ABOUT US
Teresa Nuccio, Founder and Principal Attorney
“Estate planning is an act of life and love. Our commitment is to provide the highest quality legal services in a caring and understanding environment.” ~Teresa Nuccio
I’ve dedicated my career to estate planning and trust administration services. My clients share with me their hopes, fears, goals and dreams, and I turn them into sound legal plans.
My unique background in counseling helps me do this effectively. I have a Master of Social Work, in addition to my Juris Doctorate (both from Loyola University Chicago, 1981), and I’ve been trained in the Time to Think program. This means I’m able to create an encouraging, understanding environment for my clients. More than just offering legal opinions, I guide my clients through the process of arriving at their own decisions, for more satisfying conclusions.
When it comes to putting my clients’ plans into action, I take a team approach. I coordinate with my clients’ accountants, insurance professionals, financial planners and other advisors to make sure our documentation is processed and the plans are funded appropriately. I’ve even been known to drive out to a client’s bank to oversee things personally.
I love what I do, so much that I’ve written a book on it: Your Life, Your Legacy: The Fundamentals of Effective Estate Planning. (We’ll give you a complimentary copy with your consultation.) I also regularly provide estate planning seminars and workshops. I particularly enjoy speaking on planning for elder care, planning for beneficiaries with disabilities, and planning for minor children. I’m a mother myself, and I appreciate how precious children are to parents.
I’m proud to say that Chicago Magazine recently named me a Five Star Wealth Manager. I’m also a proud member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Lambda Legal Cooperating Attorney Network and the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago. I’m a founding member of ElderCounsel LLC, WealthCounsel LLC, WealthCounsel Advisors Forum, the Illinois Wisconsin Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys and the Illinois Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys, and I’m a charter member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners.
My husband, John, and I have raised two sons in Park Ridge, Illinois, and I’m committed to this community. I’ve served as a volunteer Deputy Registrar for Cook County, the Chairman of the Park Ridge Civil Service Commission, on the advisory board of directors for Special People, Inc., and on the board of trustees for the Park Ridge Public Library.
Mary Ann Shesek, Administrative Assistant
Making the client feel comfortable and appreciated is the most important aspect of our firm’s outreach.” ~Mary Ann Shesek
I’ve been with Teresa since 1996, and I’m usually the one who greets you, both on the phone and in the office. I’m also the one who handles the day-to-day operations. I’m efficient and dependable, and I want you to feel well-served during every phase of our work together.
This means that you’ll hear from me often. I schedule your meetings, and I help you collect the right documentation. I help the attorneys prepare your estate planning portfolio and process any deeds. And I coordinate with your financial institutions to make sure that your assets are properly transferred into your trust. Basically, I’m the one who keeps everyone else on task. And I do it with a smile.
I’ve got a customer service and marketing communications background, having worked as a Customer Service Representative and Billing Administrator for AT&T. I’m quite comfortable running an office, and I can handle many projects simultaneously. But more importantly, I listen.
I know that estate planning can be intense work. Overwhelming. And so I want our clients to feel comfortable. We try to create a family atmosphere in our office, and we bring a great deal of patience and guidance into every situation.
When our clients walk out of our office with relaxed, happy smiles…I know we’ve done our jobs well!
Maura Mitchell, Client Service Specialist
"No two clients are ever the same. You will find that we are eager to listen to your unique concerns and willing to work hard to satisfy your needs." ~Maura Mitchell
I am a Marketing Professional with broad professional services experience. Experience in sales and marketing, consulting, finance, computer services and teaching, helps me to better understand a client's situation. I enjoy meeting with clients, prospects and am an energetic, problem-solver. I have a B.A. in Mathematics from St. Mary’s College, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Driven by meeting aggressive goals, I am an enthusiastic team player who listens, and integrates the divergent thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of others into meaningful action.
At our firm, I am responsible for facilitating growth and designing a marketing strategy with an objective of revenue generation. Regarded as an organized leader, I have spearheaded major projects. I have designed the annual marketing plan, organized and implemented a client contract and a client satisfaction survey, and I maintain the company website and oversee the marketing database which includes client and prospect information, and referral data.
My husband and I have three children and reside in Park Ridge, Illinois. I also volunteer as a Strategy Consultant for Taproot Foundation, I deliver meals for Home Delivered Meals, and I am the Co-Director of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church.
I have excellent communication skills, a sunny disposition and an optimistic outlook which means I will always have a smile on my face. My compassion and patience help manage our clients from the initial meeting to the close of their engagement.
My professional demeanor allows me to assist with trust signings and billing matters. I create and draft documents using Wealth and Elder Docx and also assist in the preparation of client binders and documents for signing meetings. I love going out on the field to help organize client workshops and seminars, as well as writing articles and finding special needs news for the office’s monthly Special Needs Newsletter. My proficiency with muti-tasking and prioritizing allows me to keep the office on track and well as up to date.
On a regular basis, I update client, attorney and other contact lists, draft Funding Status Letters and complete Asset Charts for our clients. I acquire and complete Funding Forms to transfer assets into a client’s trust and even draft court documents for probate and guardianships. I am always delighted to go downtown to obtain court dates and file court documents.
I have two B.A.’s in Political Science and Communications from Lake Forest College and a minor in Business. In my spare time I enjoy donating my efforts to The Open Arms Pantry in Antioch, Illinois, playing the piano and teaching tennis lessons.
