We Know Your Pain . . . Because We Have Walked the Same Path in Your Shoes

Our Attorneys:

	Richard J. Habiger, J.D. Habiger & Associates Elder Law Office 2010 West Woodriver Drive Suite 100 Carbondale, Illinois 62901

Elder Law Attorney Richard J. Habiger has been practicing law since 1970 and has extensive experience in all areas of Elder Law services, including Nursing Home/ Title 19/ Medicaid/ Asset Preservation planning/ Veteran's Benefits.  He is the former managing attorney of the SIU Law School Legal Clinic (Legal Services to the Elderly Program), where he taught practical legal skills to law students and provided counsel and representation to the elderly and other clients of the Legal Clinic for 18 years.

Habiger is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and previously served as the President of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. The Academy is the premier organization of elder law firms that provide legal advocacy, guidance, and services to enhance the lives of people as they age as well as individuals with special needs.

Richard and all of his staff also are members of the Life Care Planning Law Firm Association, an organization of law firms that are in the forefront of advocating for the quality of life for elders and their families. Richard also is a member of the Special Needs Alliance, an invitation-only organization, dedicated to the practice of disability and public benefits law.  Further, Richard is a member of WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel, organizations whose member estate planning and elder law firms are dedicated to a "client-centric" approach to the estate and elder law planning processes.

Currently, Habiger is a member of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging, and serves on the Finance and Audit, Personnel, and Board Recruitment Committees.  For a number of years, Habiger served on the Leadership Council of the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, having previously served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Illinois area chapter of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association.

In 1975 Mr. Habiger was recruited to help build the new Legal Clinic at the Southern Illinois University Law School, which in 1982 became known as the Legal Services to the Elderly Program.

In 1993 Habiger left the SIU Law School to open Habiger & Associates Law Office.  In 2000, the firm was renamed Habiger & Associates Elder Law Office (HAELO) in order to emphasize the unique character of the services the firm provides.

Prior to attending law school, Habiger gained invaluable practical and business experience as an office manager for an oil company and as a supervisor for a major health insurance company. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Habiger was awarded a fellowship and worked with a national legal services program.  After being recruited for a Legal Services grant-funded program at St. Louis University Law School, Habiger began lecturing at the Law School and co-authored a book on Law and Tactics in Juvenile Cases.

Throughout his career, Habiger has contributed his time and talent in various capacities. Habiger has served on the boards of directors of various community service organizations and committees of various professional organizations. For example, he previously served as an appointed member of the Special Needs Trusts Committee, Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association. In addition, he is a member of the Illinois, Missouri, and Jackson County Bar Associations and has served on various committees for each association.

Habiger & Associates Elder Law Office (HAELO) is a life care planning and elder law firm which focuses on the needs of the elderly and disabled persons and their families.  While many law firms strive to address the legal needs of the elder population, the attorneys and multi-disciplinary staff of HAELO go a step further to help with many non-legal issues that can arise as a client ages. As elder law attorneys, and with the assistance of a highly-trained staff of experts, HAELO assists with nursing home and asset preservation planning, veteran's benefits, Title 19 Medicaid and disability issues, Alzheimer's and Memory Loss planning, Hospice planning, estate planning, including Living Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and Special Needs Trusts.  In selected cases, HAELO also will provide representation in guardianships and probate cases . . . and trust administration and termination matters.

With the assistance of nurse and social worker consultants and multi-disciplinary staff, we also help our clients and their families negotiate the elder care maze of conflicting governmental benefit programs, community resources, insurance reimbursement, and private resources.  We help bring peace of mind and assure the elder client dignity and quality of life they so richly deserve.

Richard is a featured attorney with ElderLawAnswers.com, an organization that supports seniors, their families and their attorneys in achieving their goals through Internet-based consumer-oriented information and tools.

Richard and his wife, Marty, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren: Christy, Tim, Brian, Monica, Kathleen, Justin, Benjamin, Danielle, Katie, Rebecca, Hannah, Megan, Patrick and Conor.

Mr. Habiger has been helping his clients for more than 35 years, and he would be pleased to assist you or your loved one.

Education:

Mr. Habiger is a graduate of Rockhurst University, where he received an A.B. with a major in History and minors in Political Science and Philosophy.

In 1970 Richard received a J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law. 

Professional Honors & Activities:

Richard Habiger was for a number of years featured in "Who's Who in American Law."

Publications:

Mr. Habiger is an author who has written publications for other lawyers and consumers of legal services throughout his professional career.  Most recently, Habiger co-authored the Illinois edition of "How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets".

