Resource Center

Articles

• “Tips for Handling Medicaid Applications & Appeals During COVID-19,” – Elder Law Section Council Newsletter, Illinois State Bar Association, August, 2020
• “Ethics Corner: Estate Planning Attorneys Should Not Ignore Their Own Mortality,” – Trusts and Estates Section Council Newsletter, Illinois State Bar Association, September 2015
• “Ethics Corner: A Word of Caution When Accepting Credit Card Payments,” - Trusts and Estates Section Council Newsletter, Illinois State Bar Association, July, 2014
• “Understanding the Ethical Implications of Fee Sharing,” – DCBA Brief, April, 2014
• “Having A Will Can Save Arguments For Generations,” – Naperville Sun, May, 2010
• Making Your Powers of Attorney Work for You
• It’s None of Your Business...Or Is It? A Look at the Illinois Trust Code Accounting Provisions
• Tips for Handling Medicaid Applications & Appeals During COVID-19
• Claims Against a Decedent’s Non-Probate Property in Illinois
• Arranging to Donate Your Body
• Arranging to Donate Your Organs
• Charitable Trusts: Tax Breaks for Do-Gooders
• Checklist for Getting Your Financial Affairs in Order
• Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
• Choosing Your Healthcare Agent
• Do You Need Life Insurance?
• Duty of Medical Personnel to Honor Your Healthcare Directives
• Family Members' Right to Inherit
• Get Organized Now
• Getting Your Retirement Money Early -- Without Penalty
• How Living Trusts Avoid Probate
• Leaving Property to Young Children
• Life Insurance Options
• Married Couples: Who Owns What?
• Reducing Estate Tax by Making Gifts
• Tax-Saving AB Trusts
• The Perils of Prepayment Plans
• Top Myths About Retirement Plans
• Using Life Insurance to Provide for Your Kids
• What You Can Cover in Your Healthcare Directives

County, State and National Web Resources

• Academy of Special Needs Planners
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.
• American Bar Association
• The American Association For Justice (Formerly The Association Of Trial Lawyers Of America)
• Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
• Center for Professional Resources
• State Bar Associations
• Law Library Resource Exchange
• The Internet Legal Resources Guide
• Legal Research Center
• US Government's Medicare.Gov
• National Resources - AARP (Association of Retired Persons)
• National Resources - U.S. Administration on Aging
• National Resources - Alzheimer's Association
• National Resources - ElderLawAnswers
• National Resources - Family Caregiver Alliance, National Center on Caregiving
• National Resources - Nursing Home Directory & Guide
• National Resources - Social Security Administration
• Illinois State Resources - Illinois Department on Aging
• Illinois State Resources - Illinois Department of Human Services
• Illinois Resources - Illinois Department of Public Health
• Cook - DuPage County Resources - Senior Services Department
• Cook - DuPage County Resources - Age Options
• Cook - DuPage County Resources - Aging Care Connections (Lyons Township)
• Administration on Aging
• Home Health Care Agencies
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Adult Day Care
• nadsa | The National Voice for the Adult Day Services Community
• National Association for Home Care and Hospice

FAQ

• Estate Planning
  • Getting Started
    • Estate Planning FAQ
      Overview questions and answers about estate planning.
    • Get Organized Now
      Help your family -- and make your executor's job easier -- by getting your paperwork in order.
    • Top Myths About Retirement Plans
      Test your knowledge to see how much you know about taking your money out.
    • Checklist for Getting Your Financial Affairs in Order
      Take the following steps to help your family should you die or become incapacitated.
    • Estate Planning Deficiencies Check-Up
  • Estate Organization
    • Getting Your Retirement Money Early--Without Penalty
      Just can't wait for your retirement funds? Painless advice on how to get your retirement money early.
    • Married Couples: Who Owns What?
      Be sure you know what property is yours to leave or give away.
    • Family Members' Right to Inherit
      Your closest relatives may have a right to claim part of your estate.
    • Leaving Property to Young Children
      It's easy to arrange for someone to manage any property you leave to young children.
    • Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
      If you have children, you should choose a personal guardian -- someone to raise them in the unlikely event you can't.
  • Trusts and Taxes
    • How Living Trusts Avoid Probate
      Here's the lowdown on basic probate-avoiding living trusts.
    • Reducing Estate Tax by Making Gifts
      Making gifts during your life can provide you with tax savings and more.
    • Charitable Trusts: Tax Breaks for Do-Gooders
      If you want to give a big gift to charity, consider a charitable trust.
    • Tax-Saving AB Trusts
      Couples can save a bundle on estate taxes with this kind of trust.
  • Life Insurance Pros and Cons
    • Do You Need Life Insurance?
      Not everyone needs life insurance. Find out whether or not you do.
    • Life Insurance Options
      When it comes to choosing a life insurance policy, you may feel dazed by your options. Here are the basic types and the pros and cons of each.
    • Using Life Insurance to Provide for Your Kids
      Life insurance may be a good source of income for your children if you die. Here's what you should know.
• Elder Law
  • Medicaid Planning and VA Planning
    • Advanced Directives
    • What You Can Cover in Your Healthcare Directives
      An overview of some important medical issues you'll face when preparing a living will and a power of attorney for health care.
    • Choosing Your Healthcare Agent
      Name the best person to direct your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself.
    • Duty of Medical Personnel to Honor Your Healthcare Directives
      Know when health care providers must follow your instructions for medical care -- and when they may not.
    • The Perils of Prepayment Plans
      Tips on shopping for funeral goods and services.
    • Final Arrangements FAQ
      Planning some of the details of your burial or cremation -- and your memorial services -- can be a great relief to your survivors.
    • Arranging to Donate Your Organs
      How to donate your organs after death.
    • Arranging to Donate Your Body
      How to arrange a full body donation to a medical institution.
• Media Interviews
  • US News & World Report, November 5, 2007 – Partner Bill Wilson was quoted as a legal source in the article “How to Avoid a Death Trap” about the importance of proper estate planning.
  • Chicago Life Magazine, October 13, 2012 - Elder Mediation, by Marilyn Soltis

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