Principal Christine A. Barone joins Chuhak & Tecson

Chuhak & Tecson is pleased to announce that Christine A. Barone has joined the firm as a principal in the Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation practice groups.

Barone focuses her practice on elder law. This encompasses contested and uncontested adult guardianships, decedents’ estates, trust administration and litigation, estate planning and asset protection. Notably, she handles planning for those with disabilities or special needs and long-term care planning for eligibility and appeals for Medicaid benefits. She has also represented nursing homes in securing and appealing Medicaid benefits for their residents and claims for payment from the State of Illinois in the Illinois Court of Claims. She prepares and reviews contracts, wills, trusts, special needs trusts and powers of attorney.

Barone is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), which is an exclusive honor bestowed on a select group of attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. Currently, there are only 17 CELAs in Illinois providing resourceful and inspired solutions for clients faced with elder law issues. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is also a former president and current board member of the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society.

“With the addition of Christine, we are thrilled that our firm now has two Certified Elder Law Attorneys,” said Lindsey Paige Markus, principal and practice group leader of the firm’s 23-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice group. “Mallory Moreno, who recently joined Chuhak & Tecson, is also a CELA, and with Christine, they will bring their experience and passion to advocate on behalf of our elderly population and individuals with disabilities.”

Barone finds the most rewarding aspect of assisting and representing her clients is alleviating some of the burden that they feel in extremely stressful and overwhelming situations. She has the knowledge and skills to assist clients step-by-step to try to confront concerns and worries that are often life altering. She understands that communication is critical to an attorney-client relationship and will sit down and discuss the various outcomes and scenarios so that her clients can not only make informed decisions, but also feel a sense of relief.

Barone received her B.S. degree in political science, English minor, from the University of Iowa and earned her J.D. degree, with a certificate in tax law, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.