01 - Practice
Estate Planning & Probate
- Wills
- Trusts, including special needs trusts
- Powers of attorney for health and property
- Medicaid planning
- Probate and trust distribution
Orion, Illinois · Established 1965Hometown values.
Hometown values.
Experienced
legal service.
Our family serving your family's legal needs for over fifty-five years. From estate planning to family law, we bring the steady judgment of two generations of Illinois attorneys to every matter we take on.
John G. Ames opened the firm's doors in 1965 and served as counsel for the Village of Orion for 50+ years. His daughter Stephanie has practiced alongside him for over two decades - carrying the same straightforward, client-first standard forward.
Two generations
Father and daughter, practicing side by side.
Village attorney
Counsel to the Village of Orion for 50+ years.
Whole-family care
Estates, family law, real estate, and more.
Practice
Whatever you're facing, we'll figure it out together.
From your first will to a contested custody hearing, we handle the matters families across western Illinois actually face.
02 - Practice
Family Law
- Dissolution
- Custody and father's rights
- Child support
- Mediation
- Guardianship and adoption
03 - Practice
Benefits & Appeals
- DCFS appeals
04 - Practice
Tax & Business
- Tax return preparation
- Corporation preparation and guidance
- Business contracts preparation and litigation
05 - Practice
Real Estate
- Residential and farm transactions
- Title review and closings
- Deeds, easements, and land contracts
06 - Practice
Personal Injury & General Litigation
- Personal injury
- General litigation
Our hometown
Rooted in Orion, Illinois.
Ames Law Offices is located in Orion, Illinois, in Henry County. Our small hometown — mostly surrounded by corn and bean fields — has a population of approximately 1,800 people and in 2014 was rated the 7th safest town in Illinois.
Our schools are rated 9 out of 10 for academic performance, and school sports are the pride of the community. With classic small-town ideals, the team at Ames Law Offices prioritizes values and hospitality with every client interaction.
The vision
John Ames had a vision to run a firm that could help a family with the simplest of things, to the most complex. That vision has been realized daily, ever since.
John's core belief and goal is to be an agent for promoting justice for his clients — both legally and in the way he works with people. He has made sure to instill these qualities in the attorneys and staff of Ames Law Offices.
A life in the law
Stephanie Ames has practiced for almost 30 years; however, she has lived the law her entire life. With her father being an attorney, she grew up in the office she now works in. She believes in the law and in justice.
She believes it is up to the judicial system to utilize the law as a tool to achieve justice — and she believes in the best interests of children.
Our team
Meet the team you'll be sitting down with.
Three attorneys and a dedicated staff, all sharing one standard: clear communication, candid advice, and committed advocacy.
Village Attorney
John G. Ames
General practice for over fifty years, concentrating in estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, Medicaid planning, business entities and litigation, and real estate.
Attorney
Stephanie A. Ames
Practicing attorney for over twenty years with a focus on family law and direct client advocacy - known for straightforward, compassionate, and effective representation.
Attorney
Steven C. Ames
Recovered millions for clients in personal injury and general litigation cases. Graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Law.
Paralegals & Office Team
The people who keep everything running.
Family Law & Probate Paralegal
Alexis Sullivan
Tax Preparer & Real Estate Paralegal
Dennis Jensen
Office Manager & Drainage District Paralegal
Jenna Janssens
Legal Assistant
Holli Caley
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
In their words
What neighbors say after sitting down with us.
Stephanie was straightforward, compassionate, and genuinely effective. She took the time to understand our family, explained every option in plain English, and fought for the right outcome.
John has been our family attorney for three generations. His advice on estate planning has given our parents - and now us - real peace of mind.
I came in confused about Medicaid planning for my mother. They walked us through every step, never pushed, and saved us from costly mistakes.
Coverage
Henry, Rock Island, Mercer & Knox Counties
1000 Third Street
Orion, IL 61273
AledoAlphaAndoverCableCoal ValleyColonaEast MolineGalesburgJoyKewaneeMolineOphiemOrionOscoRock IslandSherrardSilvisSunny HillViolaNew WindsorWoodhull
Begin a conversation
Talk with a hometown attorney you can trust.
There is no charge for phone or email questions. In-person consultations are $50.