Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Central Illinois Estate Planning & Real Estate Lawyers
Since 1972, Woods & Bates has provided comprehensive legal services in estate planning, real estate, and estate administration across Central Illinois. Our attorneys combine decades of experience with a personalized approach, guiding clients through emotionally complex legal matters while prioritizing community needs. We maintain a legacy of excellence through virtual and in-person consultations, ensuring accessibility and tailored representation.Our practice emphasizes asset protection, legacy preservation, and real estate transactions, supported by a commitment to integrity, timeliness, and local expertise. With offices in Lincoln, Delavan, and Mason City, we serve clients throughout Logan, Tazewell, and Mason Counties.
Services
Estate Planning
Real Estate Law
Trust Administration
Medicaid Planning
Probate Administration
Guardianship Services
Asset Protection
Will Preparation
Real Estate Transactions
Estate Administration
Details
- Year established: 1972
Highlights and features
- We offer over 50 years of combined legal experience in Central Illinois.
- Our attorneys provide both virtual and in-person consultation options.
- Community-focused practice with deep local knowledge and relationships.
- We guarantee timely progress on all client matters.
- Our team includes multi-generational legal professionals with specialized expertise.
What people say
Highly competent
Always professional
Efficient advice
Client-focused approach
Knowledgeable team
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create comprehensive strategies to protect assets and ensure proper distribution. We develop customized wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents tailored to individual family needs. With over five decades of local experience, we help clients navigate complex estate tax regulations while maintaining compliance with Illinois law.
Real Estate Law
We provide full-service real estate legal representation for residential and commercial transactions. Our attorneys handle purchase agreements, title transfers, and 1031 exchanges while protecting client interests throughout the process. Our team specializes in rural property transactions and has resolved complex real estate disputes since 1972.
Probate Administration
Our probate services guide executors through estate settlement requirements with efficiency and compassion. We handle asset inventory, debt resolution, and distribution according to wills or state law. With generational experience in Central Illinois courts, we minimize delays while maintaining full legal compliance during emotionally challenging times.
Trust Administration
We establish and manage various trust structures including revocable, irrevocable, and special needs trusts. Our attorneys ensure proper asset protection while meeting regulatory requirements. With expertise in both creation and administration, we help clients preserve wealth across generations through customized trust solutions.
Medicaid Planning
Our Medicaid planning services protect assets while ensuring eligibility for long-term care benefits. We develop strategies that comply with evolving regulations while maintaining client dignity. With specialized knowledge of Illinois Medicaid requirements, we help families navigate complex healthcare financing decisions.
People
William Blinn Bates, Jr.
Shareholder
William Blinn Bates, Jr. graduated from Drake University Law School in 2007 and joined Woods & Bates in 2008. He continues his family's multi-generational legal legacy in Central Illinois, focusing on estate planning and real estate law.
Michael Fleshman
Shareholder
Michael Fleshman joined Woods & Bates in 2017 after practicing law in Lincoln. He specializes in estate administration and real estate transactions, bringing extensive local legal experience to his role as a shareholder attorney.
Brett J. Green
Associate Attorney
Brett J. Green serves as an associate attorney focusing on estate planning and trust administration. He contributes specialized knowledge in asset protection strategies while maintaining the firm's commitment to personalized client service.
Kevin Hunter Mitchell
Associate Attorney
Kevin Hunter Mitchell provides legal counsel in estate planning and real estate matters. As an associate attorney, he supports clients with thorough analysis and practical solutions aligned with the firm's community-focused approach.
Christy Cross
Legal Professional
Christy Cross contributes to the firm's operations with expertise in legal administration. She supports attorneys in delivering efficient services while maintaining the firm's standards of professionalism and client care.
Questions
What areas of law does Woods & Bates specialize in?
We specialize in estate planning, real estate law, trust administration, and Medicaid planning for individuals and businesses in Central Illinois.
How can I schedule a consultation?
Contact us at (217) 735-1234 or through our website to schedule either virtual or in-person consultations at our Lincoln, Delavan, or Mason City offices.
What makes your firm different from other law practices?
Our multi-generational experience, community focus, and combination of traditional values with modern accessibility through virtual consultations distinguish our legal services.
Do you handle both residential and commercial real estate?
Yes, we represent clients in both residential and commercial real estate transactions including purchase agreements, title transfers, and 1031 exchanges.
How long has Woods & Bates been in operation?
Our firm has served Central Illinois since 1972, with legal roots dating back to 1893 through predecessor firms and family legal traditions.
What estate planning documents do you typically create?
We prepare wills, various trust structures, power of attorney documents, healthcare directives, and specialized plans for asset protection and Medicaid eligibility.
