Steven C. Perlis
Steven C. Perlis is the founder of The Elder Law Office of Steven C. Perlis and Associates, P.C. He has practiced law since 1974. His educational credits include a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, a Masters of Business Administration from De Paul University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
In 1980, after experiencing the devastating effects Alzheimer’s Disease had on his father and the multitude of legal and financial problems that needed to be solved, Steven Perlis focused his legal expertise on helping senior citizens and people with disabilities. He served as Chief Counsel for the Office of the State Guardian of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission and Supervising and Project Attorney for Legal Aid Bureau Title 3 Older American’s Act contract with the City of Chicago Department on Aging before opening his own law practice in 1989.
Steve recently received a unanimous victory in the Illinois Supreme Court case Hines v. Department of Public Aid 221 Ill.2d222(2006), holding that the State cannot recover Medicaid payments made on behalf of the first to die spouse against the second to die spouse's probate estate.
Steve has received the following designations:
- AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. The “A” rating identifies a lawyer with very high to preeminent legal ability, is a reflection of expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence. The “V” rating signifies General Ethical Standards Rating. The General Ethical Standards Rating denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities. The Martindale-Hubbell rating is established by attorneys for attorneys, and indicates a demonstration of the highest professional and ethical standards.
- Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the American Bar Association and the National Elder Law Foundation. This designation was initially received in 1995 and must be re-certified every five years in order to retain this designation. His CELA designation has been recertified twice and is current and in full force and affect.
- Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Selection as a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys acknowledges the highest degree of commitment to serving older person. To date, there are less than 70 Fellows nationwide.
- Council For Advance Practitioners (CAP) Selected by other Attorneys in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys for membership in this advanced program. Membership in CAP is available to preeminent Elder Law Attorneys. Members of the Council are recognized as:
- the innovators of the profession,
- instrumental in leading the future of Elder Law
- NAELA’s role models, providing a “vision” for NAELA and mentoring for NAELA members.
- Leading Lawyer Network. Selected by other attorneys in the state of Illinois as a Leading Lawyer in the area of Elder Law.
- 2007 ILLINOIS SUPER LAWYER - Selected by other attorneys in Illinois as a Super Lawyer in the area of Elder Law. Only 5 percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers.
- Outstanding Member of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2006.
- Member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners. The purpose of the Academy of Special Needs Planners is to assist special needs attorneys in providing the highest quality service and advice to individuals with special needs and to their families.
He is a member of the following organizations:
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Vice -Chairman of the 2007 NAELA Institute scheduled forNovember, 2007 and focusing on advocacy for elderly and disabled clients.
- Member of the Board of Directors 1996-2000,
- Chairman of the Guardianship Advocacy/Litigation Special Interest Group 2005-2006.
- Past Chairman of the Guardianship Special Interest Group
- Membership Committee
- Co-chairman of the 2004 Unprogram
- Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Past President
- Past Membership Chairman
- Currently on the Board of Directors
- Chicago Bar Association
- Served as Past Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Elder Law Committee
- Served as Past Chairman of the Mental Health Law Committee
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Member Elder Law Section Council
- Northwest Suburban Bar Association
- Past Co-Chairperson of the Estate Planning/Tax/Probate Committee
- Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Past Vice Chairman of the NWSBA Committee Representing the Elderly and Handicapped
- Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council
- Past member of its Board of Directors
Steve is also a frequent guest lecturer at various community organizations, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers as well as law schools and area universities. He has served since 1989 on the Multidisciplinary Team coordinated by the Kenneth Young Center to assist with suspected cases of elder abuse, neglect and self-neglect. He is a past member of the Buffalo Grove Joint Commission on Aging and previously served on the Human Rights Commission for Clearbrook Center.
He recently co-authored two chapters in Illinois Jurisprudence, covering Medicaid Planning and Basic Estate Planning. He recently authored a chapter in the 2005, and again for the 2007 Illinois Institute on Continuing Legal Education Elder Law Short Course on Medicaid entitled “Appeal Rights for Medicaid and Medicare.” He is the author of numerous articles on elder law topics and the past Illinois editor for Horner Probate Practice and Estates and Counseling the Older Client (published by West Group).He is on the planning board for the IICLE publication “Special Needs Trust,” and will be a chapter author for that publication. He is a frequent author and lecturer for IICLE, having written chapters on Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Trusts, and Medicaid Appeals for the Elder Law Short Course and for the handbook Estate Planning, the Basics and Beyond, and having lectured for these and other IICLE programs on numerous occasions, including a presentation at the ISBA Family Law Section Council Seminar in 2005.
In his spare time, Steve enjoys doing yoga, playing golf, doing aerobic exercise and spending time with his daughters and grandchildren. He is also a fan of Chicago sports teams. He has two married daughters, and is the proud "Papa" of Jordan Ava who was born in August, 2004, Brayden James who was born August, 2006, and Samuel Isaac, who was born in May, 2007