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ELDER LAW • ESTATE PLANNING • WILLS & TRUSTS • GUARDIANSHIP & PROBATE LITIGATION

Goodbye Winter and Hello Spring!


From Generation Law, we hope you’re doing well and looking forward to warmer temperatures.


This Women's history month, The Elder Law Minute seeks to bring you a little bit of inspiration, highlighting the life and accomplishments of the NCAA legend, and one of the most public Alzheimer's awareness figures, Pat Summitt.


In addition, we offer some valuable guidance about the pitfalls of do-it-yourself estate planning. Don’t be fooled by fancy marketing, the key to effective preparation and protection is hiring a good estate planning attorney.  


Last, but certainly not least, Ben and Melissa are hard at work influencing Illinois legislation. Read up on what they are doing, and why it is important!


Until next time, if there is anything we can do for you, never hesitate to call.

MARCH'S NEWS TO KNOW

Pat Summitt was a Champion for Alzheimer’s Awareness After Diagnosis

When basketball coach Pat Summitt passed away in June of 2016, the sports world lost a legend. But Alzheimer’s awareness also lost one of its most public advocates.



In the sports world, Summitt brought the University of Tennessee’s women’s basketball squad to eight national championships. As head coach she won 1,098 games, more than any other Division I coach, man or woman.

READ MORE

Doing it Yourself can be the Most Expensive Legal Route

The prevalence of do-it-yourself legal web kits has resulted in an increase in business for real lawyers – including myself! And while it’s good for my bottom line, it’s terrible for the people who come into my office, embarrassed and terrified by the consequences of their actions.



I am in this field to help people negotiate the law to ensure they are prepared for and protected as they move toward their twilight years.

READ MORE
FIRM BRIEF

IN THE NEWS

Spotlight on Trusts & Estates: Council Member Melissa Johnson


Generation Law Partner Melissa Johnson was featured in the February 2024 issue of the Illinois State Bar Association's Newsletter Trusts & Estates.


In an interview with Mia Hernandez, Melissa shares her favorite parts of working in a trusts and estates practice.


"My favorite part hands down is seeing the relief and joy on the client’s or families’ faces when I obtain a favorable result for them in a highly contentious case. A large majority of my practice is spent in contested estates and righting wrongs for people. It provides job satisfaction like no other."


To read the rest of the features, click here.

LEGISLATION UPDATE


Recently, Ben Neiburger and Melissa Johnson have been heavily involved in legislative efforts relative to estate planning and elder law.

 

Both Ben and Melissa have been actively advocating for changes prior to the passage of bills to make the provisions of the bills better serve the people of Illinois. Please remember that these are merely bills and have not become law yet. The full Illinois House and Senate must vote on these bills for them to become law (and the governor must sign them too) which may not happen until the summer. 

 

SB 2758, HB 4613, and HB 4444 are three related bills pertaining to marriage within guardianship estates. Melissa is actively working with the bill sponsors and might testify on these bills in the near future.

 

To learn more about the status of these bills, you can visit the links below.

 

SB 2758: Probate-Marriage of Ward

HB 4613: Probate-Marriage of Ward

HB 4444: Marriage of Ward

 

SB 3421 amends the Illinois Power of Attorney Act. Ben was instrumental in working with the bill sponsor and the banking lobby to introduce some improvements to the Power of Attorney Act. Specifically, this bill covers things such as the banks not having to request an original power of attorney, the period of time that a power of attorney is valid, and some other clarifications that will help banks accept powers of attorney as valid. 

 

To learn more about the status of this bill, you can visit the link below.

 

SB 3421: Power of Attorney Honoring Forms

SILVER TSUNAMI


On March 14th, Ben Neiburger shared his expertise as a panelist in Mahwikizi's & Co. signature “Silver Tsunami” event.



The panel discussions on succession planning were designed to engage business owners, and entrepreneurs, combining education, networking and debate on the Silver Tsunami’s trend of record numbers of business owners retiring en masse, and the threat of businesses closing in record numbers. Ben was featured on the panel “Determining The Best Suited Pre & Post-Sale Estate Plan For Your Needs”.

UPCOMING EVENT:

FREE ZOOM SEMINAR


Ben Neiburger will speak at the next meeting of the non-profit organization Organ Transplant Support on Friday, April 5, 2024. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and will start at 7pm CST.


It is free and is open to the public.  Any person who is interested in the topic of Elder Care Issues for the Future is invited to join this meeting.


The Zoom login info for this meeting is as follows:



Topic: OTS Educational Meeting

Time: Apr 5, 2024 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)


Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83713374962?pwd=g0BDcueTwieqIe6tcsQb78HpsM3hKE.1

Meeting ID: 837 1337 4962

Passcode: 459205


For more information please visit www.organtransplantsupport.org.

Legal Questions?


Not sure where to start? Have questions for us?


We can help!


Call 630-782-1766 for questions, or visit our website to submit your questions online. We’ll publish the most commonly asked questions (and provide answers) in a future newsletter. 

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This email newsletter does not create an attorney-client relationship. It does not contain legal advice for you or anyone else (so don’t act on anything we say unless you speak with an attorney first). It does contain facts and stories we think you might be interested in. We tried to keep this short because we really like you.