Amy Delaney
Amy Delaney is a (CELA) Certified Elder Law Attorney and a founding Partner of DDV Law, Ltd. Her elder law practice concentrates on Medicaid, special needs planning, estate planning, guardianships, probate, and estate administration. Amy’s interest in elder law was piqued when she was randomly assigned a mentor who was one of the founders of elder law. But it wasn’t until her grandmother suffered a fall and was misdiagnosed with dementia that she pursued the practice. Her grandmother was actually experiencing short-term memory impairments due to a urinary tract infection and needed someone to advocate for her health. Amy tried to find an elder law attorney in the Chicago area, but there wasn’t one. So she decided to open a practice of her own to help her grandmother and others in similar situations.
What Amy likes best about being at DDV Law, Ltd. is participating in the free exchange of ideas and tapping into some of the best legal minds to develop unique solutions for clients. Her success is measured in the many client testimonials describing her as an exceptional attorney, detailed oriented, kind-hearted, and insightful. Each client feels she has taken the time to answer any questions on multiple issues and attain the best outcome. Clients with aging parents have been guided through Medicaid applications, low-income government assistance programs, options for nursing homes, guardianship, and more. They feel respected and supported through tough times, with an emphasis on their personal well-being.
In addition to serving her clients at DDV Law, Ltd., Amy:
- Helped found the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society in Illinois and serves on its board
- Acted as a past board member and President for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois and currently serves on their legislative committee and the editorial board for the law journal
- Taught classes on special needs planning and elder law as a professor of law at John Marshall Law School
- Lectures on the topic of elder law at the faculty of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the National Business Institute, and the Illinois State Bar Association
- Appears in media outlets such as The Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Hospital News, and has been featured on PBS to discuss elder law issues
- Served as a bar review examiner and proctor for the National Elder Law Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Illinois College of Nursing
- Drafts and assists in the passage of legislation to protect seniors, people with disabilities, and nursing home residents
- Serves as a legal expert in certain litigation cases, testifying before Senate, JCAR, and House committees
- Received the highest rating by avvo.com as a Leading Lawyer, was selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer, and awarded the highest A.V. rating for ethics and expertise by Martindale-Hubbell
- Volunteers on the board of directors of several charitable foundations
Amy and her family reside in her hometown of Chicago. Her husband, Michael Delaney, is another partner with DDV Law, Ltd. Together, they travel and host student exchanges with families from Austria, France, Germany, Spain, China, Hong Kong, and Canada. Amy also enjoys volunteering at her children’s school in Chicago and serves on their board of directors.
Amy received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Illinois and her J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee; Illinois Bar Association; and the South Suburban Estate Planning Council. Amy has been admitted to practice in Washington, Oregon, and Illinois, and before the U.S. District Court and U.S. Tax Court. You can reach Amy at DDV Law, Ltd., by calling 312-878-0155, or emailing at adelaney@ddvlawyers.com.