Edward J. Blake Jr.

Blake Behme Law Group, P.C. 521 West Main Street, Suite 100 Belleville, IL 62220 Practice Area(s): Trusts & Estates, General Practice call (618) 233-7900 fax (618) 233-9490 email law@blakelawgrouppc.com visit website

Biographical Information

Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Preeminent Rated, AVVO Superb Rating 10, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, American Society of Legal Advocates, Super Lawyers, Leading Lawyer Network, Best Attorneys of America and National Association of Family Law Attorneys.

Belleville, St. Clair County, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois. Divorce, Custody, Wills, Trust, Estates, Real Estate, Tax, Business Law, Criminal and Civil Litigation.

Our firm takes pride in its professional and personalized approach, which takes into the account the individual needs and goals of its clients. We have a reputation throughout the region for delivering quality legal representation timely in a wide variety of cases. We are a group of skilled and accomplished legal professionals who strive to give their clients the attention, service and representation they deserve.

EDWARD J. BLAKE, JR., born in East St. Louis, IL on August 3, 1952.

Admission Dates & Jurisdictions

Edward J. Blake Jr. was admitted to bar, 1978, Illinois; 1979, U.S. Tax Court.

Education

Education: St. Louis University (B.S.B.A., 1975); Southern Illinois University (M.B.A., 1977); St. Louis University (J.D., 1978); Washington University (LL.M., in Taxation, 1982).
Member: The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; St. Clair County, Illinois State (Member: Section on Estate Planning, 1987 – 1988; Federal Taxation, 1988 – 1989; Business Advice & Financial Planning, 1995-1996) and American Bar Association. Madison County Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, American Agricultural Law Association, Illinois State Trial Lawyers Association. ISBA Section Member: Trusts & Estates; Family Law; Agricultural Law; and Civil Practice & Procedure

Professional Experience

Managing Partner

Blake Behme Gilbreth Links, P.C.

2017 – Current

We represent a broad variety of clients in various legal matters including, but not limited to, wills, trusts and estates, including will and trust litigation, divorce and family cases, including child custody, modification and appeals, real estate issues, boundary disputes, tax cases with the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Revenue, commercial litigation, civil lawsuits and appeals. Blake Behme Law Group, P.C. offers a full range of legal services, including Family Law, Divorce, Estates and Trusts, Estate Planning, Will and Trust Contests, Real Estate Law, Mortgage Foreclosure Defense, Business Law, Tax Law, Internal Revenue Service, Personal Injury, Taxes, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation/Lawsuits, General Practice, Auto Accident, Child Custody, Child Support, Collaborative Divorce, Commercial Real Estate, Consumer Protection, Debt Settlement, Divorce, Divorce Mediation, Employment, Breaches Of Fiduciary Duty, Foreclosure, Landlord/Tenant, Legal Malpractice, Litigation, Military Divorce, Nursing Home, Personal Injury, Probate, Estate Settlement, Securities, Sex Crimes, DCFS, Sexual Harassment, Illinois Department Of Revenue, Illinois Department Of Employment Security, White Collar Crime, Workman’s Compensation, Wrongful Death, Wrongful Termination, Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Legal Separation, Motions to Modify, Contempt, Prenuptial Agreements, Family Law Matters, Adoptions, Grandparent Visitation, Orders of Protection, Domestic Relations Matters, Guardianships, Family Law, Agency Adoptions, Alimony, Annulment, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Child Abduction, Child Abuse and Neglect, Child Advocacy, Child Care Child Custody Mediation, Child Dependency, Child Protection, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Welfare, Civil Unions, Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Family Law, Community Property Law. We serve clients throughout the Southern and Central Regions of the State of IL.

Managing Partner

Blake Behme Law Group, P.C.

2014 – 2017

Board Member

Brehm Preparatory School

2011 – 2016

Welcome to Brehm School – a small, fully accredited, not-for-profit coeducational boarding school for students with learning disabilities or differences, and employing a staff of 150. Brehm limits its focus to just 90 students in order to provide the attention and service our students deserve. Since 1982, in partnership with families just like yours, Brehm has been successfully teaching students with language-based and complex learning disabilities to “learn how to learn.” Our “family style” 24/7 school is uniquely designed to foster independence and responsibility. Where other schools have failed students, Brehm delivers success. Brehm students go on to college, find fulfilling careers, and become successful entrepreneurs.

