Melissa Kallio

Melissa Kallio is a partner at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras, P.C., where she focuses exclusively on helping individuals navigate the legal and financial challenges of aging and disability. Melissa understands that elder law issues are often personal and complex. She takes a practical, compassionate approach – guiding clients step by step and ensuring their goals remain the focus throughout the process.

Melissa’s practice includes Medicaid planning and applications, guardianship for adults with disabilities, estate planning, special needs planning, and trust and estate administration. She is one of only 10 Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in Illinois through the National Elder Law Foundation. This certification, while not required by the Illinois Supreme Court to practice elder law, reflects Melissa’s advanced expertise and a strong commitment to serving older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Recognized as an “Emerging Lawyer” and an Illinois Super Lawyers “Rising Star” each year since 2018, Melissa is known for delivering thoughtful, practical guidance tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. She is frequently appointed by the Court as Guardian ad Litem and counsel in disabled adult guardianship proceedings, advocating for vulnerable individuals with both skill and compassion.

In addition to her legal practice, Melissa is deeply engaged and an active leader in the elder law community. She is current President of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and Treasurer of the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society. She is a past chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Elder Law Committee. Melissa is also a member of M-Team, a volunteer multidisciplinary team focusing on combating abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in Chicago.

A respected educator and speaker, Melissa routinely speaks to attorneys, consumer, and healthcare professional groups on a variety of elder law topics. She maintains active memberships in NAELA, the Illinois Chapter of NAELA, and the Chicago Bar Association.

Outside of her practice, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family including five rescue cats. She likes to hike, play and watch sports, and travel. In the summer, Melissa looks forward to spending time in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she was born and raised.