Ms. Dutton is retired after a law career spanning over 40 years. As one of the original founders of the elder law field, she initiated and expanded elder law and special needs services in Illinois, became one of the first Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois, provided invaluable advice to countless seniors and their families, advocated tirelessly on behalf of Adult Protective Services agencies to protect vulnerable seniors, and contributed extensively to the development of legislation to protect seniors from financial exploitation. Through the firm she originally founded in 1994 as Janna Dutton & Associates, she developed the knowledge and depth of experience needed to skillfully navigate a diverse range of legal matters, including guardianship and financial exploitation matters, trusts and estate planning, Medicaid planning and applications, and probate and estate administration.
She was a frequent lecturer for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), the Chicago Bar Association, and for professional and community organizations. She also authored numerous legal publications. She was named a “Leading Lawyer” in elder law in Illinois, a “Top Woman Lawyer”, and a “Top Ten Elder Law Attorney” by the Leading Lawyers Network, a “Top Lawyer in Illinois” by Chicago Lawyer, an Illinois “Super Lawyer”. She also held the prestigious AV rating by Martindale- Hubbell.
As a professional legacy, she leaves a well-established firm of experienced elder law attorneys dedicated to providing exceptional elder law services to families in Illinois. And in retirement she continues her life-long commitment to community service, nature conservation, political activism, and trekking.