Author, Self-Published

• The Guide to Medicaid Planning: How To Save Your Home, Protect Your Assets, & Finance Your Care Without Going Broke
• Memory Loss Legal Survival Guide
• Advisor's Guide to Special Needs Planning
• Parent's Guide to Special Needs Planning
• The Complete Guide to Life Care Planning
• Legal Survival Guide for Alzheimer's Patients & Their Loved Ones
• Consumer Guide to Title XIX of the Social Security Act
• The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Veterans' Benefits
• What Every Attorney Needs to Know About Special Needs Trusts for Persons with Disabilities
• Parents' Legal Survival Guide to Special Needs Planning for Persons with Disabilities
• The Complete Guide to Life Care Planning
• Consumer Guide to Medicaid Planning
• Consumer Guide to Understanding & Protecting Nursing Home Resident's Rights
• Southern Illinois Nursing Home Guide: How to Find the Right Nursing Home and Get Good Care There Without Going Broke

Audio CDS, Self-Produced

• Elder Law Questions and Answers
• The Value in Mastering the Puzzle: Helping You to Get the Care and Benefits You Deserve While Legally Protecting Your Home and Assets

Co-Author

• How to Protect Your Family's Assets From Devastating Nursing Home Costs-Medicaid Secrets (Illinois Edition, 2010)
• "Advanced Medicaid Planning for the Community Spouse" (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2003)
• "How To Run An Elder Law Practice Ethically & Efficiently" (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2004)
• "How the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 Affects Seniors" (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2006)
• Forms published in Representing the Elderly or Disabled Client - Forms and Checklists with Commentary (Warren, Gorham & Lamont, RIA)

Newsletters - Self Published

• From Our Desk to Yours (Monthly newsletter for health care professionals)
• From Our Office to Yours (Monthly newsletter for accounting, financial, and legal professionals)
• From Our Family to Yours (Monthly newsletter for clients, their families & friends)
• Elder Law Answers to Your Questions (Monthly newsletter for the public regarding long term care issues)

Monthly Newspaper Articles

• Senior Voice (Monthly articles on Disability, Long Term Care, Medicaid and related issues)
• Southern Business Journal (Monthly articles on Asset Preservation, Estates, Trusts, Probate, and related issues)

Court Admissions:

Mr. Habiger is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri (but currently limits his practice to Illinois).

In additon, Richard is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Tax Court, and various federal trial and appellate courts.

Community Activities:

In December 2009, as he has done every Christmas season for the past several years, "Santa Claus"  Richard Habiger visited with the residents, their guests, and the staff at Prairie Living at Chautauqua Supportive Living Facility in Carbondale, Illinois.

The facility provides gifts for the residents and a noon-time feast for all and their guests.
Santa, of course, hands out the gifts ... with the help of a few elves, and an occasional hearty "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and "Merrrrrrrrry Christmas!"

Richard loves "hamming" it up and many of the residents want their photos taken with Santa.

The annual Holiday Dinner at Prairie Living at Chautauqua Supportive Living Facility is truly one of those memorable events that the residents look forward to.

Download a Publication:

Life Care Planning

• Keeping Mom & Dad Safe at Home

Habiger & Associates Elder Law Office (HAELO) provides legal services to elderly or disabled persons in Southern Illinois. The founder of the firm, Richard Habiger, is an elder law attorney with more than 30 years experience. We are an Elder Law and Life Care Planning Law Firm that provides legal and care coordination assistance, including: Medicaid planning; asset protection; estate protection; Medicaid applications; Medicaid appeals; VA pension benefits planning and applications for veterans and their surviving spouses; planning for those with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other forms of memory loss, and those who have suffered a stoke; Hospice planning; and special needs planning, including special needs trusts and supplemental needs trusts.

HAELO is located in Carbondale Illinois, and serves clients in twenty-seven Southern Illinois counties south of Interstate 70 highway. Southern Illinois Counties: Jackson County, Williamson County, Union County, Franklin County, Perry County, Saline County, Jefferson County, Hamilton County, Johnson County,  Randolph County, Wayne County, White County, Washington County, Edwards County, Monroe County, Wabash County, Richland County, Clay County, Marion County, Clinton County, Bond County, Fayette County, Effingham County, Jasper County, Crawford County, Massac County, Pulaski County, Alexander County, Pope County, Hardin County, Gallatin County, and Lawrence County.
Southern Illinois Cities & Towns: Carbondale, Murphysboro, Carterville, Herrin, Marion, Anna, Vienna, Metropolis, Harrisburg, West Frankfort, DuQuoin, Benton, Chester, Pinckneyville, Mt. Vernon, McLeansboro, Carmi, Fairfield, Nashville, Waterloo, Centralia, Salem, Albion, Mt. Carmel, Flora, Olney, Lawrenceville, Newton, Robinson, Jonesboro, Eldorado, Shawneetown, Ridgway, Sparta, Golconda, Johnston City, Marissa, Coulterville, Carlyle, Ullin, Tamms, Elizabethtown, Galatia, Wayne City, Cobden, Lake of Egypt, Goreville, Brookport, Olive Branch, Cave-in-Rock, Carrier Mills, Energy, Cambria, Zeigler, Royalton, Christopher, Rosiclare, Sesser, Okawville, Woodlawn, Thompsonville, Steeleville, Raleigh, Olmsted, Baldwin, Villa Ridge, Mounds, Tunnel Hill, Red Bud, Trenton, New Baden, Ewing, Dix, Norris City, Creal Spring, Bridge Port, Sumner, Waltonville, Breese, Aviston, Germantown, Whittington, Vandalia, and Ina.