy to work with. His manner is easy going which put me at ease. He carefully explained everything that I needed to do and laid out what was to come. He answered my every question by phone and /or email. He met me at court and guided me through the procedure. I would recommend his ...service to anyone.

I found Steve's practice online and after reading the positive reviews, I decided It wouldn't hurt to at least schedule a consultation and see what he had to say. The calm, confident nature of Steve made me feel comfortable and less stressed during a point in life where I felt like I was drowning! Af...ter explaining myself as best I could, he explained my options to me and the general process of bankruptcy, although his fee was a bit higher than the last lawyer I had spoken with, his knowledge and personable attitude is what made me decide to hire him- and I don't regret it one bit! Laurie was extremely helpful throughout the entire process, helping me to fill out the paperwork that they break down into 3 easy steps. Laurie was prompt at responding to my emails and phone calls, which I really appreciated. I am thankful to them for their kind, attentive attention to me and for helping me start fresh! Since the reviews is what made me originally call Steve's office I wanted to make sure I wrote one myself!

Filing bankruptcy is a difficult enough decision as it is, much less worrying about whether you are hiring the right Attorney. We (my husband and I) were actually referred to an Attorney by my relative. The Naperville Attorney we first sought out processes BK cases in addition to handling other areas... of law. But something didn't feel right there, so I sought out Steve Costello. I had driven by his office many times, never thinking I would be making an appointment for bankruptcy, because pride is the first obstacle in this process. Steve's free consultation was a night and day difference because he specializes in BK law and it really shows. Steve is warm and humble, very different from what one's perception of a BK Attorney might be. My husband and I actually felt like he was helping us create a new life strategy for managing our financial well-being successfully in the years ahead. Steve breaks down what can seem like a very overwhelming process into 4 steps. This helps clients gather necessary information with accuracy which is key to completing the BK process with the best results possible. Illinois has complex laws and requirements, so Steve was able to give us a heads-up on potential scenarios and he really knows the court system and the requirements of the trustees who essentially determine your future in this process. His office reminds me of the middle class ranch home I grew up in. You feel lousy enough as it accepting that your financial hardships have led to this decision, so it felt like Steve even creates an office environment for his clients that is clean, but in a location that is far from pretentious. It was great not sitting in a wall to wall law library or conference room filled with lavish teak cabinets wondering if our attorney would even be able to relate to our situation. Besides this, Steve grew up in this law practice with a father who was also a bankruptcy attorney. I believe this may be their original location. Either way, I appreciated the humble, understated office. Steve is also a CPA which really comes in handy in terms of some of the calculations required to determine the best avenue of bankruptcy to pursue. His communication was very steady and he was super responsive throughout the process. I would suggest grouping questions efficiently in emails so he can respond accordingly to all of the given questions at that particular time. Additionally, his office processes many, many BK cases, so email seemed to be a great way to communicate. Steve has responsibilities for his other clients which require regular appearances in court, so that made email a great option. Even after our case was filed and we had our meeting w/creditors and the trustee, Steve responded swiftly to other email inquiries we had and/or things we were uncertain about. I can understand in this experience why it is important to know a great Attorney. They practically become a member of the family in the process. We are so grateful for Steve's services and expertise in this entire BK process. We will never forget this man and the faith and optimism he helped us have. I would recommend hiring Steve hands-down. We handled everything honestly and promptly every step of the way, While creditors are frowning upon you and the circumstances that lead to bankruptcy, Steve believed in us. Our hardships were directly connected to job losses and the incredible amount of unstable employers in the Chicago area. Funny enough, once we hired Steve, good things began happening. Shortly after our case was closed and the troublesome debts were dissolved, my spouse landed an incredible job opportunity. We believe our faith in Steve and his services opened up so many other positive, promising doors. Funny enough, our woes occurred around the Christmas holiday, and we didn't have much to celebrate. So we decided to watch Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life." If you're still wondering, What is Steve like? Steve was like our George Bailey-- he cared.