Let us handle the hard stuff.

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

Here's to Another 20 Years!

As we head towards the hustle of the holidays, November is the month with the built-in day of reflection and giving thanks.

At Generation Law, we are thankful for a lot of things, and this year we have something extra special to be thankful for. It is with great pride and appreciation that we are celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the firm this year. Twenty years is a long time to be in business, but time truly does fly when you are doing something that you love.

Since 2003, Generation Law has helped people preserve dignity and control over their lives through estate planning, guardianship litigation, and related elder law services. It is a bit overwhelming to reflect on where the firm began and where the firm is at today. I am thankful for all the employees, past and present, whose dedication to their work contributed to the evolution of Generation Law. A firm with the lofty goal of making a real difference in client’s lives requires a great staff. I have been blessed over the years to have had so many great people working with me to grow Generation Law.

As my staff hears me say throughout the year, I am grateful for owning a business that allows me to help people every single day. Twenty years ago, I had no idea what the law firm ownership journey would look like. Twenty years into the journey, it is the clients that I remember most. I am thankful for all the clients who have trusted the firm and given us the opportunity to do what we do best. Throughout the years, I have collected thank you notes from clients, and this collection has become one of my most prized possessions.

Thinking about all of the fulfillment I have gotten from the firm during the last two decades, maybe I am most thankful that I get to keep doing it. As we say at Generation Law, “You take care of your family. We’ll take care of the legal stuff”. On that note, I ask you to do your best to take care of your family, and focus on living life! When the legal stuff pops up, you’ll know how to get ahold of us. We have been here ready to help you for twenty years, and we are not going anywhere.

Here's to you and yours – Cheers!

NOVEMBER'S NEWS TO KNOW

Gifting Assets could Affect your Medicaid Eligibility for Long-Term Care Benefits

Your heart may be in the right place when making gifts to family members and loved ones during the holiday season, but your generosity could end up costing more than you ever expected if you need Medicaid to help pay for long-term care costs in the future.

Gifting and Medicaid are like oil and water – they do not mix. If a Medicaid applicant makes a gift within the five-year period preceding an application for Medicaid long-term care benefits, the Department of Human Services will assess a “transfer penalty” against the applicant in the form of a period of ineligibility.

How to Have a Happy ‘Thinksgiving’

Thanksgiving is about more than stuffing yourself with turkey and watching football. It’s time for the family to get together and talk about … well, things that make many of us uncomfortable.

Politics and weird third cousin Lilibeth aside, Thanksgiving is a perfect time for talking about what happens when the seats begin to go vacant. It’s a time to think about the future and how planning for the aging and passing of loved ones – and the passing of the torch to the next generation – is necessary for maintaining family harmony. Make this Thanksgiving a Thinksgiving, so everyone leaves the table not just full of delicious food, but also full of useful knowledge.

FIRM BRIEF

Generation Law Founder Spotlight

Ben A. Neiburger, J.D., C.P.A.

As one of only a few elder law attorneys in Illinois with a CPA after his name, Ben offers a unique perspective to help his clients plan for their future. Since founding Generation Law in 2003, Ben has helped thousands of families care for aging loved ones, resolve family conflicts, afford long-term care costs and ensure their wishes are carried out – without losing their sanity or going broke.

Ben formed Generation Law, which concentrates in elder law, estate planning, wills and trusts, and guardianship and probate litigation, after spending several years with worldwide law firm Baker & McKenzie. Ben was named an Illinois Super Lawyer in Elder Law in 2007, receiving this recognition again in 2009 and every year since. After graduating with a degree in finance from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, he earned his law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

A frequent professional speaker, Ben is known for his candid approach to the so-called “Caregiver Storm” – the challenges of caring for a loved one while maintaining your own life. Ben is also actively involved in the legal community, currently serving as the chairman of the board of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and as a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Bar of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and the Bar of the State of Illinois.

Ben is a supportive husband and involved dad, despite limited success convincing his teenage sons to put down the video games. After abandoning his late-in-life speed skating career, Ben slowed down the pace by switching to triathlons and has successfully completed several extreme Ironman distance triathlons in remote places such as Chile and Norway.

The Greatest Gift is Peace of Mind

This time of year, you’ll find a lot of great deals on just about every kind of gift you could possibly think of – and some you never would.

Picking the perfect gift can become an overwhelming task. At Generation Law, we’re here to help simplify your holiday shopping with free pointers on the greatest gift of all: peace of mind. Click here for suggestions for gifts that can truly make a difference.

Need More Caregiving Tips?

Learn how to make elder care more bearable and less stressful in founder Ben Neiburger's book "Brighter Skies," which offers 10 guiding principles for caregivers.

Get social with us

for all the caregiver essentials: planning tips, checklists and a few laughs

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

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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.