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

Ben Neiburger

Founder,

Generation Law

May 2023

National Elder Law Month

May is National Elder Law Month, a time to raise awareness of the specific legal challenges facing older adults and their families.

As the population ages, the demand for elder law services is increasing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2050, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. This means that more and more people will need help with legal matters related to aging, such as planning for retirement, making healthcare decisions, and protecting their assets.

If you are an older adult or have an aging loved one, it is important to be aware of your legal rights and options. Take some time during May to consider the following:

• Estate Planning: Create a will, trust, and power of attorney.
• Long-term Care Planning: Plan for the cost of long-term care, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
• Elder Abuse and Fraud Prevention: Learn to identify the signs of elder abuse and fraud and take steps to protect yourself or your loved one.

If you have any questions or need help with your planning, please contact us at 630-782-1766, and we will be happy to help.

MAY'S NEWS TO KNOW

Generation Law Partner, Melissa Johnson is running (and perhaps jogging, but definitely NOT walking) the 2023 Chicago Marathon on October 8.

She is running on behalf of a cause very dear to her both personally and professionally, the Alzheimer's Association. As an ALZ Star, Melissa has committed to raising $1,700. Please consider supporting her efforts by donating using this link. All funds raised benefit the Alzheimer's Association and its work to enhance care and support programs, as well as advance research in methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

Currently, more than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to more than double by 2050. You might know someone affected by Alzheimer’s and have seen first-hand how it ravages individuals as well as their families. Research and treatment have come a long way but not nearly far enough. 

Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer’s disease!

Andrea K. Kovar, J.D., LL.M.

Andrea Kovar is a senior attorney in our estate planning and elder law practice. She has been with the firm since February 2018. Before joining Generation Law, Andrea spent more than a decade at one of the largest multinational law firms in the world, specializing in domestic and international employee benefits and executive compensation. Her prior experience blended seamlessly into her estate planning and elder law counseling practice at Generation Law since both practice areas require strong knowledge of U.S. tax systems. Andrea is also one of our firm’s authorities on Medicaid and long-term care planning.

Andrea did not end up at Generation Law by accident – both she and Ben started out as what Ben likes to call “baby attorneys” at the same multinational law firm with offices right next to each other. Ben and Andrea have known each other for the better part of 25 years.

Off the clock, Andrea is an avid reader, routinely plowing through three or four books a month. Her other passion is gardening, the love of which she attributes to the influence of her very Greek father and his obsession with converting every inch of arable land around her childhood home into some kind of vegetable garden (much to the chagrin of their neighbors). Andrea’s love of all things green is prevalent in her office, where she tends to various forms of plant life, including several cacti and succulents.

New Illinois Estate Planning and Elder Care Legislation

Speaking of money for Alzheimer’s research and care… The new amendment to the Illinois Lottery Law now permits scratch-off lottery tickets that benefit additional causes, including Alzheimer's Care. Here at Generation Law we always recommend NOT gambling with your future (or hard earned money), but we do know a sure bet when we see one. Sponsoring Melissa’s run is both a better bet and investment than buying lottery tickets.

Ben Neiburger wrote a blog post with summaries of this Illinois Lottery Law amendment and others relevant to elder care and estate planning that were passed by the House and Senate at the 103rd General Assembly session (ending on May 31, 2023). If Governor Pritzker signs these bills, they will become law.

Click here to read the summaries.

Trust Code Questions??

Have questions about the Illinois Trust Code, but not sure where to start?

We’re here to help. Send your questions to us directly athttps://generationlaw.com/contact

747 N. Church Road • Suite B4 • Elmhurst, IL 60126

408 S. Oak Park Ave • Suite 4 • Oak Park, IL 60302

630-782-1766 • www.generationlaw.com