SILVA LAW OFFICE LLC
Mary Rose Silva
Attorney
Where People Come First
We can help you with your estate planning so you can leave your legacy to the people who matter most to you.
About Me
Welcome to my page! My name is Mary Rose Silva, and I am the founder of Silva Law Office LLC. I grew up in Chicago,
Illinois and moved to Terre Haute, Indiana in 2012. My solo practice concentrates on estate planning. I have a passion
for helping people plan for their future and protect their assets, and I am dedicated to providing personalized and
comprehensive legal services to each of my clients.
As an estate planning attorney, I understand the importance of having a well-crafted plan in place to ensure that your
assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones are taken care of after you are gone. I also
understand that planning for the future can be a daunting and complex process, which is why I strive to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible for my clients.
Whether you are looking to create a will, establish a trust, or need assistance with probate, I am here to help. I have the knowledge and expertise necessary to guide you through every step of the process.
Thank you for considering me as your estate planning attorney. I look forward to working with you to create a plan that meets your unique needs and goals.
Education:
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Juris Doctor (J.D.), Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, IL
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Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics, Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Experience:
Solo Attorney, Silva Law Office LLC, Terre Haute, IN (2019 - Present)
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Practice focuses on estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advanced directives, and probate.
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Conduct legal research and analysis to provide clients with accurate and up-to-date information regarding estate planning.
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Work closely with clients to understand their unique circumstances and create a plan that meets their needs.
Court Appointed Special Advocate of Vigo County, Terre Haute, IN (2013 - 2015)
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Volunteer
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Advocated for and represented abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system in pursuit of finding safe and permanent homes for them.
Staff Attorney, McDermott, Will & Emery Associate, Chicago, IL (2008 - 2012)
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Conducted all aspects of eDiscovery in commercial, intellectual property/patent, antitrust, and pharmaceutical regulations compliance litigation.
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Worked closely with litigation case teams and technology support to deliver cost-efficient methods of reviewing and producing electronically stored information (ESI).
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Implemented review guidelines, second-tier review and privilege protocols to conform to state and federal rules related to eDiscovery. Proficient in Relativity, Concordance, Kroll, Ringtail, and Summation.
Contract Attorney, Legal People, Chicago, IL (2004 – 2008)
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Reviewed ESI and hard copy discovery materials in complex civil litigation cases for large law firms, which included Jones Day, Sidley Austin, Mayer Brown, Jenner & Block, Freeborn & Peters, and Meckler Bulger Tilson.
Attorney/Investigator, City of Chicago Board of Ethics, Chicago, IL (2001 – 2004)
Administered and enforced the City of Chicago’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance.
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Conducted investigations of ethics violations.
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Advised City of Chicago employees on the City’s ethics code requirements.
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Taught classes regarding the City’s ethics rules.
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Drafted advisory opinions involving code of conduct issues.
Admissions:
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State Bar of Indiana, 2013 (active status)
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State Bar of Illinois, 1993 (inactive status)
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U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1993 (inactive status)
ESTATE
PLANNING
What is your estate?
Your estate consists of everything you own - car, house, furniture, savings and checking accounts, investments, life insurance, and personal items.
What is estate planning?
One of the main aspects of estate planning is making a plan so that, when you die, the things you own go to the people who matter most to you. A Will or a Living Trust can accomplish this for you.
There are other very important aspects of estate planning. They include, among other things:
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Giving instructions for your care if you become disabled before you die. These instructions are part of your Power of Attorney for Healthcare.
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Giving someone authority to handle your personal affairs if you become disabled. Your Durable Power of Attorney lists the various authorities you can grant your representative.
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Naming guardians for your minor children.
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Providing for someone with special needs so it doesn't interfere with government benefits.
Who needs estate planning?
Everyone. Everyone should have at least a Power of Attorney for Healthcare and a Durable Power of Attorney. These are the two most important documents to have when you become disabled. It's good to have them prepared in advance, before an accident or a serious illness. You can name the person you trust to follow your healthcare instructions and to make sure your personal affairs are handled properly.
And yes, everyone should also have a plan on how their possessions will be distributed when they die. If you don't have a plan, the courts will distribute your property for you. It will be costly and time consuming for your loved ones. In addition, the distribution may not be the way you would have wanted. Having a plan can bring peace of mind and security to you and your family.
Why do people put off estate planning?
People avoid doing their estate planning for a lot of different reasons. For example, they don't want to think about death and dying; they think the process will be long and too hard to understand; they don't want to deal with attorneys; it is simply too expensive.
In reality, estate planning, for most people, is pretty straightforward and not difficult to do. It's overcoming that initial fear of the entire process that proves to be most difficult. But once you get started, the process can be fast and easy.
How do you start your estate planning?
So, how do you start? You start with getting an understanding of what you own and how you own it. A way to do this is by filling out a questionnaire that we give you before we have our initial meeting. The questionnaire will ask you basic questions about what you own, how you own it, who do you want to leave your property to, who do you want to represent you when you become disabled, etc. The answers that you provide will give us a basis on how we should structure your estate plan. From there, we, together, begin your estate planning.
How much will it cost?
The short answer is, "It depends." We know; that's not the answer you wanted to hear. But that's the truth. Yes, if you hire an attorney, the cost of estate planning can become expensive. You can get forms online that would be cheaper than hiring an attorney. For some people, that may be perfectly fine. It's certainly better than not having any plan at all. However, for a lot of people, seeking the advice of an attorney is the better route. Attorneys can advise their clients on ways to avoid having a court decide on how to distribute their property.
The cost of doing your estate plan depends on how we are going to structure your plan and what documents you need to put that plan into effect. We will discuss costs at our initial meeting to alleviate your worries about unexpected or hidden charges or fees.
OUR VISION
Silva Law Office LLC was created with the aim of providing affordable estate planning to people who have modest means. We are not a full-service firm where we handle other types of cases such as contracts, personal injury, or divorce. Our focus is estate planning. We feel that with only one focus, we can concentrate more on our clients' needs and provide them with excellent legal services.
Our set of values put people first, as opposed to things or money. We handle each matter with care and compassion. We strive to provide solutions to problems that our clients face. And if we ourselves cannot provide the solutions, we will steer our clients to those who can.
We try to make a process, that some think is scary and intimidating, as easy as possible. All in all, we pride ourselves in being a small firm with a big heart.
© 2019 by SILVA LAW OFFICE LLC
OUR SERVICES
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Wills
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Living Trusts
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Durable Powers of Attorney
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Powers of Attorney for Healthcare
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Living Wills
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Final Disposition and Instructions
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Probate
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In-home Consultations
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In-home Notary Public Certifications
CONTACT
SILVA LAW OFFICE LLC
OUR ADDRESS
8001 Nene Ct, Terre Haute, IN 47805
Email: maryrosesilva@silvalawofficellc.com
Telephone: 812.239.5800
For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:
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