Janna Dutton

Bio

I decided that elder law was a perfect fit - it allows me the opportunity to utilize the public benefits knowledge I gained while working for legal services, and gives me the satisfaction of helping people with difficult family problems.

Ms. Dutton has been practicing in the area of elder law for more than 30 years. As a result, Janna has the knowledge and depth of experience to skillfully navigate through a diverse range of elder law matters, including guardianship and financial exploitation matters, trusts and estate planning, Medicaid planning and applications and probate and estate administration. She is certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as an elder law attorney and has held this certification since 1995.

Experience:

Prior to opening her private practice in 1989, Ms. Dutton was the Project Director of Senior Citizens Legal Services with the Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. She is a frequent lecturer for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and the Chicago Bar Association and authored a chapter on Medicaid for the IICLE's handbook, entitled “Advising Elderly Clients and Their Families,” and the chapter on drafting self-settled OBRA trusts in IICLE’s handbook, entitled “Special Needs Trusts.”

Education:

Ms. Dutton received her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law and completed her undergraduate education at Wheaton College.

Awards and Honors:

• Janna has been named a 2012 "Leading Lawyer" in elder law in Illinois and “A Top Women Lawyer” by the Leading Lawyers Network
• She holds an AV rating (recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity) by Martindale- Hubbell.

• She has held the recognition of  "Top Lawyer in Illinois" since 2004, by Chicago Lawyer
• She has been named an Illinois “Super Lawyer” for 2011 and 2012.
• She has been named one of the “Top Ten Elder Law Attorney for 2011 and 2012” by the Leading Lawyers Network.

Involvement:

Janna currently serves on the governing boards of the:

• Illinois Disability Association (the not-for-profit co-trustee of the Illinois Disability Pooled Trust)
• Illinois Citizens for Better Care (a nursing home residents' advocacy organization)
• A member of the M-Teams, a multidisplinary team focusing on combating elder abuse, in the Northeast section of Chicago and Lake County.

Professional memberships Include:

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Illinois Chapter

• Life Care Planning Law Firm Association
• Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee, Trust Law Committee
• Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP) of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. The CAP is an invitation only membership for experienced Certified Elder Law Attorneys with an AV rating.

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