Gregory J. Barry

Gregory J. Barry focuses his practice on elder law, wills and trusts, intellectual property and real estate. As an elder law practitioner, he focuses on helping seniors and their families navigate the complex web of regulations, medical decisions and financial considerations of the retirement years. His elder law practice includes:

• qualifying seniors and disabled adults for Medicaid and other benefits
• managing long-term care options
• planning for incapacity
• estate planning and probate administration

Barry advises business clients on intellectual property issues, from copyright enforcement to trademark registration. He assists homeowners and condominium associations on covenant enforcement, collection of assessments, and other litigation matters. He also practices municipal law, working with local governments on annexation and disconnection proceedings, eminent domain litigation, land use and zoning issues.

Greg also serves as McHenry County’s Public Guardian and Public Administrator, following his appointment by the Governor on October 18, 2019.  As Public Guardian, he serves as the court-appointed guardian for adults with disabilities in our community who have nobody else to help them with their personal and financial well-being, to avoid them becoming a ward of the state, if possible.  As the Public Administrator, he is responsible for overseeing and administering probate estates in our county when no family member is able to serve as the executor, so that the estate is not run by creditors.

A resident of Woodstock, Greg was born in Connecticut. He graduated from high school in Toronto before attending the University of Notre Dame and earning his law degree from the University of Texas. He enjoys genealogical research and reading about history, and he is an avid card and game player.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

McHenry County Task Force on Aging, McHenry County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Barry has written about personal injury law, construction law, and on telecommunications facilities and zoning matters. He has spoken at an estate planning seminar where he discussed Medicaid planning issues.

• Author, “Unemployment law changes a boon to employers,” Northwest Herald, Feb. 7, 2016
• Author, “Legal options when good accounts go bad,” Northwest Herald, Aug. 30, 2015
• Author, “How to handle your deceased customers’ accounts and property,” Northwest Herald, April 18, 2015
• Author, “Update: Appellate Court Confirms School Districts Subject to Home-Rule Zoning,” ZRFM Local Government Law Newsletter, Sept. 10, 2014
• Author, “Seventh Circuit Divided on Municipal Booking and Bail Fees,” ZRFM Local Government Law Newsletter, July 30, 2014
• Author, “Protect your trade secrets by anticipating litigation,” Northwest Herald, May 18, 2014
• Author, “Bill to Make School Districts Subject to Municipal Zoning,” ZRFM Local Government Law Newsletter, March 18, 2014
• Author, “Trademarking Your Town,” ZRFM Local Government Law Newsletter, June 26, 2013
• Co-author, “Pursuing Claims for Grief under the Wrongful Death Act,” Illinois Bar Journal, January 2013
• Co-author, “Cable, Video and Wireless Communication,” Chapter 7, Volume II, Illinois Municipal Law: Annexation Zoning and Regulatory Authority, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2012
• Co-author, “Intergovernmental Cooperation,” Chapter 8, Volume IV, Illinois Municipal Law: Annexation Zoning and Regulatory Authority, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2012
• Author, “Serving the Last Slice: The Supreme Court’s Recent Decision in LaSalle Bank v. Cypress Creek 1, LP,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 23, 2011

CIVIC AND CHARITABLE

Barry is a member of the board of directors of the McHenry County Historical Society. He is an active member of the McHenry County Task Force on Aging, a nonprofit agency promoting awareness of the needs of McHenry County’s seniors. He also works with the McHenry County Council of Governments, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters intergovernmental cooperation among municipalities and local governments in the county. He is a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Woodstock.