Mary Kay Furiasse,
BSN, JD, LLM

Mary Kay Furiasse is the founding attorney, of A/Z Health & Elder Law. She brings over thirty years of practicing law together with her clinical background as a nurse to A/Z Health & Elder Law. Mary Kay concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. Mary Kay also practices in estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation. Mary Kay has earned the Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) credential in addition to her Bachelor’s in Nursing and a Masters in Health Law.

As a Board-Certified Patient Advocates, Mary Kay has extensive practice in resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals. She is currently a member of the Legislative Committee for AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois where she regularly advocates on behalf of seniors and their families. She is a past president of the DuPage County Bar Association Elder Law Section. Additionally, Mary Kay is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association Elder & Health Law Sections. She is active with the National Aging in Place Council, working to help aging easier for seniors

Mary Kay presents frequently to local professional and community groups, helping them to understand the unique legal challenges when faced with an illness, making the health care process understandable. She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 40 years and believes that everyone has a right to control their own health care decisions and that their dignity should never be compromised.

She lives in the western suburbs and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Education

• BSN Benedictine University (1985)
• JD John Marshall Law School (1989)
• LLM Health Law- DePaul University Law School (1995)

Admissions

• Illinois State Bar (1989)
• Illinois Supreme Court (1989)

Professional Certifications

• Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
• Adult Guardianship/Elder Care (Certified Mediator)
• Court-Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (Certified Arbitrator)
• Board Certified Patient Advocate

Community/ Professional Organizations & Activities

• AARP - Illinois State Presenters Bureau Volunteer
• AASP DuPage - Association of Senior Service Providers- Member
• AgeGuide - Advisory Council Member
• AgeGuide - Legislative Committee Member
• Alliance of Professional Health Advocates - Member
• American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys - Member
• American Society on Aging - Member
• Assistance League Chicagoland West - Member
• American Bar Association - Health Law Section
• DuPage County Bar Association - Member
• DuPage County Bar Association Elder Law Section – Chair
• ElderLaw Counsel - Member
• Illinois Coalition on Mental Health & Aging - Member
• Illinois State Bar Association – Elder and Mental Health Law Section
• Illinois State Bar Association Elder Law Section Council - Member
• Illinois Continuity of Care - Member
• Lisle Chamber of Commerce - Member
• Naperville Chamber of Commerce - Member
• National Aging in Place (NAIPC) - Council Member
• National Association of Healthcare Advocacy - Member
• Medicare/Medicaid Counselor
• Wheaton Chamber of Commerce - Member
• TRIAD Naperville- Lisle Township - Member