Michael Fleshman

“We’ve developed in-depth resources so that even if we can't take care of a matter ourselves, we're able to refer somebody off to the right person and trust that they're going to be able to be taken care of the way we would take care of them.”

Michael Fleshman enjoys helping people overcome the challenges they face with transitions in life. Whether it's a new member of the family or the loss in the family through death or divorce, he understands that people often need resources and legal assistance to move forward, and he finds great satisfaction in providing the right answers. In fact, it’s one the reasons he was drawn to the practice of law in the first place.  

He takes the time to develop a full understanding of clients and their needs. Then he explains how the right planning can protect them and their families at all stages of life, and the ways that estate planning involves much more than reassigning property after death. For efficiency and ease in service, he embraces technological advantages that allow their team to provide responsive service to clients throughout the state, which can be particularly helpful for clients in rural areas.

Personable by nature, Michael enjoys the process of forging a connection with clients and answering their questions. Since joining the practice at Woods & Bates, P.C. in 2017, he has focused his practice on building estate plans tailored to specific situations, guiding families through probate and estate administration after the death of a loved one, and protecting clients’ interests during real estate transactions. 

His experience as a judicial extern with Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court Justice Thomas Harris and previous litigation experience give Michael a unique perspective on litigation related to wills and trusts. This enables him to help clients prepare to avoid legal challenges and to assess and streamline legal action through the court system. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois and the U.S. Tax Court as well as the Illinois courts.

A native of Lincoln, Illinois, Michael played baseball for Springfield College before continuing on to earn his Economics and Finance degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

In addition to baseball, Michael enjoys golf and a variety of other sports. He relishes time with his wife and children, and some days chasing after young children make up his most active and rewarding pursuits.