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 | AI Fundamentals for Lawyers: Ethics, Policy, and Practical Use
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
Get a practical overview of AI for legal practice, covering core concepts, ethical duties, and examples of real-world use cases. This session explores the requirements of ethical competency in using AI, discusses risks related to its use, the need for oversight with ethical compliance, and practical examples for how to use AI to better serve clients in this new technological age. Attendees will also learn how to evaluate tools, manage data security concerns, and implement effective firm policies and training to support compliant, “lawyer-in-control” use.
R. Andrew Smith, MacDonald, Lee & Senechalle, Ltd., Hoffman Estates |
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 | The AI-Assisted Elder Law File: From Intake to Client Protection
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
This session will offer practical tips for using AI throughout elder law practice, including client intake, guardianship, Medicaid planning, document review, and communication. Participants will get updates from the ABA, Illinois Supreme Court, and ARDC, plus learn to spot and prevent AI-driven fraud like voice cloning and online scams. A live demo will show best practices for case management and ethical AI use, covering a “lawyer-in-control” checklist and strategies to protect clients while avoiding common technology pitfalls.
George “Geo” Bellas, Bellas & Wachowski Attorneys at Law, Chicago |
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 | AI Workshop-Topic TBA
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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
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Track C - AI Add-on Track | Profit & Productivity: How AI is Reshaping the Business of Elder Law
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
AI isn’t just a buzzword, it’s rapidly changing how elder law practices operate and compete. In this session, discover how AI tools can help you streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and deliver more responsive, client-centered service. From automating routine tasks to enhancing research and practice management, learn where AI can make an immediate impact on your bottom line.
Julieanne E. Steinbacher, Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak, State College & Williamsport, PA |
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.
Anthony J. “Tony” DelGiorno, DelGiorno Law Office, LLC, Springfield
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Track C - AI Add-on Track | Is Your Firm Ready for All That AI Can Do For You?
(1 professional responsibility pending approval)
As Artificial Intelligence continues to rapidly reshape the legal landscape, many firms find themselves asking not just what AI can do, but whether they are truly prepared to use it effectively. This session will walk through the operational, ethical, and practical considerations law firms must address before integrating AI into their daily workflows. Attendees will gain insight into how AI impacts intake, client communication, drafting, and internal systems, along with a framework to assess readiness and implement AI tools in a way that is both strategic and sustainable.
Audrey Gay Ehrhardt, Practice 42, Crystal River |
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 &
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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 in Action: Ask the Speakers — Live Q&A Workshop for Legal Practice
(1 professional responsibility credit pending approval)
Have questions about using AI in your practice? This interactive session is designed around them. Join AI Track speakers for a live, hands-on Q&A exploring real legal workflows, including drafting, intake, document review, and more.
All AI Track Speakers |
