Amy DeLaney

Amy DeLaney is the founding partner of DDV Law, Ltd., with an elder law practice serving clients in the Chicago region. Her work centers on nursing home residents’ rights, Medicaid, special needs planning, guardianships, probate litigation, and estate and trust administration. She helps older adults, people with disabilities, and their families manage difficult questions about care, benefits, personal decision-making, and the protection or administration of property.

Amy earned a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992 and an M.A. from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1995. She received her J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in 1998. Her training supports a practice that frequently combines estate and benefits planning with contested proceedings, administrative hearings, and close attention to the circumstances of vulnerable clients.

Amy has handled matters involving eligibility for government benefits, special needs planning, nursing home discharge disputes, guardianships, and probate administration. Her work also includes litigation concerning residents’ rights and the handling of estates. She has taught elder law and special needs planning at a Chicago law school and has participated in professional education for lawyers and legal staff. Her practice connects long-term planning with legal remedies when disputes arise.

Amy DeLaney is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation and has been recognized as an advanced practitioner by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She has also received Super Lawyers recognition over multiple years. Her legal work combines advocacy in contested matters with guidance on long-term care and estate planning. She helps clients address immediate concerns while considering the continuing legal and financial needs of their families.

Law Office Affiliations

• Managing Partner, DDV Law, LTD.
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association
• Member, Indiana State Bar Association
• Member, Oregon State Bar
• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Fellow, American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
• Past President and Legislative Committee Member, Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
• Board Member, Veterans’ Legal Aid Society
• Appointee, Illinois Secretary of State’s Remote Notarization Taskforce

Licensed State

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Oregon
• Washington

Education

• Lewis & Clark Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Illinois Springfield
  Master of Science (MS)
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges