Richard Habiger has been practicing law since 1970 and has extensive experience in all areas of Elder Law services, including nursing home, Medicaid/asset preservation planning. He is the former managing attorney of the SIU Law School Legal Clinic (Legal Services to the Elderly Program), where he taught practical legal skills to law students and provided counsel and representation to the elderly and other clients of the Legal Clinic for 18 years.

Habiger is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and serves as the President-Elect of the Illinois Chapter of the Nation Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. In addition, Habiger serves on the Leadership Council of the greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, having previously served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Illinois area chapter of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association. More about Mr. Habiger

Kathleen A. Kyndberg

Ms. Kyndberg has been a resident of Southern Illinois since 1977. Her hometown is Palos Heights (a Chicago suburb) and she graduated with a degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 1981, with University Honors. She graduated Summa cum Laude from SIU Law School in 1997. As a law school student Ms. Kyndberg received the Best Comment Award for her publication in the SIU Law Journal. She also received various scholarships (merit, Donny J. Schmeder, and Lowell H. Jacobson Memorial Scholarship Nomination) and Am Jur and CALI Awards. Additionally, she was a member of the Southern Illinois American Inn of Court, Phi Delta Phi and Phi Kappa Phi; and she served as a legal writing teaching assistant and as a research assistant for two years. Since law school, Ms. Kyndberg has furthered her legal education with training in such areas as mediation and elder law. Her practice focuses on property law and probate. Kathleen and her husband are proud new parents as of June 2001. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and likes to hike some of the many nature trails of Southern Illinois as time permits.

Jennifer J. Boyd

Jennifer is our Geriatric Advocate and Social Services Liaison. She has been with the firm since 1999. She handles Medicaid planning cases from beginning to end. This includes participation in the initial intake meeting with the client and the attorney to fashion an individualized plan for each family. Jennifer's fifteen years of working with the elderly population of Southern Illinois has given her a wealth of experience to well qualify her to assist with nursing home planning cases. Jennifer provides direction and ongoing support to our clients and their families, as well as communication with the various social service agencies in the area. Jennifer graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS degree in 1974 and has worked in the social service field her entire adult life. Her love of people and the elderly is paramount. Now that her two children have left the nest she can often be found swimming or hiking in the Shawnee National Forest with her Australian Shepherd, Oatie. She enjoys cooking, weaving, and guitar playing, and is always in search for more hours in the week.

Cheryl is a Caseworker and Legal Assistant who started working for the firm in 2001. Cheryl graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree through the college of Health and Human Services from Southeast Missouri State University. During her college career, Cheryl participated in two honor societies, was named on the National Dean's List five times, and was recognized by her department for academic achievement and outstanding leadership.
Prior to joining the firm, Cheryl worked for five years at Southeast Missouri Hospital in her hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Cheryl gained valuable experience caring for geriatric patients in a therapeutic environment. Being certified in Crisis Prevention Intervention, Cheryl used her skills to provide therapeutic support to both patients and their families. She has also created individualized treatment plans which provide direction for the patient's care.
Treatment plans often included group therapy sessions, which Cheryl has much experience in leading. Cheryl also has spent time educating patients and their family members regarding important information about medications.
In her spare time Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also participates in many outdoor activities which include hiking, canoeing, and camping.

Angie is the receptionist and legal assistant at our office. When you call or come to the office, Angie pleasantly welcomes you. She will listen to your needs and concerns and will direct you to the person who can best help you. She assists with scheduling appointments, maintaining files, drafting legal and other documents, preparing correspondence to clients and others and serves as a friendly and helpful contact for our many clients and their families. Angie also works behind the scenes as a Jill of all trades when she helps with any needed tasks, such as copying, filing, and keeping the fax machine, printer, and copier in good working order.
Angie has lived in Marion, Illinois all her life. In 1997 she obtained her Associate in Applied Science degree from John A. Logan Community College, with an excellent GPA and a major in Travel and Tourism. She enjoys hiking and camping in spring and fall weather. Working indoors full time, Angie takes every opportunity to participate in outdoor activities when the temperature is right. During the winter months she can be found curled up in a blanket with a good mystery novel and her two kittens.

