Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Our attorneys assist individuals in all stages of a divorce proceeding, including the initial decision to file for divorce, counseling, property division, maintenance (alimony), child custody, visitation, child support and enforcement and modification of court orders.  Our attorneys realize negotiating and reaching agreement on contentious issues is often in the best interest of the client, considering the financial and emotional impact of protracted litigation.  We are skilled in drafting and negotiating marital settlement agreements which can expedite and simplify divorce proceedings.
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Adoption
• Guardianship
  Samuels Miller has been recognized for its work in the community.  The firm received the John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award, the Illinois State Bar Association’s highest pro bono honor, for its active participation in the Land of Lincoln pro bono program and the guardianship program sponsored by Catholic Charities.  Our attorneys have also received the Decatur Bar Association’s Russell D. Hoerbert Pro Bono Award and the Decatur Legacy’s Do Something Great Awards for outstanding professionals.
• Spousal Support

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Samuels Miller provides legal services to hospitals, physician groups, assisted living and nursing facilities and other health care providers.  We advise hospitals and assisted living and nursing facilities on corporate, real estate, governance and board of director matters; tax exempt and taxable financing; real estate tax exemption matters; preparation of medical staff bylaws; and physician credentialing and peer review.  We advise health care providers on collection and vendor contracting services; advise on privacy and other patient matters; and act as defense counsel in public liability and malpractice litigation.  We represent individual professionals and groups in all aspects of their medical and dental practices, including choosing the form of business entity, forming the entity, capital investment, financing, contract negotiation, employment agreements, shareholder agreements, dissolution and liquidation.
• Business Disputes
  Keith W. Casteel graduated from Purdue University with honors in Industrial Engineering where he was a member of Iron Key and recipient of the G.A. Ross Award as the Outstanding Graduating Senior Man.  He also received the Illinois State Bar Association Lincoln Award; was a member of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Corporation Acts Advisory Committee from 2003-2005; is a member of the Institute for Illinois Business Law; is a member of the Fourth District Committee on Character and Fitness of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; is a member of Leading Lawyer’s Network ( 2014 Leading Lawyers profile of Keith W. Casteel ); was selected as one of the top 10 leading agricultural lawyers in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Magazine for 2014 and 2015; is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Agricultural Law Committee, serving as Committee Vice-Chair for 2020-21 and Committee Chair for 2021-22; is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association serving on committees for awards and membership; is a board member of Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc. (Treasurer 2018 – ___); was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce; and Past President of the Decatur Bar Association.
• Limited Liability Companies
  Keith represents business entities of all types, including profit and not-for-profit corporations and limited liability companies, in all aspects of operations including formations, contractual issues, governance, purchases and sales, and employment matters. He also represents owners, sellers, and buyers of farmland throughout Illinois and provides advice concerning managing, using, and leasing farmland for various purposes.
• Construction Contracts

