×
Go back to Martindale-Avvo ➔
Atty. Stephen J. Smith

Atty. Stephen J. Smith

5.0
1 review

840 Lake Avenue, Suite 300, Racine, WI 53403-1566

Estate Planning, Charitable Trusts and Foundations, Family Business Successions and 11 more

About Atty. Stephen J. Smith

Atty. Stephen J. Smith is a lawyer practicing estate planning, charitable trusts and foundations, family business successions and 11 other areas of law. Stephen received a B.A. degree from Luther College in 1971, and has been licensed for 50 years. Stephen practices at Hostak, Henzl & Bichler, S.C. in Racine, WI.

Atty. Stephen J. Smith (Racine, Wisconsin)

Awards

Client Reviewed
This badge is granted to attorneys who have been reviewed by a past client.
Champion Badge Reviewed
AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Atty. Stephen J. Smith got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for Stephen

Have you consulted or hired this lawyer?

Leave a review about your experience with this lawyer.

Write a Review

Overall Rating
5.0
See All Reviews
1
Showing 1-1 of 1 client reviews from Lawyers.com
Lawyers.com Rating Snapshot
5 stars
100%
4 stars
0%
3 stars
0%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%
What do people say on Lawyers.com?
Communication
5.0
Quality of Service
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Trusts and Estates
Posted by anonymous
October 10, 2014
Hired Attorney

we have been referring clients to Stephen Smith for over 15 years with outstanding results. He is a fantastic estate planning attorney in a league of his own. His family visioning process that he uses with clients is a brilliant way to take the complex and make it understandable for clients at any level of sophistication. Follow that up with his organizational efficiency and it is an outstanding value.

 

Services

Areas of Law

  • Trusts and Estates 1
    • Estate Planning
  • Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations
  • Corporate Law
  • Business Law 1
    • Limited Liability Company Law
  • Taxation 1
    • Tax Planning
  • Other 8
    • Charitable Trusts and Foundations
    • Family Business Successions
    • Family Limited Partnerships
    • Nonprofit Organizations Law
    • Nonprofit Tax Law
    • Generation Skipping Transfer Tax
    • Private Foundations
    • Charitable Organizations Law

Practice Details

  • Languages
    Ome German
  • Payment Information
    Accepted Credit Cards
    American Express
    Discover
    MasterCard
    Visa
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Shareholder
    Firm Name
    Hostak, Henzl & Bichler, S.C.

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1976, Wisconsin
    1989, U.S. Tax Court
    Memberships
    Racine County and American Bar Associations
    State Bar of Wisconsin (Reporter, Section of Taxation, 1980-1990).
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Northwestern University School of Law
    Class of 1976
    J.D.
    cum laude
    Other Education
    Luther College
    Class of 1971
    B.A.
    magna cum laude
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1949
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 16, 1949
    Hobbies & Interests
    Photography

Atty. Stephen J. Smith

Share Holder at Hostak, Henzl & Bichler, S.C.
5.0
1 review

840 Lake Avenue, Suite 300Racine, WI 53403-1566U.S.A.

Show on map

Lawyers Nearby

William F. Bortz
Pro
William F. Bortz
4.3
6
Estate Planning lawyer
262-864-6898
View Profile
Joseph E. Tierney III
Pro
Joseph E. Tierney III
5.0
1
Estate Planning lawyer
414-373-2416
View Profile
Eric Hart
Pro
Eric Hart
5.0
3
Estate Planning lawyer

Free Consultation

414-398-0308
View Profile
Kelly Dancy
Pro
Kelly Dancy
4.9
10
Estate Planning lawyer
414-356-1741
View Profile
Emily Grace Toland
Pro
Emily Grace Toland
4.3
5
Estate Planning lawyer
507-606-0364
View Profile

Email Atty. Stephen J. Smith

Case type is required.
A valid zip code is required.
A valid city is required.
State is required.
Country is required.
Outside the US or Canada?
Message is required.
0/1000 characters

Contact Information

First name is required.
Last name is required.
A valid email address is required.
A valid phone number is required.

By clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Lawyers.com and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

Thank you! Your message has been successfully sent.

For your records, a copy of this email has been sent to

Summary of Your Message
Case Type:
Zip Code or Postal Code:
City:
State:
Country:
Case Description:
Contact Information
First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Phone Number:
Return to Profile

Attorneys FAQs

  • Is this attorney admitted to practice in any U.S. Federal Courts?
    Atty. Stephen J. Smith is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.
  • Does this attorney maintain a professional presence on any social networks?
    Yes, Atty. Stephen J. Smith has a professional profile on LinkedIn.
  • Does this attorney speak any other languages?
    Atty. Stephen J. Smith speaks Ome German.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rated?
    Yes, Atty. Stephen J. Smith has a 5.0 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Client Review rated?
    Yes, Atty. Stephen J. Smith has a 5.0 Client Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

These FAQs include information about a lawyer's background, but do not evaluate their knowledge of the law, past performance on individual cases, personality, or communication skills.

It is solely the responsibility of lawyers and law firms to ensure that any information they provide complies with all applicable laws and rules of professional conduct.

You should be aware that the information we rely upon may not be comprehensive, or frequently updated.

Always research the lawyer further to get a better understanding of their license credentials, disciplinary status, background, and experience.

Lawyers.com Client Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.

The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.

Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page

Martindale Peer Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.

What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*

• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.

Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.

For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™, please visit our Ratings Page on Martindale.com and our Frequently Asked Questions