Ellston Estate Planning Lawyers

Attorney Colby M. Lessmann was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, and is a graduate of Sioux City North High School. Colby graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Business (B.S., 1996) and School of Law (J.D., 1999). During his law school education, he published a casenote in the South Dakota Law Review (1998) and was both the Managing Editor and the Production Editor for Volume 44 of the South Dakota Law Review (1998-1999). After graduating from Law School, Colby clerked for Justice Robert Amundson of the South Dakota Supreme Court in Pierre, South Dakota. In August...

Attorney Dean Fankhauser was raised in Chadron, Nebraska and is the son of former business owners who still reside in Chadron today. After graduating from Chadron State College, Dean studied at The University of South Dakota School of Law and graduated in 2014 with a Juris Doctor. While in law school, Dean had many great experiences, including advancing to the Elite 8 of the Sam Masten Appellate Advocacy Competition and completing an internship at the Federal Public Defender’s office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dean moved to the Siouxland Community after law school and shortly began working as an associate attorney....

Melvin O. Shaw is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law (2004). He has a Master’s in journalism from the UI, and a B.S. in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Melvin has been a solo practitioner since he opened his law firm in 2006. Melvin will serve a one-year term as president of the Iowa State Bar Association starting June 2024. He is Chair of the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission and has served on the JQC since 2018. Melvin was appointed to the Lawyers Trust Account Commission 2024-2027 under an order of...

Attorney Deborah J. Morris was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa. She attended college at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa where she graduated summa cum laude earning dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Business and Accounting. Deborah graduated With High Honor from the South Dakota School of Law in 2016 and began working in the field of family law. Deborah opened her own firm in 2019 offering both full and limited scope services in family law, as well as estate planning and business formations services. Deborah joined the law firm of Tigges, Bottaro & Lessmann, LLP in January...

My name is Scott Shoemaker, and I am your Personal Family Lawyer. I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My youth and young adulthood were spent pursuing my dream of becoming a classical musician. I went so far as to earn degrees in music from Coe College, University of Nebraska, and the University of Iowa. I even spent a few years teaching at a couple of different institutions of high education. Along the way, I realized my real passion was helping other people bring about their dreams. So I ended up in law school. While I was a student at Nebraska Law,...

CHRISTINE L. CRILLEY is a General Practice Attorney and Collaborative Lawyer with over thirty years of experience in a variety of legal areas such as family law, adoptions, business law, litigation, construction law, probate and wills.

In Addition to her law practice Ms. Crilley is also an accomplished Mediator and Arbitrator as well as a nationally approved Mediation Trainer. She offers basic Mediation training and advance Mediation training as well as Collaborative Law Training, and Parent Coordinator Training. Christine is also a Parenting Coordinator and Parent Coach.

After earning her B.A. degree at the University of Northern Iowa in 1979, Christine...

Partner at Cray Law Firm.

Lindsey obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2007. Prior to law school, Lindsey earned her bachelor’s degree in 2004 from the University of Nebraska Wesleyan, graduating with High Distinction on an accelerated three-year program, and played basketball and ran track. Lindsey worked in private practice in the Siouxland area before establishing Buchheit Law, PLC in 2013. After more than a decade as a solo practitioner, Lindsey joined forces with her law partner, John C. “Jack” Ehrich, and established Buchheit & Ehrich Law, PLC on January 1, 2025. Lindsey is licensed to practice law in...

Joseph C. Creen has over 30 years experience in the practice of law, litigating cases in Iowa and Illinois state and federal courts and advising clients with personal, business and employment matters, real estate matters, individuals and families for estate planning needs and probate. Mr Creen has a varied and extensive trial practice experience, including personal injury, brain injury, product liability, wrongful death, slip and fall, auto cases, catastrophic injury, as well as contract and construction disputes, estate & probate matters, such as Will contest and undue influence, consumer protection, such as wrongful foreclosure or collections, ...

I practice law because I am passionate about helping individuals resolve their issues. I find great satisfaction in working with clients, particularly in resolving disputes and providing them with peace of mind. My work often involves delivering restorative justice to those who have been wronged, as well as assisting individuals who face lawsuits and are unsure of their next steps. For many of my clients, facing legal challenges can be one of the most stressful experiences of their lives, which is why they seek my counsel. I make it a priority to maintain clear communication with my clients, ensuring they...

DAVID PILLERS is a partner in the law firm of Pillers and Richmond. He received his major in Economics and minor in Business from Valparaiso University, graduating in 1992, and received his law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law, graduating in 1998. Mr. Pillers maintains a general practice but concentrates his practice in the areas of Civil Litigation, Collective Bargaining, Business and Corporate Law, Municipal Law, Real Estate and Estate Planning. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association (Member of the Probate and Real Estate Section), Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association (Section Member: Motor...

Brett P. Hall is an attorney licensed to practice in Iowa, Nebraska, and the United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa. Mr. Hall is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Nebraska State Bar Association, and the Woodbury County Bar Association. He is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, School of Law. Brett lives in Sioux City with his wife and four children. He is active within the community and enjoys participating in local fundraising events, and volunteering with local nonprofit organizations.

Attorney Andrea Buckley grew up in rural Nebraska, living in a number of small towns before landing in Boyd County. She attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Translation and Interpreting. She went on to law school at the University of Nebraska College of Law, graduating in 2007. Andrea’s legal career started at a private law firm in Sioux City before joining Iowa Legal Aid in 2009. There, her practice included consumer rights, landlord/tenant law, guardianships/conservatorships and appellate advocacy. She developed a specialized practice in tax litigation, becoming the managing attorney of the statewide...

At Arenson Law Group, PC, you will find forward-thinking, progressive, and open attorneys who work hard with your best interests in mind. At our law firm you will find modern art, sleek brushed aluminum, and lots of light, unlike the traditional law office. Arenson Law Group, PC attorneys handle cases throughout Iowa and focus on practices such as: Business Law, Corporate Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, and Bankruptcy.

I am a licensed Attorney, certified Mediator and certified Collaborative Law Attorney in the State of Iowa and am passionate about providing quality client service through competency, communication and compassion. I am a part of the general practice firm, Nelson Law Firm, PLLC, where I provide legal services at our main office in Waterloo, Iowa and branch office in Grundy Center, Iowa. My practice areas include but are not limited to, business law, real estate, mediation, family law, including collaborative family law, creditors' rights law (including subrogation, collections and foreclosure), estate planning, probate, guardian/conservator law, and guardian ad litem services....

William was born and raised in Northeast Iowa in the town of New Hampton. He has followed both his father’s and his brother’s lead, receiving a degree in both accounting and law. While in law school he participated in many groups and was fortunate enough to be the Treasurer of the Student Bar Association and the Managing Editor of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law.

William practices out of the Marion office of Pearson Bollman Law. His practice focuses on estate planning, elder law, probate/trust administration, and taxation.

Attorney Ryan Ross is a graduate of Doane College (B.S. 1992 with distinction) and Willamette Law School (J.D. 1995). He is admitted to practice law in the United States Federal Court, as well as Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska state courts. Ryan handles primarily real estate property matters (such as title opinions, title guarantee, foreclosures, deeds, sales, acquisitions, condominium transactions, purchase agreements, contracts, leases, options, easements, restrictive covenants, construction liens, landlord-tenant, evictions, subdivision, and zoning and board adjustment items), business matters (corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, acquisitions, sales, mergers, contracts, succession planning, dissolutions, and licensing), and estate planning...