Resource Center

County, State, and National Resources

• Academy of Special Needs Planners
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.
• American Bar Association
• The American Association For Justice
• Association of Corporate Counsel
• Center for Professional Resources
• Law Library Resource Exchange
• The Internet Legal Resources Guide
• Legal Research Center
• US Government’s Medicare.Gov
• AARP
• Administration for Community Living
• Alzheimer’s Association
• ElderLawAnswers
• Family Caregiver Alliance
• Social Security Administration
• Illinois Department on Aging
• Illinois Department of Human Services
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• Aging Care Connections
• National Adult Day Services Association
• National Association for Home Care and Hospice

Getting Started With Estate Planning

• Estate Planning FAQ – Overview of questions and answers about estate planning.
• Get Organized Now – Help your family — and make your executor’s job easier — by getting your paperwork in order.
• Top Myths About Retirement Plans – Test your knowledge to see how much you know about taking your money out.
• Checklist for Getting Your Financial Affairs in Order – Take the following steps to help your family should you die or become incapacitated.
• Estate Planning Deficiencies Check-Up

Estate Organization

• Getting Your Retirement Money Early–Without Penalty – Just can’t wait for your retirement funds? Painless advice on how to get your retirement money early.
• Married Couples: Who Owns What? – Be sure you know what property is yours to leave or give away.
• Family Members’ Right to Inherit – Your closest relatives may have a right to claim part of your estate.
• Leaving Property to Young Children – It’s easy to arrange for someone to manage any property you leave to young children.
• Choosing a Guardian for Your Children – If you have children, you should choose a personal guardian — someone to raise them in the unlikely event you can’t.

Trusts and Taxes

• How Living Trusts Avoid Probate – Here’s the lowdown on basic probate-avoiding living trusts.
• Reducing Estate Tax by Making Gifts – Making gifts during your life can provide you with tax savings and more.
• Charitable Trusts: Tax Breaks for Do-Gooders – If you want to give a big gift to charity, consider a charitable trust.
• Tax-Saving AB Trusts – Couples can save a bundle on estate taxes with this kind of trust.

Life Insurance Pros and Cons

• Do You Need Life Insurance? – Not everyone needs life insurance. Find out whether or not you do.
• Life Insurance Options – When it comes to choosing a life insurance policy, you may feel dazed by your options. Here are the basic types and the pros and cons of each.
• Using Life Insurance to Provide for Your Kids – Life insurance may be a good source of income for your children if you die. Here’s what you should know.

Medicaid Planning and VA Planning

• What You Can Cover in Your Healthcare Directives – An overview of some important medical issues you’ll face when preparing a living will and a power of attorney for health care.
• Choosing Your Healthcare Agent – Name the best person to direct your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself.
• Duty of Medical Personnel to Honor Your Healthcare Directives – Know when healthcare providers must follow your instructions for medical care — and when they may not.
• The Perils of Prepayment Plans – Tips on shopping for funeral goods and services.
• Final Arrangements FAQ – Planning some of the details of your burial or cremation — and your memorial services — can be a great relief to your survivors.
• Arranging to Donate Your Organs – How to donate your organs after death.
• Arranging to Donate Your Body – How to arrange a full body donation to a medical institution.