Elder Law practice celebrates an important first year

One year on, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C.’s Elder Law practice has established itself as an indispensable resource, providing peace of mind, clarity and security for seniors, those with disabilities and their families.

When Chuhak & Tecson launched its Elder Law practice group in January 2024, it represented a natural progression and enhancement of the complex estate planning and asset protection work that has been a calling card of the firm for more than 35 years. But in the year since, the group has established itself as far more than an adjunct or extension of our other practices. Instead, the Elder Law team’s focused and complementary skill sets, appreciation of the unique concerns of seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families and deep sense of empathy and compassion have fueled the group’s growth and made Elder Law a key service offering of the firm.

Principal and Elder Law practice leader Mallory Moreno says it has been exhilarating and rewarding to see how her team has leaned into its fundamental mission and forged the types of client relationships that truly make a difference in people’s lives.

“What makes our team particularly well-suited to this work is our ability to develop genuine connections with the individuals and families who come to us for help,” she says. “We meet our clients where they are, communicate with them in language that brings clarity to complex issues and give them the confidence and peace of mind that comes from knowing that they now have and will have the resources and assistance they need for many years to come.”

Chuhak & Tecson’s Elder Law practice covers all of the legal, financial and practical aspects of planning for older clients, including long-term care planning, Medicaid and V.A. benefits crisis and pre-planning, disability, special needs and incapacity planning, Medigap coverage, guardianships and elder abuse concerns. In the year since its formation, the group has built on its decades of collective elder law experience, added attorneys and expects to continue ramping up its capacity to serve a growing population of seniors.

Moreno says that it is not just substantive capabilities and knowledge that distinguishes the practice’s attorneys.

“Every member of this group made Elder Law a focus of their work because they understand on a very visceral level why it matters and the immediate and long-term impact it has on the people they serve,” she says. “Being able to use your skills and training to help a senior and their family work through a financial or healthcare crisis or ensure that a loved one with disabilities has the resources and support they need is immensely rewarding.”

Moreno, along with principal Christine Barone, is one of two attorneys in the group (and one of only 13 in the state of Illinois) holding the Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation from the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF). While these certifications are certainly indicative of the group’s extensive substantive knowledge and experience, Moreno notes that the firm’s multi-disciplinary capabilities provide clients with resources and insights that allow for even more holistic approaches and guidance.

“Elder Law is a unique field of law in that it is defined more by the types of clients we serve than the services we provide,” she says. “While seniors and those with disabilities may have distinct needs and concerns that we can address, they also benefit from us having colleagues down the hall who can advise on other issues, such as business succession planning, the disposition of real estate, tax matters or estate and trust administration.”

You can learn more about Chuhak & Tecson’s Elder Law practice here.