Elder, Estate Planning, & Special Needs Law News 

🍀March is the perfect time to highlight a "wee bit of good news" that you may have missed regarding ABLE Accounts. Beginning in 2026, eligibility for ABLE accounts expanded significantly. Individuals may now qualify if their disability began before age 46, instead of the previous limit of age 26. This change means about 250,000 more Illinois residents may be able to open these tax-advantaged savings accounts to pay for disability-related expenses while maintaining eligibility for benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save money tax-free for qualified expenses such as housing, transportation, education, and assistive technology—without risking certain public benefits. 

To learn more about what an ABLE Account for individuals with a qualified disability is; the benefits that it offers to qualifying individuals; and other information, news, and announcements regarding ABLE accounts visit the Illinois Treasurer’s website: https://illinoistreasurer.gov/home/individuals/able/ and the Illinois the “accessAble" website: https://illinoisaccessable.com/

After checking out the ABLE Account updates, be sure to read the articles featured in this month’s newsletter. As always, our goal is to provide practical information to help you and your loved ones plan ahead and stay protected. If you have questions about elder law, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, or ABLE accounts, our office is here to help.

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? 

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:  To continue to help keep our clients, staff, and their respective families healthy, 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.