Recently I came across two sets of resources for Chicago-area residents that seem worth sharing.

The Center for Economic Progress is offering free tax preparation and assistance to individuals with incomes less than $30,000 and families with incomes less than $55,000. Complete site locations and hours are available as a downloadable pdf on their site.

The Circuit Court of Cook County has a free seminar series geared toward the elderly, though applicable and open to all. Upcoming topics include: powers of attorney, reverse mortgages, foreclosures, long-term care, funeral pre-planning, property tax savings, evictions, financial literacy, social security, bankruptcy, elder abuse and exploitation, and more.

Add to these the extensive list of workshops that the City of Chicago offers for small business owners, and I’d say we’ve got a pretty rich set of options for free financial, legal and tax assistance in our city of Big Shoulders.