Joseph B. Ott

Joseph B. Ott

Joseph Ott’s practice areas include estate and gift tax planning and estate and trust litigation. His estate and gift tax planning practice focuses on preparation of sophisticated estate planning documents and administration of estates and trusts. He also advises individual and qualified corporate fiduciaries in trust and estate taxation issues and guides fiduciary administration of trusts and estates. Joseph advises privately-held businesses on numerous aspects of business operations, including business succession and intra-family business wealth transfers.

 

Joseph litigates disputes that arise from the death or incompetency of family members. This includes fiduciary litigation and risk mitigation for individual and corporate fiduciaries in complex family disputes. Examples of matters that he handles include:

 

Will and Trust Contests

Trust Constructions

Financial Exploitation of the Elderly or Disabled Cases

Fraudulent Bequests and Gifts to Caregiver Cases

Statutory Custodial Care Claims

Breach of Fiduciary Duty Cases

Removal of Executor and Trustee Actions

Modifying and Terminating Trusts

Conflicts regarding Taxable and Non-taxable Gifts

Probate and Trust Creditor Claims

Trust Decanting Actions

Fraudulent Asset Transfer Actions

Citation Proceedings to Discover and Recover Assets

Guardianship Proceedings and Contested Guardianships

Accountings

Appeals

 

Joseph is licensed in Illinois, Missouri, and Florida. 

  • EDUCATION

    Saint Louis University, J.D.

    Westminster College, B.A.

  • ADMISSIONS, MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

    State 

    Illinois

    Missouri

    Florida


    Bar 

    Illinois State Bar Association

    Adams County Bar Association


    Courts 

    U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois Federal and Bankruptcy Courts

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Federal Court

    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri Federal and Bankruptcy Courts


    Professional

    Member, Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness (2022-Present)


    Civic 

    Board of Directors, Good Samaritan Home of Quincy

    Board of Directors, Arts Quincy

    Board of Directors, Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County (2014-2020)

  • PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

    Presenter, SRNM/Edward Jones EState Seminar, "Preparing Your Estate Plan" (April 2021).

    Presenter, Quincy Public Schools Focus on Finances Series, "Grading Your Estate Plan - You Want an 'F' for Finished" (March 2021).

    Presenter, SRNM/Edward Jones Estate Seminar, "Trusts, Estates, Beneficiaries... Oh My!'"(September 2016).

    Presenter, SRNM/Edward Jones Estate Seminar, "Preparing Your Estate Plan" (October 2017).