Designed for Illinois attorneys focused on elder law, the annual Elder Law Short Course offers a comprehensive exploration of the most current issues affecting older adults and their families, including estate planning, Medicaid, guardianship, long-term care, and recent legal developments. Attendees will stay ahead of evolving laws and policies, learn advanced planning tools such as special needs trusts, retirement account strategies, and irrevocable trusts, strengthen advocacy skills for serving diverse clients—including LGBTQ+ individuals, caregivers, people with disabilities, and those at risk of exploitation—and gain practical guidance on navigating overlapping public benefits programs, all while networking with experienced faculty and peers.
New for 2026, Day Two includes an optional Track C devoted entirely to AI in elder law practice, with demonstrations, practical “plain-English” guidance, and interactive workshops designed for immediate use. Because this track is an additional-fee add-on and is not recorded, attendees who select it must attend in-person. Registration is limited.
Credits: 12 General, 0 Diversity/Inclusion PR, 0 MH/SA PR, 0 Other PR
November 5-6, 2026
UBS Tower and Conference Center and Live Webcast
DAY ONE
Moderator: Kelly A. Wambold, Dodd & Wambold, O’Fallon
8:15 - 8:50 Registration Opens or Log into the webcast via your account at www.iicle.com
8:55 - 9:00 Welcoming Announcements
9:00 – 10:00 Illinois Elder Law Case Law and Legislative Update 2026
Get up to date on new cases and Illinois legislation.
Andrea Kovar, Strohschein Law Group, LLC, St. Charles
Paula Willuweit, First American Bank, St. Charles
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 -11:15 Elder Law Issues Hidden in Estate Planning
This session will explore key elder-law considerations that can be missed when drafting core estate planning documents—especially revocable trusts and powers of attorney—and will highlight client conversations and drafting/funding decisions that may later impact long-term care planning and Medicaid eligibility if care becomes necessary.
Olive R. Wassen, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., Chicago
11:15 - 12:15 Start Smart, End Clean: Taking on the Right Clients, Breaking Up with the Wrong Ones, & Finishing Strong
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
This practice management session will help elder law attorneys with client screening, practical considerations for engagement agreements (including what to include and steps for managing scope of services and client expectations), withdrawing from representation (including ethical considerations, when court approval is required), best practices for closing letters when the legal services are complete.
Colleen L. Sahlas, Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
12:15 – 1:15 Lunch Break
1:15 - 2:15 Medical Aid in Dying
This session will provide an overview of medical aid in dying, including the current legal landscape, eligibility requirements, safeguards, and the practical and ethical issues that can arise for patients, families, healthcare providers, and counsel. Attendees will learn issue-spotting tips and best practices for advising clients and coordinating with the broader care team when end-of-life options are being considered.
Eric J. Parker, Stotis & Baird Chartered, Chicago &
2:15 – 2:30 Break
2:30 - 3:30 Assessing the Client’s Capacity
(1 professional responsibility, pending approval)
A practical framework for evaluating client capacity in elder law and estate planning matters. The program addresses legal standards, ethical obligations, and common red flags, with guidance on documenting capacity assessments and responding when capacity is diminished or uncertain.
Dr. Geoffrey Shaw, MD, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Northfield
3:30 – 4:30 The Intersection of Ethics and AI for Attorneys
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
This session will cover ethical considerations, confidentiality concerns, informing clients and client’s consent, securing client data, AI office policies, duty of competency when using AI, and more.
Linda M. Strohschein, Strohschein Law Group, LLC, St. Charles
4:30 IL-NAELA Reception
DAY TWO
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
Track A | Primer On Guardianship
A practical introduction to Illinois guardianship from intake through appointment. This session covers when guardianship is appropriate, key pleadings and court procedures, and recurring issues such as choice of guardian, emergency/temporary relief, and evidence needed to support the petition.
Sara Riechert, Chamberlin Riechert Law Group, P.C., Oak Brook
Timothy J. Rigby, Hart, Southworth & Witsman, Springfield |
Track B | Planning Considerations for Farmland
Examine estate and elder law issues unique to clients who own farmland. Topics include ownership structures, transfer and succession concerns, valuation considerations, and planning challenges that can arise when farmland is a significant family asset.
L. Kaye DeSelms Dent, Dent Coulson Elder Law, LLC, Effingham
Cari B. Rincker, Rincker Law, PLLC, Shelbyville |
Track C - AI Add-on Track | The Art of Prompting: Getting Useful Answers from AI for your Elder Law Practice
Knowing how to “ask” is the key to harnessing AI effectively. This session focuses on the essentials of prompt design and specifically how the wording, context and level of detail change the output. Participants will see elder law specific examples that turn generic answers into tailored, practical results. |
Break - 10:00 – 10:10 |
10:10 AM – 11:10 AM |
Track A | Primer on Medicaid Eligibility
A foundational overview of Medicaid eligibility rules relevant to elder law practice. The session addresses income and asset limits, treatment of exempt and non‑exempt resources, and common eligibility issues encountered when screening clients and preparing applications.
Catherine E. Lenert, Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi, Lenert & Julien, P.C./Elder Law Center, P.C., Sugar Grove |
Track B | IRA Beneficiary Designations for Disabled Beneficiaries
Learn how the SECURE Act treats disabled IRA beneficiaries and why beneficiary designations can jeopardize SSI and Medicaid if done incorrectly. This session highlights when life‑expectancy payouts are still available and how special needs trusts can be used to preserve benefits while managing tax consequences.
