Helping Clients Meet Their Legal Goals One Step At A Time
Biography
Beal Pratt & Pratt and its predecessor law firms have been serving Illinois clients throughout western Illinois and clients across the United States for over 90 years. The firm focuses on estate planning, probate administration, real estate and related areas of the law.
Estate planning services include drafting of wills, trusts, powers of appointment, powers of attorney and the flexible transfer on death instruments. The emphasis is on drafting legal documents that meet the personalized needs and implement the objectives of each client.
In trust or probate administration the goal is to respect and carry out the properly expressed intentions in a decedent's will or trust, or, if a decedent had no will, then in accordance with the laws of State of Illinois.
In real estate matters, this firm can represent our client's interests from the preparation of the contract for sale, title search, title insurance, deed preparation and closing the sale.
Estate planning services include drafting of wills, trusts, powers of appointment, powers of attorney and the flexible transfer on death instruments. The emphasis is on drafting legal documents that meet the personalized needs and implement the objectives of each client.
In trust or probate administration the goal is to respect and carry out the properly expressed intentions in a decedent's will or trust, or, if a decedent had no will, then in accordance with the laws of State of Illinois.
In real estate matters, this firm can represent our client's interests from the preparation of the contract for sale, title search, title insurance, deed preparation and closing the sale.
Education
- Indiana University at Bloomington School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
- Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana
- A.B., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: cum laude
- Westminster Choir College , Princeton, New Jersey
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Warren County Bar Association
- Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association
Service To The Profession
- Two terms appointed as Member and Chair (2000/2001) of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Trust and Estate Counsel
- Author of professional articles on Independent Administration published by Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education
- Speaker at professional education programs in estate planning and administration sponsored by Illinois State Bar Association
- Speaker at professional education programs for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Instructor – Business Law– Monmouth College
Practice Areas
- Estate Planning and Administration
- Real Estate Law
Honors
- Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel – Since 1998
- Who’s Who of American Women 1990/1991
- Outstanding Young Women of America 1965
- Franklin College Alumni Citation Award 1986
- Altrusa Club of Monmouth- Outstanding Woman of the Year - 1980
Bar Admissions
- Indiana, 1955
- Illinois, 1957
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1971
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
Service To The Community
- Board of Directors – Security Savings Bank in Monmouth, Illinois (1979 – 2002)
- Board of Trustees – Franklin College of Indiana (1978-1981)
- Board of Directors – Community Memorial Hospital in Monmouth (1972-1983) President 1974-1975– now OSF Holy Family Medical Center
- Board of Directors – Monmouth YMCA – (1970-1976) President 1975 now YMCA of Warren County
- Board of Directors and Chair – Monmouth College Concert-Lecture Series – predecessor of Maple City Concert Series
- First United Methodist Church of Monmouth — Finance Committee; Worship Committee, Building Committee; choir director; soloist
- Rotary Club of Monmouth, IL – member since 2003; past President (2013/2014) and past member of the District Committee for The Rotary Foundation (2015-2018)
- DAR – member; soloist for national DAR Convention in Constitution Hall
Current Employment Position
- Owner