Principled Advocacy For Families And Individuals With Disabilities And The Professionals Who Serve Them

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Carla D. Fiessinger

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Biography

Carla Fiessinger focuses her practice on probate, mental health law, real estate law and landlord-tenant law. She regularly appears before the probate court and other divisions of the Circuit Court of Cook County and surrounding counties.

Ms. Fiessinger is routinely appointed by the court to serve as Guardian ad litem in minor and adult guardianships and decedent's estates, where she represents the best interests of minors and disabled adults. Her knowledge of both probate and real estate law makes her uniquely qualified to handle guardianship and decedent's estate matters where property or real estate is involved.

In addition to counseling and litigation services, Ms. Fiessinger is a leader in a number of legal committees and organizations. She is a past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Committees on Mental Health and Disability Law, Probate and Elder Law. She is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Ms. Fiessinger volunteers her time to Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, an organization that provides no-cost legal advice and information to low-income individuals in the Chicago area. Carla is also a former member of the Misericordia Young Professionals Board.

Ms. Fiessinger's achievements have resulted in her being honored as a Super Lawyer in 2023 and previously being named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Ms. Fiessinger graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she also served as a Graduate Teaching Fellow with the Elder Law Clinic.

Practice Areas

  • Probate & Estate Administration
  • Community Based Services
  • Elder Law
  • Guardianship
  • Health Care Law
  • Landlord/Tenants
  • Litigation & Appeals
  • Real Estate
  • Risk Management
  • Special Needs Planning

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • Juris Doctor
    • Honors: cum laude
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
    • Bachelor of Science
    • Honors: cum laude
    • Major: Biology

Bar Admission

  • Illinois
  • Supreme Court of the United States of America

Honors

  • Selected to Rising Stars Super Lawyers, 2014
  • Selected to Super Lawyers, 2023

Classes & Seminars

  • Moderator, Obtaining Social Security Benefits for Persons with Mental Disability, The Chicago Bar Association, Mental Health and Disability Law Committee, June 16, 2015
  • Presenter, Guardianship 101, The Chicago Bar Association, September 24, 2013
  • Moderator, Aging Gracefully in the World of Elder Law: How to Avoid the Wrinkles of Medicaid, V Benefits and Being an Agent Under POA, The Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee, April 24, 2013
  • Presenter, Guardianship 101, The Chicago Bar Association, May 30, 2012
  • Moderator, The Financial Aspect of Aging: How to Counsel Your Client on Asset Management and Recovery Under Powers of Attorney and in Guardianship, The Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee, May 8, 2012
  • Moderator, Probate Practice Seminar Part 1, The Chicago Bar Association, Probate Practice Committee, November 10, 2010
  • Presenter, The Role of the Guardian ad Litem, The Chicago Bar Association, Probate Planning Potpourri, November 19, 2009

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Misericordia Young Professionals Board, Former Member
  • Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Pro Bono Guardian Ad Litem in Guardianship Cases, 2004 to Present

Past Positions

  • Loyola University Elder Law Clinic, Graduate Teaching, 2005
  • Pro Bono Guardian Ad Litem Project, Fellow

Professional Associations

  • The Chicago Bar Association, Mental Health and Disability Law Committee, Vice-Chair, 2013 to 2014
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Member, 2013 to Present
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 2006 to Present
  • The Chicago Bar Association, Mental Health and Disability Law Committee, Chair, 2014 to 2015
  • The Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee, Chair, 2012 to 2013
  • The Chicago Bar Association, Probate Committee, Chair, 2012 to 2013