Managing Partner

Blake Law Group, P.C.

2011 – 2014

We represent a broad variety of clients in various legal matters including, but not limited to Fiduciary litigation, estate planning, elderly law, real estate tax cases, guardianship disputes, medicaid planning, disposition of assets, offers in compromise, short sales and mortgage foreclosure defense litigation. Blake Law Group, P.C. offers a full range of legal services, including Family Law, Divorce, Estates and Trusts, Estate Planning, Will and Trust Contests, Real Estate Law, Mortgage Foreclosure Defense, Business Law, Tax Law, Internal Revenue Service, Personal Injury, Taxes, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation/Lawsuits, General Practice, Auto Accident, Bankruptcy, Child Custody, Child Support, Collaborative Divorce, Commercial Real Estate, Consumer Protection, Debt Settlement, Divorce, Divorce Mediation, Employment, Breaches Of Fiduciary Duty, Foreclosure, Landlord/Tenant, Legal Malpractice, Litigation, Military Divorce, Nursing Home, Personal Injury, Probate, Estate Settlement, Securities, Sex Crimes, DCFS, Sexual Harassment, Illinois Department Of Revenue, Illinois Department Of Employment Security, Unemployment, White Collar Crime, Workman’s Compensation, Wrongful Death Wrongful Termination, Administrative Law, Adoptions, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Annulment, Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Automobile Accidents, Banking Law, Breach of Contract, Business Formation, Business Law, Business Litigation, Child Custody, Child Support, Civil Litigation, Commercial Law, Commercial Real Estate, Condominium Law, Construction Law, Consumer Fraud, Consumer Law, Contracts, Corporate Law, Divorce, Dog Bites, Elder Law, ERISA, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Law, Fathers Rights, Zoning, Planning and Land Use, Foreclosures, General Practice, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Homeowners Association Law, Income Tax, Inheritance, Insurance, Internet Law, Legal Malpractice. We serve clients throughout the Southern and Central Regions of the State of IL.

Managing Partner

Blake & Allen, P.C.

2004 – 2011

Contested and uncontested divorce, dissolution of marriage proceedings, child support litigation, child custody battles, modification of decrees, removal of a child to a different area, state or country, parental rights, grandparents rights, stepparent’s rights and other matters. Wills, trusts, estates, estate litigation, guardianship of estate and person of a minor, guardianship of estate and person of an elderly person, elderly abuse, breach of fiduciary duties, objection to accountings, removal of executors, will contest, trust disputes, contested and uncontested adoption proceedings, estate litigation, probate lawsuits, representation of executors, trustees, beneficiaries, and heirs, missing property, unaccounted for assets and other matters. Real estate, adverse possession, prescriptive easements, boundary line disputes, disputes with homeowners, adjoining owners, homeowners associations, real estate property tax, persons and businesses who have lost property to a real estate tax buyer, bad investment advice, timeshare scams, timeshare fraud, recission of contracts, bond for deed contracts, representation of sellers, representation of buyers, defective construction, lawsuits against inspectors, lender liability, banks handling where matters inappropriately, mechanic’s liens, and other matters. Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Revenue, tax liens, tax fraud, civil and criminal, Illinois Department of Revenue, Illinois Department of Employment Security, sales and use tax issues, sales tax audits, offers in compromise, doubt as collectability, doubt as to liability, U.S. Tax Court, Tax Appeals Office, special agents, revenue officers, negotiations, Form 433-A and Form 433-B, Form 656 (Offer in Compromise) and other matters.

Attorney

Edward J. Blake, Jr, P.C.

