Angela Goins
Angela M. Goins, DSW, LMSW, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work in the Social Work Program at the University of Houston-Downtown. Dr. Goins is currently the Director and Founder of the Service, Teaching, Aging, and Research Lab (STAR) under the College of Public Service. She has been a Licensed Master Social Worker since 1996. Dr. Goins’ past work experience includes over 19 years direct frontline experience as a supervisor and investigator under the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services with Adult Protective Services. She was a case manager with the Community Attendant Services (provider care) program under the Department of Aging and Disability Services for 2 ½ years. In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Goins continues her community work. She works part-time as a medical social worker with Home Health Care Network and part-time as a clinician doing therapy with clients at Shaunty Healing Center. She is an active member of the UT Consortium on Aging in Houston, Texas. She is also a faculty member with the Southeast Texas Geriatric Workforce Enhancement (SETxGWEP) Program focused on Elder Abuse in Houston. Dr. Goins is a director with the Alumni Association Board with the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston – Central Campus and she is on the Region 6 Adult Protective Services Board (Houston District).
Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: What we need to know as professionals
Anna Torres
Anna Torres was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and moved to San Antonio when she was nine years old. She proudly maintains dual citizenship of Australia and the United States. Graduating from the University of Dallas in 1991 with a B.A. in Philosophy, Anna earned her law degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. While there, she also earned an M.A. in Theology. Anna founded Anna M. Torres & Associates, P.C. (now Anna Gordon Torres, Attorney At Law, P.C.) in 2008, after almost 15 years of legal experience. As an attorney, she has represented clients in all types of Probate and Trust matters and prides herself on zealously representing her clients. She has also served as a court-appointed Guardian and Ad Litem in numerous complex and contested guardianships. Anna is active in her Church community, and a strong supporter of the A.C.T.S. ministries. She is a Board Member of the Texas Guardianship Association and a former Trustee of the Texans Can Academies.
Significant Differences in the Duties and Responsibilities of the Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem in Guardianship Proceedings
Carol Lynn Wolfram
Carol Lynn Wolfram was born into a lawyer family in Amarillo, Texas. She has practiced law in Texas for nearly forty years and helps train lawyers and judges in several East African countries through ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries). She was graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas Tech in 1981 with a major in English and a minor in Spanish. She was graduated cum laude from Texas Tech School of Law in 1984. Carol Lynn has always had a trial practice in varied areas, including bankruptcy and civil litigation. The majority of her practice now revolves around guardianship and probate contested cases. She is on the Level One Ad Litem List for Denton County Probate Courts, and is also on the Court approved Mediator’s List. She also has several years’ experience in Mental Health Court.
Significant Differences in the Duties and Responsibilities of the Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem in Guardianship Proceedings
Catherine Vergara
Catherine Vergara is a Registered Nurse, Certified Case Manager, and a Private Professional Guardian. She is currently the President of CareFor, a Care Management, Private Duty Home Care, and Guardianship Firm whose mission is to provide peace of mind through exceptional care and advocacy to the aging, ill, and injured. Headquartered in Austin, TX, CareFor serves Travis, Williamson, Bexar, Hays, Comal, Gonzalez, Guadalupe, Lee, and Bastrop counties. Catherine has experience both in clinical bedside nursing and leadership development. Her passion is to meet the growing needs of the medically complex and aging through unique solutions that keep the patient first. Catherine is currently serving as the President of the Texas Guardianship Association and the current Past President for AGE of Central Texas, a nonprofit organization serving the aging community in Austin. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University. Catherine is married to her husband, Martin and has two daughters, Millie and Frances
Professional Guardianship Program Best Practices Workshop
Courtland Kristoferson
Courtland Kristoferson is an associate attorney at the Chenault Law Firm and practices primarily in the areas of probate, guardianship, and estate planning. He has served on the mental health Court for the past six (6) years and been Court appointed in a number of fiduciary roles including as a guardian of the person and estate, temporary and dependent administrator, and as an attorney and guardian ad litem in probate and guardianship matters. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University.
