Legacy Law Firm, LLC

01/14/2026

Member Dawn Weekly will serve as the Public Administrator and Public Guardian of Iroquois County

Dear IL NAELA Members,

Please join us in congratulating IL NAELA member Dawn Weekly on her appointment as Public Administrator and Public Guardian of Iroquois County.

This important role reflects Dawn’s dedication to public service and her commitment to protecting and advocating for some of the states most vulnerable residents. Her experience, professionalism, and compassion will serve the people of Iroquois County well in this capacity. Dawn has been a member of IL NAELA since 2007, served as the President in 2021 along with volunteering on many committees and on the board of directors for many years.

We are proud to recognize Dawn’s achievement and wish her continued success as she takes on this meaningful responsibility.

Congratulations, Dawn, on this well-deserved appointment.

Regards,
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys - IL Illinois Chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

01/07/2026

NAELA (the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, of which we are a member) is calling on Congress to pass the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act, legislation reintroduced by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., that would end the federal requirement for states to recover Medicaid long-term care costs from a beneficiary’s estate. As part of its advocacy efforts, the NAELA Foundation is hosting a briefing on Medicaid Estate Recovery on Capitol Hill today, supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Staff from more than a dozen congressional offices and representatives from coalition partners are expected to attend.

Federal law requires states to recover certain Medicaid costs after an enrollee dies. If you’re 55 or older — or permanently institutionalized at any age — Medicaid can seek repayment for nursing home care, home and community-based services, and related hospital and prescription drug services....

10/29/2025

The Administration weakens consumer protections to keep medical debt off credit ratings. Having medical debt on a person's credit rating could mean paying higher interest rates, being denied credit, being denied employment, or being denied housing.

Reversing guidance from the Biden administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau concludes that states cannot bar medical debt from their residents’ credit reports.

08/20/2025

Received an update on Changes to SNAP from an Attorney Association that I am in. This is written for attorneys who help clients who need SNAP benefits, but it's written in a straight-forward non-legalese style, so I think it will be informative for everyone. I have one client that will be directly effected by this. They currently receive SNAP but are not able to work. They have applied for disability, but no decision yet. They will soon lose SNAP until their disability is determined -- which is taking years and will take longer now that so many SS personnel have been fired.

07/10/2025

If you have a special needs child and you haven't thought about a legacy plan for them, give our office a call and we can discuss it with you and prepare a plan to take care of them after you're gone.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JKfzyR1fe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/11/2025

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/business/money-report/supreme-court-just-gave-doge-access-to-social-security-data-heres-what-personal-information-is-at-stake/3632992/

The Trump administration wants to give DOGE access to the Social Security Administration’s sensitive data. Now the Supreme Court has weighed in.

06/10/2025

Gov. Pritzker Takes Bill Action

Today, Governor JB Pritzker took the following bill action:

Bill Number: SB0126

Description: Requires State regulated health insurance plans to provide coverage for all FDA-approved treatments of Alzheimer’s Disease, medications prescribed to slow Alzheimer’s Disease progression, and diagnostic testing necessary for physicians to treat Alzheimer’s Disease.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

05/26/2025

DEMENTIA STUDY
A research team at Erasmus MC University Medical Center in the Netherlands recently completed a study of life expectancy for people with a diagnosis of dementia. Key findings include:
*People with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease had a more favorable prognosis than those with vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or Lewy body dementia
*Age at diagnosis is the most important determinant for prognosis
*Approximately 13% of people moved to a nursing home in the year after their diagnosis, and this percentage increased to 57% after five years
*Individuals in Asia have longer times to nursing home admissions and are expected to live 1.4 years longer post-diagnosis, due to socioeconomic, cultural, and healthcare differences.

https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj-2024-080636

05/22/2025

05/22/2025

NEW!!! Adult Protective Services has created an online reporting form for alleging maltreatment of adults living in the community:

05/20/2025

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Memorial Day Lunch for Older Adults - Plano Meals on Wheels
Plano, IL – In honor of Memorial Day, Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois will host a special commemorative lunch for adults age 60 and above, as well as caregivers, on Thursday, May 29, at the Plano Methodist Church, 219 N. Hale St.

The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a freshly prepared, nutritious meal served in a welcoming, social setting. Attendees can also look forward to a raffle and Bingo following the meal. It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy a meaningful day of community, connection, and remembrance.

There is a small suggested donation for each meal, but no one will ever be turned away due to an inability to contribute. All adults age 60+, and caregivers, are welcome to attend.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Julie Maritato, Plano Manager, at 847-606-7817 or by email at [email protected]. You may also visit us in person at the Plano Methodist Church during our regular hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (closed on federal holidays).

To learn more about our services or upcoming events, visit our website at www.mowfni.org or follow us on Facebook.com/MealsonWheelsNI.

About Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois:
As a 501c3 nonprofit, Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois has made a significant impact by serving over 1.1 million meals to older adults in Kendall, Will, Grundy, and suburban Cook counties in the past year. In addition to providing fresh, hot meals to those who are homebound, Meals on Wheels offers social cafe lunches, activities, parties, exercises, meals at local partner restaurants such as Planet Pizza and Two Partners Family Restaurant in Plano, and more. Through these services, Meals on Wheels works to ensure that older adults can maintain their independence in their own homes longer, while promoting their social connections and overall well-being.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Bowman
Outreach Coordinator
Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois
331-701-6505
[email protected]

Sit Down Dining Due to our generous partners, we now offer a variety of meal options, including sit-down dining. Visit our nearest location for more information. Find A Location Near You ›