1983 – 2004

We represent a broad variety of clients in various legal matters including, but not limited to representing nursing homes, pharmacists and pharmacies in regard to the Illinois Department of Public Aid, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) cases, litigation involving power of attorneys, divorce, property settlement and dissolution cases, real estate litigation, faulty home construction, lawsuits involving covenants, real estate disputes and homeowners, representation of clients regarding formation of entities, including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, shareholder disputes and litigation, complaints for accountings, local counsel for out of town law firms. Disputes among shareholders, lawsuits involving partners, formation of various entities, including Subchapter S, Subchapter C, joint ventures, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, trustees, corporate officers, shareholders, directors, breach of fiduciary duties, accountings, exclusion of minority shareholders, liability of majority, out-of-state businesses, collection matters, lawsuits involving more than $50,000, lawsuits involving less than $50,000, alternative resolution disputes, mediation, small claims representation of businesses, and individuals, defending improper lawsuits, Motions to Dismiss, change of judge, Motion for Substitution of counsel and related matters. United State Air Force, United States Marines, United States Coast Guard, United States, Army, family law, real estate law, tax law, estate law, and other matters, including in regard to Soldier’s and Sailor’s Civil Relief Act, dividing military pensions and benefits and other matters.

Assistant States Attorney

St. Clair County

1981 – 1981

Representation in the prosecution of misdemeanor cases including traffic and DUIs.

Attorney: Pope & Driemeyer; 1978 – 1981; Estate Planning, Commercial Litigation, Representation of Banks and Businesses, Estate Settlements, Tax Returns, Research of Various Issues Involving Litigation Cases. Trial work included representing estates and trusts, representing financial institutions and corporations doing business in the metro East and also involved work on the Paul Powell estate in Vienna, Illinois. We represented many taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue. We represented pharmacists that were charged with fraud, we represented car dealerships, physicians, dentists, chiropractors and law firms in regard to business transactions and other matters. We researched issues involving utilities. We handled estate administration cases and we assisted clients in establishing wills and trusts for estate planning and succession purposes.

Board Member

Belleville Public School District #118 School Board

1979 – 1980

School Board Member for Belleville Public School District #118 consisting of eight (8) grade schools and two (2) junior high schools. Attended school board meetings, was appointed to various committees, reviewed and approved contracts, discussed issues in regard to teachers, personnel, students, disciplinary matters and lawsuits.

Law Clerk

Listeman, Bandy & Hamilton

1977 – 1978

Research and investigation regarding personal injury and death cases, meetings with witnesses, preparation of memorandums. Some of this work included meeting with witnesses, taking statements, taking photographs of accident scenes, researching authorities and preparing memorandum relating to the development of lawsuits.

Law Clerk

Kassly Bone Becker & Carlson

1976 – 1976

Research as law clerk in regard to various issues including commercial litigation, personal injuries and death cases, municipal law and drafting of ordinances, research various issues of the law, criminal and civil. Some of this work involved assisting and drafting of ordinances for the City of Fairview Heights, handling estate and trust issues, representing contractors in regard to lawsuits involving contracts and faulty construction, drafting estate planning documents including wills and trusts, assisting in the development of personal injury and wrongful death cases including preparation of exhibits for trial.

Law Clerk

Cadagin, Cain & Tognarelli

1976 – 1976

Research various issues in law, including commercial litigation, personal injury and death cases. Some of this work had to do with research projects concerning workman’s compensation cases, personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. There were issues involving estates and trusts and real estate disputes.

Third Round Draft Choice

Baltimore Orioles

1970 – 1974

Third round draft choice in June, 1970 draft (no. 72 overall), pitcher with Aberdeen Pheasants in Aberdeen, SD Northern League, Miami Orioles in Miami FL, Florida State League, Asheville Orioles in Asheville, NC Southern League, Allstate pitcher in the State of IL, Topps Chewing Gum District Choice

Honors & Awards

Platinum Client Champion Award	Martindale-Hubbell	2018
Best Attorneys of America	Best Attorneys of America	2016
Super Lawyers	Super Lawyers	2016
AV Preeminent Rated	Martindale-Hubbell	2016
Senior Counsel	College of Master Advocates and Barristers	2015

100 Family Lawyers in the State of Illinois	American Society of Legal Advocates	2015
Top One Percent Attorney	National Association of Distinguished Counsel	2015
Million Dollar Advocate Forum	Million Dollar Advocates Forum	2015
AVVO Superb 10 Rating	AVVO	2015
AV Preeminent Rated	Martindale-Hubbell	2014
AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer	Martindale-Hubble	2013
Leading Lawyer	Illinois Leading Lawyer Network	2013
AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer	Martindale-Hubble	2012