Implications of Mental Health in Guardianship Cases
Courtney Carey
Courtney Carey is one of the senior directors at Denton County MHMR where she has worked for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Tarleton State University (Go Texans) & a Master’s of Science in Long Term Care, Senior Housing and Aging Services from the University of North Texas. She has been a Texas Certified Guardian and TGA Member since 2015. In 2021 Courtney was elected to serve on the TGA Board of Directors and is serving as the 2023 TGA Conference Chair. Courtney is passionate about serving and advocating for the most vulnerable individuals in Denton County and in Texas. Growing up in a rural west Texas town has also fueled her passion for other topics that effect citizens in the less populated parts of the great state of Texas. She has been married for over 22 years and they have two beautiful and wildly different daughters ages 18 & 15, along with their fur baby Leo.
Professional Guardianship Program Best Practices Workshop
Guardianship Minimum Standards for Guardianship Services
Derelle Walker
Derelle Walker, LMSW After obtaining an associate degree, Derelle enrolled at Jackson State University, in Jackson, MS where he was very active in the Social Work Program. He was elected President of Social Work Student Association and named Mississippi’s NASW Student of the Year. After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work, Derelle moved to Texas and furthered his education at The University of Texas at Arlington, receiving his Master of Social Work degree in 2011. Derelle has worked directly with persons with developmental, physical, and intellectual disabilities for 20 years. His resume includes working at a state mental health and IDD facility, a privately owned group home for adult males with Autism, staff at a Geri-psych unit in a hospital, then managing a Texas Medicaid Waiver Program for a Managed Care Organization for children and young adults with disabilities, to most recently managing the Court Visitor Program and simultaneously serving as an Assistant Court Investigator for Tarrant County Probate Court 2, Guardianship Office. Serving as Court Visitor Program Manager, he supervises and oversees all established guardianship cases utilizing his role as a Field Instructor for social work Interns from Tarleton State University, University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Christian University. As if that wasn’t enough, he is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Texas at Arlington. Finally, he sits on a Community Advisory Committee for the local authority of Tarrant County MHMR. As Court Visitor Program Manager, his responsibilities include investigating issues that arise in adjudicated cases, develop an intervention plan, monitor compliance and make recommendations regarding the guardianship for the best interest of the Ward, investing the need for appointment of successor guardians, recommending removal of a guardian when necessary, and restoration or modifications of ward’s rights whenever appropriate.
Curious Cases and Other Oddities in Guardianship Court
Dion Hobbs
Dion Hobbs brings over 15 years of experience as Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor to The Special Needs Team at Merrill. Dion works to pair the strong legacy of Merrill to his clients unique state of affairs in effort to provide tailored counsel and guidance for his most vulnerable clients which includes special-needs, disabled, and elderly individual clients alike.
He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Atlantic Union College and began his financial services career in 1996.
When Dion is not working, he enjoys traveling with his kids and volunteering with various organizations throughout his community.
Needs Based Financial Analysis: How Long will the Money Last?
Doug Quint
Doug Quint is a Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor based in the Central Texas area of Austin. He focuses on offering a comprehensive approach to managing wealth that begins with getting to know the client, their family, financial situation and what their priorities are. Doug’s experience includes an extensive background in banking which has helped him utilize industry tools that can serve his clients in several different financial advisory capacities. He is driven by his passion for delivering excellent service and helping clients pursue their goals. Doug is also part of The Special Needs Team at Merrill serving the Austin, Texas area. The Special Needs Team is a dedicated group of financial advisors and client associates who work closely with other special-needs professionals and family members to improve the long-term well-being of individuals who are unable to care for themselves. Helping the most vulnerable members of our society (our elder population and those with special needs). Our team has extensive experience collaborating with Guardians, Corporate Trustees, Estate Planning Attorneys, and Personal Injury Attorneys. Doug graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Economics and a minor in Government. He also holds two designations as a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CPFA™) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CEPA).
Needs Based Financial Analysis: How Long will the Money Last?
