Elder, Estate Planning, & Special Needs Law News 

🍂Happy October🍂

Each October, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) recognizes Special Needs Law Month to raise awareness about the importance of planning for the functional and supplemental needs of individuals with disabilities. We hope you find the following information helpful and encouraging as we join NAELA in recognizing Special Needs Law Month.

Planning for your loved ones functional and supplemental needs helps ensure that they are financially secure, legally protected, and able to live meaningful, independent lives even after caregivers are no longer able to provide support. As NAELA highlights, traditional inheritances can unintentionally jeopardize eligibility for vital benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Effective planning often involves creating a Supplemental Needs Trust (“SNT”) to preserve eligibility for these essential public benefits, while also enhancing quality of life.

While SNTs can be used to set aside assets for the person’s benefit without affecting eligibility and covering expenses that public programs may not,  planning for your loved ones functional and supplemental needs is about more than finances. It is also about promoting dignity, autonomy, and peace of mind for individuals and their families. As such, a thoughtful plan should also include careful consideration of decision-making supports, long-term care coordination, and periodic reviews as circumstances and laws will change and evolve over time.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about the benefits of planning for your loved ones functional and supplemental needs, we encourage you to contact our office — we are here to help.

We hope you enjoy the articles in this month’s newsletter, and we wish you a wonderful and reflective October!

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Recent Speaking Engagements

Kudos to attorneys Katie Lenert, Lydia Park, and Connie Renzi for their recent and informative presentations at the Annual Elder Law Short Course, for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE).  All three were thrilled to present and collaborate with their elder law colleagues.  Katie and Lydia join forces and co-presented a session titled: But I Just Did What Mom Wanted Me To Do….Pursuing a Claim Against an Agent Under the Illinois Power of  Attorney Act. Connie teamed up with another colleague and co-presented a session titled: Medicaid Planning Gone Bad-Very Bad….Now What. 

Additional kudos to attorneys Katie Lenert and Lydia Park, who co-presented at our recent Estate Planning 101 Seminar, which our office co-hosted this month with the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley and Old Second National Bank. The educational seminar was designed to help individuals understand both the basics and importance of estate planning.  

Legal Update: Earlier this year, our office sent out a Special Update regarding changes to the Illinois Power of Attorney Act, which may have an impact on Durable Powers of Attorney for Property. If you missed the update and would like more information, you can access the update by clicking the following link: January 2025, Special Update.

YouTube Video Series: Check out our four (4) part YouTube video series -- "Roadmap to Retirement 2.0" yet?  The video series is designed to provide you with valuable insights and practical steps to help you plan with confidence and peace of mind. You will find us and this video series on YouTube at Estate & Elder Law Planning & More 4 U.                             

Scheduling a presentation for your group:

Is your group in need of a speaker?  If so, please do not hesitate to contact our office to discuss topic options and to determine whether one of our presentation topics aligns with the needs of your group.

Legal Services:

Should you or someone you know wish to meet with one of our attorneys for assistance with (or to discuss options for): estate, life care, and/or long-term care planning; special needs planning; and/or, other planning matters, please do not hesitate to contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys.  It would be our pleasure to meet with you to review your current planning and/or to discuss planning options for your consideration.

Additional Legal Services:

Selling and/or buying a new home; commercial property; and/or other real estate?

Starting a new business; or need your corporate records updated?   

Recently injured, and uncertain of your rights? 

If any of the above apply to you, or someone you know, then please visit the website of our parent law firm, Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi, Lenert, & Julien, P.C., to learn more about the additional legal services we offer.

Reminder:  Out of an abundance of caution and to do our continued part in helping to keep our clients, staff, and their respective families as safe as possible, all non-signing appointments for our elder law clients and for our estate and life care planning clients with our attorneys are "virtual" meetings (via video or telephone conferencing).                                

Help for those who may be struggling with mental health issues:  If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues and needs assistance, help is available by calling or texting the recently launched three-digit dialing code – “988”. The new 988 dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for mental health crises, is available throughout the United States.  Additionally, veterans can now dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veteran Crisis Line.