Dutton & Casey
(847) 261-4708 Skokie
(847) 886-9456 Vernon Hills
Melissa Howitt
Bio
My work as an attorney allows me the opportunity to combine my educational and early professional career with the personal, ethical and legal issues affecting the aging community
Melissa, associate attorney, joined the firm in 2006. She devotes her practice to representing families, elders, and Elder Abuse Provider Agencies in the areas of estate and disability planning, guardianship, undue influence, elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and will and trust disputes. Her experience in the litigation, planning, and administration aspects of the law make her a strong advocate for her clients at each phase of the legal process.
Experience:
Prior to attending law school, Melissa gained extensive research experience in the psychiatry department at a large university-affiliated hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where her research efforts focused on late-life depression and mood-related disorders in patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
Education:
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Juris Doctor, with a certificate in Health Law, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law
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Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University
Awards and Honors:
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Loyola University Annals of Health Law Journal, Senior Editor
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Loyola University Elder Law Society, Vice President
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Loyola University Health Law Society, Member
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CALI award for appellate advocacy
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CALI award for legal writing
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Loyola University Institute for Health Law Academic Fellowship
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Honors-at-entrance academic scholarship
Community Involvement:
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Member of the M-Team, a multidisciplinary team focused on combating elder abuse and neglect, in the Northeast part of Chicago.
Professional Memberships Include:
- Chicago Bar Association Estate Planning, Probate Practice, and Elder Law Committees
- Illinois State Bar Association, Elder Law Section
- National Acedemy of Elder Law Attorneys
Publications:
Click here to schedule an appointment with Melissa Howitt.
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Because each of us will face different scenarios related to disability, illness, and the dying process, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to end-of-life care planning. Memorializing one’s wishes in an advance directive document will help to avoid misinterpretation and offer guidance to those who will be making those decisions on one’s behalf when the individual is unable to do so. Two important documents related to health care are the Power of Attorney for Health Care and the Living Will. The Power of Attorney for Property and the Last Will and Testament concern financial related matters.
Special Needs Trusts can be a helpful tool for many people.
Click here to read "A Guide to Special Needs Trusts'. written by Attorney Melissa Howitt.
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