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Presented by The University of Texas School of Law
and The Wealth Management and Trust Division of the
Texas Bankers Association

Major Sponsorship Provided by The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration
Conference art

2008

Changes and Trends Affecting Special Needs Trusts

Austin Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2008
Conference Concluded
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Overview

While special needs trusts offer innovative planning opportunities for a growing client base, it has been very hard to find clear practical explanations, forms and tools to optimize the use and administration of these trusts. This program brings together leading professionals in the SNT field, and offers a great set of seminar materials, including sample forms, resources and tool sets. If you work with special needs trusts—or want to learn how to use, draft, fund and administer them—don’t miss this important program.

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Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 January 31, 2008
  • Day 2 February 1, 2008
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Afternoon, Jan. 31, 2008
    Presiding Officer:
    Patricia F. Sitchler, Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, PC - San Antonio, TX
  • 12:00 pm
    Registration Opens

  • 12:50 pm
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 1:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Special Needs Trust Overview
    An overview of self-settled and third-party SNTs – how they work, when to use them and related ethical issues.

    Randy Drewett, Attorney at Law - Beaumont, TX

  • 1:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Protecting and Maximizing Public Benefits
    Planning options – and related ethical issues – to ensure a trust’s beneficiary qualifies for the most important disability benefits: Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare; and how to manage trust distributions to avoid losing benefits while enhancing the beneficiary’s quality of life.

    H. Clyde Farrell, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX

  • 2:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Estate Planning for the Incapacitated Family Member
    This session discusses a wide range of estate planning essentials, including current disability planning documents with current forms such as durable power of attorney, medical power, directive to physicians, HIPPA authorization, and Designation of Guardian If Need Arises; advice and planning for parents of disabled children including testamentary or inter vivos SNTs, appointment as guardian when a disabled child attains age 18, etc.; and a discussion of long term care insurance products currently on the market including key features which should be included in those insurance contracts.

    Ronald R. Cresswell, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    Break

  • 3:45 pm
    0.50 hr
    Court-Created Trusts Including the 142 Trust Statute
    This presentation focuses on one of the most common ways to create a first-party special needs trust – using a court-created trust. It will focus particularly on trusts created under Section 142.005 of the Texas Property Code and will cover the significant changes to that statute that became effective September 1, 2007.

    Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC - Austin, TX
    Commentator:
    Deborah A. Green, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX

  • 4:15 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    The Changing Face of the Traditional Special Needs Trust
    This presentation will focus on recognizing creative opportunities and expanded uses for Special Needs Trusts, including utilizing SNTs in family law cases to receive and hold court-ordered support for children and spouses with special needs, the ins and outs for the Trustee of handling trust distributions of support funds, and associated ethical issues to be considered.

    Deborah A. Green, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX
    Commentator:
    Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC - Austin, TX

  • 5:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    Amending the Special Needs Trust
    This presentation will address the issues that arise in conjunction with the process of amending special needs trusts and will include sample pleadings.

    Wesley E. Wright, Wright Abshire Attorneys - Bellaire, TX

  • 5:45 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Feb. 1, 2008
  • 7:00 am
    Conference Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 7:30 am
    0.75 hr ethics
    Optional Ethics Breakfast

    The Noble Lawyer
    Ethics and professionalism viewed from the perspective of the bar throughout history.

    William J. Chriss, of counsel to Gravely & Pearson, L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 8:15 am
    Break

  • 8:30 am
    1.25 hrs
    0.25 hr ethics
    Advising Trustees on Trust Distributions in Desperate Circumstances: When Every Call is an Emergency
    A care manager, trustee, and attorney discuss how to serve a trust beneficiary's best interests when working on cases with too little money, too many needs, and constant crises. The session includes how to promote a higher level of benefits for the beneficiary and work to reduce stress for the beneficiary, family, advocates, and service providers; plus addressing capacity questions, family demands, and challenging beneficiary requests.

    Leah Cohen, arrangeCARE - Austin, TX
    Renee C. Lovelace, Attorney at Law - Dripping Springs, TX
    Nancy Sosa, Encore Trust - Austin, TX

  • 9:45 am
    0.50 hr
    Sustainable Home Care Plan: Is it an Oxymoron?
    A sustainable care plan organizes the full range of available Medicare/Medicaid benefits offered plus additional services which include care coordination, acute medical care, social/recreational activities, prescription drug benefits, chronic care benefits covering nursing home care, and a full range of home and community based services such as homemaker, personal care services, respite care, and transportation. Other pieces include the client and families approach to problem solving, assistive devices, home modification, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental care. Melding these disparate pieces into a service delivery system and keeping it going is sometimes a Herculean task. This presentation will give participants strategies to work towards that elusive goal.

    Leah Cohen, arrangeCARE - Austin, TX

  • 10:15 am
    Break

  • 10:30 am
    1.50 hrs
    0.25 hr ethics
    Housing, Housing, Housing: Ownership, Occupancy, Maintenance and Expansion
    This session examines many of the housing issues facing attorneys and trustees of special needs trusts. Who should own the home? How should the home be titled? How should an attorney or trustee manage trust distributions for building and maintaining a home? How can one deal with non-paying family member renters and other common issues? And how can attorneys, trustees and architects team up to manage housing issues more effectively?

