Areas of Practice

At our law office, we offer legal advice, financial planning services and tax advice for individuals during their milestone events, and businesses during their ongoing business activities. The main areas in which our law firm practices are:

Family Law
Estate Planning
Financial Planning
Bankruptcy
Taxes
Real Estate Law
Business Planning / Business Law

Family Law
As a Certified Family Mediator, Scott Wagenblast begins with a collaborative and reasonable approach to resolving issues. Respect for the individual, concern for the welfare of children and a belief in well-informed decision making are the hallmarks of our family law practice. The types of legal issues with which we offer legal counsel on a regular basis include, Divorce, Separation, Complex Custody, Child Support or Division or Property Issues, Post-Decree Modifications, Pre-nuptial Agreements, Juvenile Law Issues, Adoption and Guardianships.

Estate Planning
As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Joseph B. Cioe, Jr. will address estate planning issues from not only the legal aspects, but also from the financial and tax planning aspects as well. However, before addressing these aspects, the first goal is to listen to our clients' feelings and opinions. At minimum, there are four documents we believe each individual should have: a Will, Power of Attorney and Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney. However, depending on the nature, complexity, and goals of our clients' estate, additional legal documents may be necessary. The types of legal issues with which we offer legal counsel on a regular basis include: Simple Wills and Living Wills, Health Care Appointment, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Living Trusts, Probate Administration, Medicaid and Elder Care Issues.

Financial Planning
Quite often our estate planning legal advice is intertwined with our financial planning services. As a Certified Financial Planner and attorney, Joseph B. Cioe, Jr. offers the following services: Retirement Planning, Investment Allocations, Education Planning, Consolidation of Debt, and IRA & 401K Rollovers.

Bankruptcy
If you’re facing a bankruptcy, you know that it is a stressful time. Most individuals who have significant creditor harassment, foreclosure or repossession problems are in that position as a result of divorce, loss of a job, a major illness, or inadequate insurance coverage. When they first come to us, our clients are often feeling anguished, alone, isolated and helpless. That is not the way they feel when they leave. As a lawyer who cares as well as offer legal advice, Joseph B. Cioe, Jr. will help people and businesses in bankruptcy matters. The types of legal issues with which we offer legal counsel on a regular basis include: Protection of Property or Equity, Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings.

Taxes
As an Indiana lawyer and CPA, Joseph B. Cioe, Jr. is uniquely qualified to offer legal representation for clients in disputes or audits with the following entities: Internal Revenue Service, Indiana Department of Revenue and Illinois Department of Revenue. Our law office works with clients to develop payment plans for Back Taxes, and to Submit Offers and Compromises to the Governmental Taxing Authorities. We also help people plan such things as when to Recognize Capital Gains, When to Buy Property and When to Depreciate.

Real Estate Law
In the area of real estate law, our law firm takes pride in being very detail oriented to the secured and unsecured transactions in which we offer legal advice. Our law firm recognizes that it is better to have legal advice regarding real estate law matters prior to a real estate closing, rather than after a problem has been discovered. We recommend having an attorney review closing real estate documents prior to closing on a residential or commercial home sale. The types of legal issues with which we offer legal counsel on a regular basis include: Buying and Selling Homes, Buying and Selling Commercial Property, Leases, Mortgages and Foreclosures, and Landlord / Tenant Issues.

Business Planning / Business Law
For businesses and commercial entities, our law office offers services related to business tax planning, business real estate transactions, and business formations including Limited Liability Companies, Joint Ventures, Partnerships, Closely Held Businesses, and Non-Profit or Tax-Exempt Organizations.

A Full Service Law Firm That Places Service First

At the law office of Cioe & Wagenblast, P.C., we offer legal counsel for clients in Northwest Indiana including Valparaiso, Kouts, Munster, Portage, Chesterton, Merrillville, Schererville, Hobart, Laporte, Michigan City, Hammond, Highland and Lowell. We would like the opportunity to meet you, and discuss your needs. Please call or contact us to schedule an appointment.