Cynthia Hayes Hutchins J.D.

Education

• Law School: Northwestern University, J.D., cum laude, 1987
• Undergraduate: University of Michigan, B.A., 1980

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• DuPage County Bar Association, Member, 1990 - Present
  • Chair, Estate Planning and Probate Committee (1998-1999 and 2014-2015)
  • Chair, Tax Practice Committee (1996-1997)
• Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 1987 - Present
• American Bar Association, Member, 1990 - Present
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member, 2003 - 2016

Year Joined Firm

• 1997

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Trust Law
• Wills
• Probate
• Estate and Gift Taxation
• Probate Administration
• Probate Litigation
• Contested Trusts and Estates
• Guardianship
• Elder Law

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1987
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1987
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois

Education

• Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
  • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence (Cum Laude) - 1987
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1980

Published Works

• Estate Planning & Probate Law Update, DuPage Bar Brief, 2006
• The Case for Inter Vivos Will Deposits, DuPage Bar Brief Publication, 1996
• Professional Responsibility: Settlements and Judgements Involving Minors and Wards: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About the Local Rules, DuPage Bar Brief, 1998

Presentations

• "Anatomy of a Disputed Documents Case" DuPage County Bar Association, April, 2016
• "Long Term Care Planning" DuPage Convalescent Center, April, 2016
• "Case Studies in Estate Planning--Autism and Dementia" DuPage County Bar Association Mega Meeting, January, 2014
• "Probate Litigation" National Business Institute Seminar, October, 2011
• "Probate Practice: The Essential Basics," "Closing the Estate" and "Common Probate Problems and How to Solve Them," National Business Institute Seminar, October, 2010
• "Medicaid Planning for the Community Spouse," DuPage County Bar Association Elder Law Committee, October, 2009
• "Roadblocks in Probate" National Business Institute Seminar, May, 2008
• "Common Issues to be Prepared for in Litigation and Probate", National Business Institute Seminar, January, 2008
• "Wills and Chancery" DCBA Seminar, December, 2007
• "Six Things to Consider About Your Estate Plan", Community Presentation, August, 2007
• "Advanced Issues in Guardianship" Panel, Illinois State Bar Association Seminar, May, 2007
• "Common Issues to be Prepared for in Litigation and Probate", National Business Institute Seminar, January, 2007
• "What to Watch for: Proposed Changes for Medicaid Eligibility," DCBA Mega Meeting Presentation, January, 2005
• "Guardianship Petitions for Disabled Adults," DCBA Estate Planning and Probate Committee Presentation, October, 2005
• "Illinois Estate Tax Update," Community Presentation, June, 2004
• "Probate Administration in DuPage County," DCBA Mega Meeting Presentation, January, 2004
• "How to Open a Guardianship Estate," DCBA Mega Meeting Presentation, February, 2001
• "Planning for Your Future," Community Presentation, 2000
• "Trusts, Trustees & Distributions," DCBA Elder Law Seminar Presentation, November, 2000
• "How to Open a Guardianship Estate," DCBA Committee Presentation, October, 2000
• "The Pitfalls of Joint Tenancy Accounts," Community Presentation, October, 2000
• "Control Your Financial Future," Community Presentation, October, 1999
• "Planning for a Second Marriage," Aging Well Consortium, College of DuPage, April, 1999
• "Estate Planning," Community Presentation, 1999
• "Guardianship Practice," DuPage Association of Women Lawyers Seminar Presentation, March, 1998
• "Guardianship Training Program," Circuit Court Program Presentation, April, 1997

Reported Cases

• In re Estate of Ann L. Cuneo, Deceased, 334 Ill. App. 3d 594, 780 N.E. 2d. 325, 269 Ill. Dec. 140 (2nd Dist., 2002).

Past Employment Positions

• Mayer Brown & Platt, Attorney, 1987 - 1990
• Peregrine & Stime, Attorney, 1990 - 1996