Mindy has been with the firm since August, 2001. Mindy assists the attorneys in the office creating the Medicaid, Probate, Guardianship, and Estate Planning documents. Mindy also does the monthly statements.
Her educational and career backgrounds include a wide variety of different skills and abilities ranging from accounting and bookkeeping to personnel and office management.
Mindy enjoys spending time with her husband, Tim and their three children, Katy (10), Lauren (7), and Emily (10 months). She spends most of her time caring for her home and family. Dance class, trombone lessons, homework, soccer practice and cheerleading take up the majority of her free time, but she looks forward to spending her extra time with her loved ones.

Sally Varsa

Sally is a part-time Administrative Assistant, responsible for constituent relations. She ensures that our publications are sent to clients and others who have requested them. In addition, she fills in as needed on a variety of never-ending tasks.
Although Sally grew up in Northern Illinois, she was the first woman graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Agriculture in Animal Industries. Following an interim in Michigan, where her husband taught and earned an advanced degree and their two children were born, she returned to Southern Illinois. For twenty years, Sally was an elementary school librarian and the founder/leader of a local 4-H club. She also has been a free-lance writer/photographer, a gnotobiotic technician in Leukemia research, and a veterinarian's assistant.
For 6 years, Sally was a long-distance caregiver for her mother who suffered from dementia until her death in December 2000. Sally enjoys spending time with her husband and other family members, especially her grandson, Thomas, caring for her geriatric animals, and being active in her church community. In her spare time, Sally loves studying and listening to music, reading, gardening, being outdoors, photography, sewing, and doing volunteer work.

Marty is a part-time Administrative Assistant, responsible for staff and fiscal resources. More importantly, she also helps all of us to stay positive and focused. She frequently assists with functions such as Senior Fest, Alzheimer's Memory Walk and seminar presentations.
Marty graduated from Avila College with a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. She has had post-graduate training in a variety of subjects: Leadership; CPR; Women's Health; Community Education on Law & Justice; Pain Management; and end-of-life issues.
Marty brings to HAELO a wealth of practical experience, having worked as a secretary/receptionist and assistant for a physician. Also she has worked as a: bookkeeper in the accounting department of a NY stock exchange firm; clerk in a major employer's reinsurance company/ assistant credit manager for a hospital; and as a clerk in retail sales.
Over the years, Marty has contributed her spare time to a variety of community and charitable organizations such as the Alzheimer's Memory Walk and the WAIU Telethon. In addition, she served as the Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of the Women's Center in Carbondale, having previously worked first as a volunteer and then as the Coordinator of Guest Admissions.

Kent is our Law Clerk and a second year student at Southern Illinois University School of Law. In May of 2000, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois - Urbana / Champaign, where he was active in many school organizations.
At SIU, Kent is a member of the Illinois Student Bar Association and is a Student Ambassador, representing SIU nationwide, among other activities. At Habiger & Associates, Kent is closely mentored by attorneys Richard Habiger and Kathleen Kyndberg, primarily on trusts, estate planning, and legal research.
A native of Wheaton, Illinois, Kent has always been quite enterprising. In 1992 he started his own landscaping business. For over four years the business thrived with Kents management over five employees. While attending the University of Illinois and during the summer before he began his legal studies, Kent worked at Carle Foundation Hospital as a Human Resources intern, where he helped with legal documents, grievances, and claims.
Today Kent is kept quite busy with law school and his internship here at the law firm. When he does find some free time, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, golfing, reading and playing the guitar.

We mention all of the foregoing, not to impress you with our credentials, but to let you know that all of us at HAELO -- even those who work part-time or behind the scenes -- are hard working, experienced and committed persons who have a history of giving of themselves and, once you call us, will care passionately about you and your loved one.