Robert K. Kirkland, Kirkland Hochstetler PLLC, Naples, Kansas City & Canton |
Track C - AI Add-on Track | AI in Action: Tools that Work for Your
This demonstration-driven program highlights specific AI-powered tools and workflows build for attorneys. We will explore document drafting aids, research accelerators, and office management applications. Examples will be drawn directly from estate planning and elder law scenarios, showing where AI can save time without compromising professional responsibility. |
Break – 11:10 – 11:20 |
11:20 AM – 12:20 PM |
Track A | Primer on SNTs
Special Needs Trusts are essential but often misunderstood planning tools. This introductory session breaks down SNTs in clear, practical terms, helping attorneys understand when they’re needed, how they protect public benefits, and how to spot SNT issues in everyday client matters. A must‑attend foundation for elder law and estate planning practitioners.
Lydia K. Park, Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi, Lenert & Julien, P.C./Elder Law Center, P.C., Sugar Grove |
Track B | Initial Client Instructions & Duties Letters
Start the engagement with clarity and risk control. This session covers what to include in an elder law/estate planning “initial instructions” or duties letter, how to document key decisions and client responsibilities, and how to address scope limits, timelines, and communication expectations.
Melissa Kallio, Dutton Casey & Mesoloras, PC, Chicago |
Track C - AI Add-on Track | Build Your Own Legal AI Briefcase: Knowledge Bases for Estate Planning and Elder Law
Discover how to create a private, searchable legal knowledge base tailored to estate planning and elder law practice. This session covers what to include, how to organize and update materials, and how to use tools like Notebook LM for instant answers, drafting, and in-house research—all while keeping client data secure and your advice accurate. |
Lunch – 12:20 – 1:10 |
1:10 PM – 2:10 PM |
Track A | Advanced Hot Topics in Guardianship Law
Move beyond the basics and focus on the issues that most often derail guardianship cases. This session highlights emerging case law and practice developments, problem‑solving strategies for contested matters, and practical tips for navigating common procedural and evidentiary hurdles.
Amy Gjesdahl, Dutton Casey & Mesoloras, PC, Chicago |
Track B | To TODI or Not To TODI?
This session will explore when using a TODI within the context of elder law and estate planning will be beneficial and when it should be avoided. Additionally, this session will explore TODI drafting considerations, drafting pitfalls to avoid, creditor claims, and more.
Emily R. Vivian, Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC, Dixon
|
Track C - AI Add-on Track | Lions and Tigers and AI – Oh my! - AI for Elder Law Attorneys In Plain English
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
AI does not have to be scary. This session is designed to take the “fear” factor out of AI for elder law attorneys. In addition to providing attendees with a general overview of AI for attorneys, attorneys will learn how utilizing AI can positively impact an elder law practice, along with an understanding of ways that AI can enhance and maximize efficiencies that lead to exceptional legal services and outcomes for clients. The session will also include practical guidance for introducing and incorporating AI into an elder law practice, strategies for gaining acceptance, easy entry points, AI practice management considerations and tips, common pitfalls, and more. |
Break – 2:10 – 2:20 |
2:20 PM - 3:20 PM |
Track A | What Can Sink Your Medicaid Plan
Examine common pitfalls that can jeopardize Medicaid eligibility and disrupt long-term care planning. Attendees will learn how mistakes in asset transfers, beneficiary designations, trust drafting, and care contracts can undermine a client’s Medicaid plan. Also covered will be strategies for identifying and avoiding these risks, with practical guidance for screening, documentation, and corrective action when issues arise.
Steven A. Milburn, Dent Coulson Elder Law, LLC, Effingham |
Track B | Family Caregiver Agreements (Care Contracts): Drafting, Documentation & Medicaid Proof
Family members often provide significant hands-on care—but paying them without the right documentation can create Medicaid eligibility problems. This session walks through when a caregiver agreement makes sense, what terms to include, how to document services and payments, and common drafting pitfalls that can trigger transfer penalties or credibility issues. Attendees will leave with practical steps for building compliant, defensible care contracts that support the client’s long-term care plan. |
Track C - AI Add-on Track | AI Workshop |
Break - 3:20 – 3:30 |
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
Track A | Can this SNT be Saved? -- Decanting to the Rescue
What happens when SNTs include drafting errors that cause a well-intentioned SNT to backfire and puts crucial needs-based benefits for the beneficiary at risk? One strategy to consider is decanting. How to use decanting to rescue and repair a defective SNT, if there are no other viable alternatives to save the SNT will be covered in this session. Attendees will also learn how to identify and avoid common drafting errors up front, with goal of minimizing the likelihood that the SNT will ever need to be rescued.
Lorraine K. Cavataio, Sandberg Phoenix, O’Fallon &
|
Track B | Electronic Signing & Remote Notarization
Learn the step-by-step process for conducting electronic signings and remote notarizations. This session covers document preparation, platform selection, signer authentication, witness management, and notary compliance. Gain actionable guidance for integrating e-signing and e-notary workflows into everyday practice, ensuring legal validity and minimizing risk.
Melissa Grisoni, Hawbecker & Graver, LLC, Hinsdale
Rebecca Heraty, Hawbecker & Graver, LLC, Hinsdale |
Track C - AI Add-on Track | AI Workshop |
4:30 Adjourn
Elder Law Short Course 2026 Cancellation & Refund Policy
Cancellations or registration modifications made 10 or fewer business days prior to the program’s start date are not eligible for a refund.
The optional AI Track add‑on fee is refundable only if the registrant removes the AI Track from their registration more than 10 business days prior to the program’s start date. No refunds will be issued for the AI Track add‑on after that time.
Registrants will receive a recording of the core program content. AI Track sessions are live‑only and will not be recorded.