Employment Law

• Employment Contract
  Drafting, negotiating and enforcing employment agreements, retention and deferred compensation agreements, severance agreements, non-competition and other restrictive covenants;
• Employment Litigation
  Samuels Miller considers employment issues in the broader context of our client’s overall business needs and provides practical advice for achieving client goals.  We are mindful that our clients are often best served by avoiding litigation, and our attorneys counsel  to provide compliance with local, state and federal laws impacting the workplace.  Our services include...
• Non-compete Agreement
  Craig assists business clients with organizing and maintaining corporations and limited liability companies, including not-for-profit corporations. He has successfully obtained 501(c)(3) exempt status for both private foundations and public charities. Craig also routinely advises business clients on all manner of employment-related issues, assisting them with employment agreements, employee handbooks and policies, non-compete agreements, and severance agreements, among other items.
• Severance Agreement
• Sexual Harassment
  We welcome all inquiries concerning wrongful discharges, discrimination, sexual harassment, Equal Employment Opportunity Act compliance, wage and hour laws, employee benefits, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), unemployment compensation claims, employment non-competition agreements, Social Security benefits (SSI and SSD) and workers’ compensation.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Attorneys at Samuels Miller have agricultural backgrounds and are knowledgeable in all aspects of farming.  We represent farm owners and operators in a wide range of agricultural matters including formation of farm corporations and limited liability companies, succession planning, equipment and real estate financing, Section 1031 (like-kind) exchanges, the negotiation of oil, gas, water well and wind energy agreements, survey matters, boundary disputes, environmental audits and the preparation and termination of farm leases. We represent buyers and sellers of farms and farming operations from the negotiation of purchase agreements through closing.  Samuels Miller is proud to have assisted in locating the Farm Progress Show to Macon County.
• Premises Liability
  Samuels Miller provides effective representation to persons in both large and small injury claims, including cases involving motor vehicle accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death claims and premises liability.
• Construction Litigation
  We are experienced in bidding problems, negotiation and enforcement of construction contracts, mechanics’ lien law and litigation related to these matters.  We assist clients in design/build contracts and design and management services agreements with architects and engineers.  Our attorneys have experience in dealing with prevailing wage and union issues and in implementing strategies for responding to union picketing of construction projects.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Joshua’s practice includes representing individuals and families with regard to wills, trusts, and estate planning; trust and estate administration and litigation; and residential and farm real estate transactions and litigation. His real estate practice includes zoning, easement, and nuisance dispute representation. Joshua also represents public sector municipal and local government bodies with ongoing routine business and with complex transactional matters; and he counsels private sector business clients on entity formation, ongoing operations, sales/mergers, and business litigation. He was selected in 2019, 2020, and 2021 as an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers Magazine.
• Eminent Domain
  We represent individuals, businesses, municipalities, residential and commercial developers and financial institutions in the purchase, financing, leasing, development and sale (including Section 1031 like-kind exchanges) of agricultural, commercial and residential properties.  We advise local government and land owners on annexations, acquisitions, easements, condemnation and eminent domain.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  Our attorneys provide legal advice concerning all types of zoning, land use planning, special use permits, planned developments and tax incentive districts for developers, objectors, municipalities and owners.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  We represent clients in state and federal courts in business-related matters, including business controversies, breach of contract claims, corporate and partnership disputes, employment matters, title insurance and other real estate matters, landlord-tenant disputes and product liability and warranty claims.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Our attorneys provide a wide range of legal defense services to insurers, insureds and self-insured entities, including premises liability, automobile and personal injury claims, insurance coverage litigation, subrogation and declaratory judgments.  We also provide risk assessments for insured and non-insured entities.
• Medical Malpractice
  Samuels Miller represents health care providers, including hospitals, medical groups and physicians, in medical malpractice defense, peer review, disciplinary hearings and medical staff matters.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Prior to law school, Joshua worked for approximately four years as a chemist and researcher for several large chemical and agricultural companies. Although his shift from scientist to attorney may be an uncommon one, he finds that the analytical and deductive skills necessary for both professions have allowed for a rewarding career change. Joshua previously served on the board of directors of Webster-Cantrell Hall and he is a Past President of the Central Illinois Estate Planning Council. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Decatur Bar Association.
• Wills
  Our attorneys provide services to beneficiaries and individual and corporate fiduciaries in complex trust and estate litigation.  The firm represents these clients in will contests, beneficiary disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims and other controversies.
• Trusts
  Samuels Miller provides advice to individual and corporate executors, administrators and trustees in estate, probate and trust administration matters, including discovery and recovery of assets, sale and liquidation of estate assets, asset distribution, disclaimers and administrative matters.  We are experienced in preparing gift, estate and generation-skipping tax returns for our clients.  Our firm represents clients in contested matters before the Internal Revenue Service and other governmental agencies.
• Power of Attorney
  Samuels Miller advises clients of diverse ages, levels of wealth and personal circumstances on estate planning, wealth transfer and business succession.  Our firm prepares all legal documents necessary to put our clients’ plans into effect, including wills, living (revocable) and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney for property and health care, living wills and other estate, wealth transfer and business planning arrangements.  Our attorneys advise clients concerning the gift, estate, generation-skipping and income tax ramifications of estate, wealth transfer and succession plans.  We provide advice with respect to trust funding, special needs trusts, retirement benefits, long-term care issues, guardianships, Social Security benefits, Medicare and related matters.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure
  Samuels Miller attorneys are experienced in the collection of commercial and consumer debts and in representing creditors in state and federal courts in Illinois.  Our firm routinely files collection actions on behalf of businesses (including universities and charitable organizations) and individuals in Central Illinois and represents creditors in foreclosure suits for commercial and residential real estate.  We assist secured creditors in recovering secured property, placing liens on debtors’ properties and setting aside fraudulent conveyances.
• Tax Law
  We assist charitable organizations in obtaining and maintaining real estate tax exemptions.  We file property tax appeals for charitable and non-charitable clients and appear before the Macon County Board of Review and State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.