For over 30 years, I have brought peace of mind to individuals searching for answers and coping with the stresses faced by senior citizens and their families. I offer the facts and guidance clients need for estate planning strategies, asset protection, Medicare or Medicaid planning, VA benefits, and qualification for SSI and SSD. I help clients deal with the present while planning for the future. As a long-standing member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, I keep current on the legal and financial issues that affect Americans as they age or face disabilities. By understanding and anticipating changes to the law that affect elder citizens, I have the up-to-the-minute knowledge to counsel elder clients in estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Medicare, and Medicaid planning, nursing home placement, and standard of care issues, Veterans Benefits, legal issues that affect disabled and special needs individuals, guardianship and conservatorship, estate administration and probate issues.
My passion to help the elderly and their families extend into my community. I have been an active member of the Livingston County Consortium on Aging for many years and have been a major sponsor of their two principal annual events, the Caregiver’s Fair and Senior Power Day. I established the annual Commitment to Caring Award to recognize others in our local area that have given outstanding service to the Senior community. You will regularly see me out and about in the community either at events or at seminars where I am constantly trying to help educate the senior and disabled population about their rights, and planning tools available to help them.
For fun, I enjoy being with my family, traveling, raising canaries and finches, and working hard to maintain my Master Gardener accreditation.
Estate Planning
Elder Law
Medicaid Planning
Probate and Trust Administration
Guardianship and Conservatorship Special Needs Planning
Veterans’ Benefits Planning
Wayne State University, J.D. 1986
Stetson University College of Law, 2014 LLM in Elder Law
Oakland University, B.A. 1974
State Bar of Michigan, 1986
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1987
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1987
U.S. Supreme Court, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 2014
PUBLICATIONS
Ethical Challenges in Serving the Elder Law Client, Michigan Bar Journal, 1993
Medicaid Planning, NBI, 2016 – Present
Social Security Disability, NBI, 2015 – Present
PRESENTATIONS
Numerous each year in Livingston County and around the State of Michigan on various Estate Planning, Elder Law and Special Needs Planning topics
Member Livingston County Consortium on Aging
Co-Chair, Advisory Board, Livingston County Hospice
Board Member Women’s Resource Center of Howell
Past President, Presbytery of Detroit