Dr. Pat Gleason-Wynn
Dr. Pat Gleason-Wynn, LCSW, BSN has over forty years of experience working with older adults and caregivers in various settings including hospitals, nursing homes, palliative care, geriatric outpatient clinics, and hospice. Pat is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her PhD in Social Work and a Certified Gerontological Social Worker. She taught social work at Texas State University where she was the Director of the BSW Program Work and an Assistant Professor, at Baylor University, and at The University of Texas at Arlington. She is also a Registered Nurse and Board Certified in Gerontology. She is a published author in social work and gerontological literature. Pat worked at Texas Health Resources for several years as a registered nurse and a clinical social worker. She is a long-standing member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW); in which she has held numerous leadership positions. Dr. Gleason-Wynn is a Representative for Tarrant County on the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature (TSHL) where she actively advocates for the well-being and healthy aging of all older Texans.
Compassion Fatigue: Understanding the importance of Caring for Yourself
Elizabeth Hart
Interest Group Meetings
Gene Valentini
D. Gene Valentini is the Director of the Office of Dispute Resolution Department for Lubbock County, an administrative entity that manages an innovative ADR System, which began in 1985. Gene is the Master of Dispute Resolution for the courts of Lubbock County and an adjunct professor for the Texas Tech University School of Law.
Mediating Guardianship Disputes
Honorable Amanda Matzke
Honorable Amanda Matzke graduated from Texas A & M University in 1993 and Baylor School of Law in 1996. She served as an Assistant County Attorney in Brazos County, Texas from 1996 through 2006. In 2006, Judge Matzke was elected as the judge for Brazos County Court Law #1 where she has served from 2007 to present. She was elected President of the Texas County Court at Law Judges Association in 2011 and served in that capacity from September 2012 – September 2013. In September 2013, she was elected for a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the Judicial Section of the State Bar where she served on the Legislative Committee and Ethics Committee. Currently, Judge Matzke serves as the local administrative county court at law judge for Brazos County, serves on the Budget Board for the 2nd Administrative Judicial Region and is on the Ethics Committee for the Judicial Section of the State Bar.
Judges Panel Discussion
Jeff Arnier
Jeff Arnier, J.D. is a graduate of DePaul University – College of Law and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1983 and subsequently the Texas Bar in 1991. Jeff is an experienced litigator who brought dozens of personal injury cases to court prior to his work as an ad litem on the mental health docket in Tarrant County. Jeff’s ad litem appointments culminated with full-time employment as Court Investigator for Probate Court No. 2 in 2010. Jeff reviews the cases referred to the court through Texas Estates Code 1102 to determines their merit on a case-by-case basis, filing guardianship applications on those alleged incapacitated persons whose cases and circumstances meet the multipoint criteria. By his own estimation, he has filed 500 applications for guardianship, probably more than another other lawyer in Texas.
Curious Cases and Other Oddities in Guardianship Court
Jeffrey Darling, PhD
Dr. Jeffrey Darling completed his PhD in Neuroscience from Tulane University followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout his career his focuses have circled around aging and development models surrounding sex differences in learning and memory, decision making, and cognitive function. Additional focus of his work entailed examining the impact of late age neuroinflammation on cognitive dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Currently, Jeffrey is in Medical Life Sciences working across the fields of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology, and Neuroinflammation for Life Molecular Imaging (LMI). LMI seeks to improve education for early detection and characterization of chronic and life-threatening diseases, leading to better therapeutic outcomes and improved quality of life. Jeffrey presents on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across the southern region, and when not in the field, is an avid yogi, biker, dog dad, and plant enthusiast.
Detecting Amyloid and Tau in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): An Overview of AD and Diagnostic Techniques
Jeff Rinard
Jeff Rinard serves as Director of Enterprise Planning and Regulatory Services within the Texas Office of Court Administration. He directs the operations for the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. Jeff oversees the operations of the Guardianship Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation Deterrence Program’s statewide compliance monitoring for the courts. He also manages a team of OCA project managers. Jeff has eight years of experience as the Investigations Manager with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and served eleven years with the United States Air Force.
