Amy E. McCarty

Amy E. McCarty is widely regarded as a leading guardianship and probate attorney in the Chicago-land area. She has litigated well over a thousand guardianship cases, routinely obtaining favorable rulings for her clients in often complex and difficult matters. Her background as a former Assistant Public Guardian makes her especially skilled at pursuing cases involving abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of both adults with disabilities and minors. She has litigated numerous exploitation cases that have resulted in significant financial recovery on behalf of persons with disabilities, and she regularly pursues orders of protection and citations on behalf of her clients.

In addition to guardianship and probate, Ms. McCarty's areas of practice include child welfare and juvenile law, elder law, mental health and confidentiality, litigation and appeals. As part of her legal services, she works with over 70 hospitals and health care agencies, assisting them with all of their surrogate decision making, child welfare and mental health matters. Whether appealing DCFS findings, arguing the confidentiality of custody records in the circuit and appellate courts, or handling the countless other cases she pursues, Ms. McCarty is a fierce and compassionate advocate for her clients.

Ms. McCarty is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she has taught mental health law for many years. She is a former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Mental Health Law Committee and serves as a member and legal advisor to the adult protective services M-Team for both Pathlights and the Sinai Institute. She routinely provides in-service trainings and presentations on a wide range of topics, including guardianship, surrogate decision making, elder law, child welfare and mental health and confidentiality.

Attorney McCarty is active in numerous community service organizations and Boards, including, but not limited to, serving as a Member and Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels Chicago, Board Member of Greenlight Family Services and Member of the Human Rights Committee for Misericordia.

Ms. McCarty's achievements have resulted in her selection as Super Lawyer for the last six years. She earned her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School now University of Illinois Chicago Law School, and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. She is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.