Attorneys:
Janna Dutton, Kathryn Casey,
Helen Mesoloras, Amy Gjesdahl,
Melissa Kallio, Samantha Zullo
Staff:
Vicky Fleming, Administrator
Karina Hernandez, Legal Assistant
Monica Westlake, Administrative Assistant
Erin Vogt, LCSW, CMC, Client Coordinator
Appointments Are Available In:
Arlington Heights, Chicago, Naperville, Skokie, Westchester, Illinois
and via phone and video conferencing.
Phone Number for All Locations:
312-899-0950
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Special Tax Deduction for 2020 Allows Donations of $300 to Charity Without Itemizing
Congress enacted a special provision that allows more people to easily deduct up to $300 in donations to qualifying charities this year. Since the increase in the standard income tax deduction in 2018, only 11 percent of taxpayers itemize deductions, so fewer taxpayers take advantage of the charitable deduction. But to both encourage and reward giving in this difficult year, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Congress created a one-time $300 charitable deduction for people who do not itemize on their tax returns. To qualify, you must give cash (including paying by check or credit card) to a 501(c)(3) charity. Gifts of goods or stock do not qualify. Read more.
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Estate and Trust Administration
The death of a loved one is something no one wants to think about. Not only can it be very emotional, dealing with the administration of a loved ones estate can be confusing and present many challenges such as:
- How will the bills get paid?
- Who gets an inheritance?
- What do I do about family disagreements?
- Where did my father hide his will?
- What do I do if my loved one did not have a will or a trust?
In these economic times, you might be tempted to avoid attorneys and either handle the legal matters yourself or ignore them completely. Please do not do this. You do not know what you don't know.
If you have questions regarding how we can assist you, please contact Erin Vogt, LCSW, CMC, our Client Coordinator, at evogt@duttonelderlaw.com or 312-371-0954.
We can also assist when you are not administering, but rather receiving funds from an estate and/or trust. This way you can feel confident you are being treated fairly, as your deceased loved one planned for.
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Upcoming Programs Via Webinar or Telephone
- January 12 - "Its a New Year: Make a Resolution to Have a Say in Your Future"
- January 14 - "Paying for Long-Term Care-Uncovering the Medicare Myths"
- January 21- "Its a New Year: Make a Resolution to Have a Say in Your Future"
- February 15 -"Elderwerks Family Caregiver Symposium'
- February 23- 'Legal Care for a Loved One Who Has Special Needs"
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Ability to Withdraw Money Early from Retirement Plan Without Penalty Expires at the End of the Year
If you are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you may want to consider withdrawing money from your retirement account while you still can. The special exemption allowing early withdrawals without a penalty ends soon.
Passed in March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allows individuals adversely affected by the pandemic to make hardship withdrawals of up to $100,000 from retirement plans this year without paying the 10 percent penalty that individuals under age 59 ½ are usually required to pay. This exemption is only for withdrawals made by December 30, 2020. Read more.
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Give Yourself A Gift This Season
We do not want to think about not having the ability to make healthcare or financial decisions due to sudden illness, disability or death. However, it can and does happen: the Covid pandemic has proven this. Why not have a say in your own future and plan now rather than waiting for a crisis and having others make critical decisions for you? Estate planning is for everyone over the age 18, not just the wealthy and older adults.
Our attorneys assist our clients to develop a plan that addresses all planning issues, from the financial to the personal; a plan that is custom, yet flexible, and a plan that is both easy for our clients to understand and for their loved ones to administer. Learn more.
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IRS Issues Final Regulations for ABLE Accounts
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final regulations covering tax-free savings accounts that allow people with disabilities and their families to save and pay for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other government benefits. Learn more.
We can assist with ABLE accounts and other special needs and a wide variety of other legal matters with the primary emphasis on promoting the highest quality of life for the individuals. This area of law addresses the client's perspective from a holistic viewpoint by discussing legal, medical, financial, social, and family issues.
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Let First Responders Know You Are There
The Premise Alert, sometimes known as a special needs registry, requires 911 call centers to maintain a database of information about individuals with special needs. It assists police and paramedics when responding to a call at a specific address.
For more information:
For the Suburbs, look at the city website or call the non-emergency police department phone number in the city where you or your loved one lives.
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Phone: 312.899.0950
Appointments are available in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Naperville, Skokie, and Westchester, Illinois, or via video conferencing or telephone.
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