Elderwerks Senior Resource Directory 2025/2026

ELDER LAW / LEGAL SERVICES

WHAT IS “ELDER LAW”?

Margolis Weldon, LLC Matt Margolis Lauren Weldon

WhiteheadFink Elder Law, LLC We believe that one of the most important roles of an attorney is to assist families in need. There are countless families facing real and challenging questions every day and planning ahead alleviates a lot of the financial and emotional stress associated with such difficult situations. That is why our practice is focused on the areas of Elder Law, Wills and Trusts, Probate, Guardianship, and Medicaid Planning. Our practice strives to make our clients feel as comfortable as possible and help them be prepared each step

Our firm believes that it is never too early to have an estate or long term care plan in place. We prepare Revocable Trusts, Last Wills and Testaments, Powers of Attorneys for Health Care and Property, and other traditional Estate Planning documents. Additionally, as part of our work with clients in transition, we assist with asset protection planning and obtaining Illinois Medicaid benefits.

When trying to find an “elder law”- focused attorney, it’s important to understand how elder law differs from traditional estate planning. Estate planning, at its simplest, is death planning. A traditional estate plan is typically designed to do three things:

1. Minimize estate taxes

2. Avoid probate court

Park Ridge, IL 847-457-3377

3. Distribute assets from the deceased to the deceased’s heirs Elder law, on the other hand, is death planning plus long-term disability and care planning. The elder law attorney is not only working with your estate plan, but must also assist with life care issues in the event that you or your spouse have long-term health care needs during the course of your lifetime. When there is no long-term care asset preservation planning, it is quite common for families to spend their entire $2,000,000 net worth estate when both husband and wife have long term care needs. This is a key focus of an elder law attorney. LEGAL ADVICE & SERVICES Medicaid applications: asset prevention; wills; trusts; powers of attorney; guardianship; probate

of the way. Chicago, IL 773-906-5752 www. whiteheadfink.com *See ad on page 69

matt@margolisweldon.com lauren@margolisweldon.com www.margolisweldon.com *See ad on page 68

Peck Ritchey, LLC Peck Ritchey, LLC is a boutique law firm that concentrates its practice in all aspects of probate, estate planning, guardianship, special needs planning, and elder law with an emphasis on the litigation of contested wills, trusts, and disabled persons’ estates. Peck Ritchey represents all parties to decedent’s estate litigation, trust litigation, contested guardianship as well as other areas of probate litigation. Offices in Chicago, Lake Forest, Northbrook, and Oak Brook. 312-201-0900

Chicago Bar Association 312-554-2001

Attorney General Office of Illinois 800-243-5377

Consumer Fraud Hotline 800-386-5438 | 800-964-3013 (TTY) 800-243-5377 (Senior Line) 866-310-8398 (Espanol)

FREE & REDUCED COST LEGAL ADVICE & REPRESENTATION

Administer Justice A charitable legal aid organization that serves the needs of low-income individuals. Provides legal assistance, referrals, document assistance & Pro Se coaching, financial counseling, conflict coaching, and more. Many locations across the Chicagoland area. Call 855-818-4554 to find the location nearest you and to schedule an appointment. Online scheduling also available at www.administerjustice.org

info@peckritchey.com www.peckritchey.com *See ad on Back Cover

Andrew Szocka, P.C. Andrew Szocka

Our firm handles estate planning, real estate purchases and sales, litigation, probate, business formations, and more.

Crystal Lake, IL 815-455-8430

info@szocka.com www.szocka.com *See ad on page 67

“ Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ” Mark Twain

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(855) 462 0100

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