    Moderator:
    Pi-Yi Mayo, Attorney at Law - Baytown, TX
    Karen Kirks Alexander, KKA Architecture - Salisbury, NC
    B. Bailey Liipfert, Craige, Brawley, Liipfert & Walker, LLP - Winston-Salem, NC
    Commentators:
    Sara Eileen Dysart, Sara E. Dysart, P.C. - San Antonio, TX
    Renee C. Lovelace, Attorney at Law - Dripping Springs, TX
    Nancy Sosa, Encore Trust - Austin, TX

  • Friday Afternoon, Feb. 1, 2008
    Presiding Officer:
    Renee C. Lovelace, Attorney at Law - Dripping Springs, TX
  • 12:00 pm
    Pick up Box Lunch

  • 12:15 pm
    0.75 hr
    Luncheon Presentation

    SNT Case Law Update
    This presentation will cover recent cases involving special needs trusts as well as other cases of note.

    Rebecca C. Morgan, Stetson University College of Law - Gulfport, FL
    Commentator:
    Mary Alice Jackson, Boyer & Jackson, P.A. - Austin, TX

  • 1:00 pm
    Break

  • 1:15 pm
    0.75 hr
    Planning for Children with Special Needs Trusts
    The presentation will highlight Medicaid benefits available to children with disabilities, and to children of needy families, plus trusts and other planning techniques that can be implemented to protect both types of Medicaid benefits. Additionally, the presentation will include an overview of possible trust distributions focused on providing the highest quality of life for these little ones.

    Patricia F. Sitchler, Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, PC - San Antonio, TX

  • 2:00 pm
    1.00 hr
    Agency Panel: Questions, Answers and Options
    A panel of government experts will address emerging issues arising in such programs as Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and Medicaid Estate Recovery.

    Moderator:
    Patricia F. Sitchler, Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, PC - San Antonio, TX
    Beth Brown, Social Security Administration - Dallas, TX
    Barry Ray Browning, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services - Austin, TX
    Patsy Martin, Social Security Administration - Dalls, TX
    Shari L. Nichols, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Austin, TX
    Gayle Sandoval, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services - Austin, TX
    John Stockton, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Austin, TX

  • 3:00 pm
    0.50 hr
    When Good Trusts Go Bad
    How to handle an appeal when your trust is turned down by Social Security Administration.

    Pi-Yi Mayo, Attorney at Law - Baytown, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 January 31, 2008
  • Day 2 February 1, 2008
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Karen Kirks Alexander

KKA Architecture
Salisbury, NC

Beth Brown

Social Security Administration
Dallas, TX

Barry Ray Browning

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Austin, TX

William J. Chriss

of counsel to Gravely & Pearson, L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Leah Cohen

arrangeCARE
Austin, TX

Ronald R. Cresswell

Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
Dallas, TX

Randy Drewett

Attorney at Law
Beaumont, TX

Sara Eileen Dysart

Sara E. Dysart, P.C.
San Antonio, TX

H. Clyde Farrell

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Deborah A. Green

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Mary Alice Jackson

Boyer & Jackson, P.A.
Austin, TX

Glenn M. Karisch

The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC
Austin, TX

B. Bailey Liipfert

Craige, Brawley, Liipfert & Walker, LLP
Winston-Salem, NC

Renee C. Lovelace

Attorney at Law
Dripping Springs, TX

Patsy Martin

Social Security Administration
Dalls, TX

Pi-Yi Mayo

Attorney at Law
Baytown, TX

Rebecca C. Morgan

Stetson University College of Law
Gulfport, FL

Shari L. Nichols

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Austin, TX

Gayle Sandoval

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Austin, TX

Patricia F. Sitchler

Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, PC
San Antonio, TX

Nancy Sosa

Encore Trust
Austin, TX

John Stockton

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Austin, TX

Wesley E. Wright

Wright Abshire Attorneys
Bellaire, TX

Planning Committee

Renee C. Lovelace—Co-Chair

Attorney at Law
Dripping Springs, TX

Patricia F. Sitchler—Co-Chair

Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, PC
San Antonio, TX

Leah Cohen

arrangeCARE
Austin, TX

Ronald R. Cresswell

Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
Dallas, TX

Michael J Esposito

University Of Texas School Of Law
Austin, TX

H. Clyde Farrell

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Deborah A. Green

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Glenn M. Karisch

The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC
Austin, TX

Pi-Yi Mayo

Attorney at Law
Baytown, TX

Shari M. Scholten

Wells Fargo/The Private Bank
Austin, TX

Nancy Sosa

Encore Trust
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 11.50 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Estate Planning and Probate Law, Tax Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Toggle view California – 11.50 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov.  UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 13.80 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2008
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Standard Registration
Last day for $375.00 Regular pricing: Jan 23, 2008

$425.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Jan 25, 2008

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Jan 28, 2008

Venue

Accommodations

$85.00 good through Jan 9, 2008

Parking Information

Free Self-Parking

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors! Click each logo below to learn more.

  • The Center For Special Needs Trusts Admi

    The Center For Special Needs Trusts Admi
    Because Special Needs Trusts protect eligibility for public assistance programs such as SSI and Medicaid, they present very special and unique administrative problems. The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, Inc. (the Center) is a Florida not-for-profit corporation that offers a special solution to this problem by offering specialized administrative services for Special Needs Trusts. The Center's unique combination of services can give trust beneficiaries and their families the peace of mind that comes from knowing public assistance benefits will be protected and that quality of life will be enhanced by using trust assets to meet special needs that are not provided by basic public assistance. www.sntcenter.org www.sntcenter.org/
Download Sponsor Details Become a Sponsor
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