Attorney Profiles

Jeffrey L. Soltermann graduated from Millikin University (summa cum laude, B.A. in History, 1991) and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1994). While in law school, he was a founding member and notes editor of the Elder Law Journal, a publication devoted to the exploration of issues affecting the elderly. He also authored an article published in the Journal's Fall 1993 issue examining the topic of Medicaid estate planning.

Prior to graduation from law school, Mr. Soltermann was an intern for the Honorable Judge Richard Mills, the presiding Federal District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois (Springfield Division), and he clerked for the Springfield, Illinois law firm of Sorling, Northrup. Hanna, Cullen and Cochran. He joined Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard as an associate upon graduation from law school, and he became a partner in the firm in October, 1996. He is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, and he has been admitted to the bar of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, which includes the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for that district.

Mr. Soltermann's practice reflects the diversity of a full service, general practice firm. He concentrates in real estate (including title insurance), business and tax planning, estate planning and probate, consumer bankruptcy, creditor rights in bankruptcy, and family law (primarily adoptions and guardianships).

Mr. Soltermann is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Bar Association of the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Illinois.  He has also been active in the Morgan County Bar Association, serving as Secretary (2000-2001), Vice President (2001-2002), and President (2002-2003).

Mr. Soltermann is also active in the Jacksonville community.  He is an active member of First Christian Church of Jacksonville, serving on its Personnel Committee (Chair, 2004-2008), Land and Building Committee (2004-present), and the Board of Deacons (Chair, 2004-2008).  He is a member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Pathway Services Unlimited, an organization devoted to creating opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and other physical and mental challenges, and a member of the Western Region Advisory Board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois.

Areas of Practice

• Real Estate (Including Title Insurance)
• Business and Tax Planning
• Estate Planning and Probate
• Consumer Bankruptcy
• Creditors' Rights in Bankruptcy
• Family Law (Including Adoptions and Guardianships)

Litigation Percentage

• 15% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1994
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1996
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 1996

Education

• University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1994
  Juris Doctor
  Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  Honors: Order of the Coif
  Law Journal: Elder Law Journal, Founding Member and Notes Editor
  
  
• Millikin University, 1991
  B.A.
  Honors: Summa Cum Laude
  Major: History
  
  

Published Works

• Article: Medicaid and the Middle Class: Should the Government Pay for Everyone's Long-Term Health Care?, Elder Law Journal, Fall, 1993

Representative Cases

• In re Lisa Daun Brockhouse, Debtor, 220 B.R. 623 (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of Illinois 1998)
• Ronald Milnes, d/b/a Milnes Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning vs. Irving Hunt, 311 Ill. App. 3d 977, 725 N.E.2d 779 (Illinois Appellate Court, 4th District 2000)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Morgan County Bar Association, 1994 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Morgan County Bar Association, 2000 - 2001
  Secretary
  
  
• Morgan County Bar Association, 2001 - 2002
  Vice-President
  
  
• Morgan County Bar Association, 2002 - 2003
  President
  
  
• The Bar Association of the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Illinois, 2002 - Present
  Member
  
  
• First Christian Church of Jacksonville, January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2008
  Chairman, Board of Deacons, and Chair of Personnel Committee
  
  
• Jacksonville Rotary Club, November 18, 2005 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Pathway Services Unlimited, July 1, 2006 - Present
  Board of Directors and Personnel Committee
  
  
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois, January 1, 2009 - Present
  Western Region Advisory Board
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Honorable Judge Richard Mills, U.S. District Court Judge, Central District of Illinois, Intern, 1992
• Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen and Cochran, Clerk, 1993
• Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, Associate, 1994 - 1996

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity

Birth Information

• 1969, Springfield, Illinois, United States of America