Guardianship Legislative Update
Jeremy Lau
Jeremy L. Lau serves as CEO of Prudent Investors. He teaches the Investment Management course for California State University, Fullerton’s Trustee Certification Program and frequently speaks on fiduciary investing to attorneys and fiduciaries across various associations. Before joining Prudent Investors, he worked as an Executive Director in investment banking in Tokyo and Hong Kong for Deutsche Bank AG and UBS AG in structured credit and convertible bonds. He graduated in Accounting (with Honors distinction) from Brigham Young University and has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations.
Uncovering the Blind Spots: A Prudent Portfolio Review
John Caldwell
John Caldwell graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 with a degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors (special Honors in History). Graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1978 with a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. Current Attorney at Law. Member of the Tom Green County Bar Association and member of the Texas Guardianship Association.
Guardianship Nuts and Bolts
Judge Amy Parsons
Judge Amy Parsons – is currently the Associate Judge, Harris County Probate Court #3. Focusing on Probate docket, Heirship docket, Guardianship docket, Mental Health docket, Assisted Out-patient Mental Health Treatment docket, Ancillary-Litigation docket. Past experience in Harris County since 2004 includes Attorney – Litigation and Mental Health Staff as well as Court Investigator (Guardianship). From 1996 to 2004 Amy Parsons was the Guardian Supervisor, Legal Liaison and Case Manager for the Harris County Guardianship Program. She attended South Texas College of Law Houston with a Juris Doctor, University of Houston with a Masters Degree in Social Work and Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.A., in Social Work.
Judges Panel Discussion
Judge Christopher Everett
Judge Christopher J. Everett is the presiding judge of Denton County Probate Court No. 2. Prior to serving as the presiding judge, Judge Everett served as the associate probate court judge for Denton County Probate Court No. 1 under Judge Bonnie Robison. Before serving on the bench, Judge Everett was in private practice serving clients exclusively in guardianship, probate and estate planning, while also managing his title company. In private practice, he was certified Texas guardian for eight years. He attended Regent University for his J.D. and Syracuse University for his B.A., in Political Science and Public Relations. When not at the courthouse, the rest of his days and weeks are spent with his wife of 15 years and their five children.
Judges Panel Discussion
Judge Dave Jahn
Judge Dave Jahn is the presiding judge of Denton County Probate Court No. 1.. He is the former presiding judge of Denton County Criminal Court No. 1. He previously served as the Associate Probate Judge for Denton County for 10 years. He also served as an assistant district attorney in Denton, Wise, and Jack counties. He is a veteran of the United States Army having served nine years as a Chief Warrant Officer and Senior Army Aviator with deployments to Somalia and Kuwait. He is currently the Adjutant of American Legion “Arthur O. McNitzky” Post 71 in Denton, Texas. Judge Jahn is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Texas A&M School of Law.
Guardianship Litigation Best Practices Workshop
Implications of Mental Health in Guardianship Cases
Kirk Monroe
Kirk Monroe has been the Executive Director of Brazos Bend Guardianship Services since September 2008. He is a Social Work graduate from the University of Texas and is a LBSW and has been a Texas Certified Guardian since 2007. Kirk has also been a member of TGA since 2004 and is a former TGA Board Member. Kirk’s work in guardianship began in 2004 when he was hired by The Arc of Fort Bend County to develop a local guardianship program. The program at The Arc evolved into Brazos Bend Guardianship Services. BBGS offers 3 programs: 1) Guardianship Information Sessions 2) Guardianship Financial Assistance and 3) Guardianship Program. BBGS now employs 2 Full time Care Managers, 1 Part-Time Care Manager and 1 Administrative Assistant. We serve as the guardian to 59 incapacitated adults in Fort Bend and Wharton Counties.
Guardianship Nuts and Bolts
LaFreda Smith
La Freda Smith, NCG, TxCG originally from Oklahoma City, OK. Mother of 1 son and 8 beautiful grandchildren from 18-2 years old. BS Degree in Criminal Justice Corrections from Langston University, Langston Oklahoma. Over 20 years of case management experience, dealing with individuals with ID/D, mental health issues, HIV/AIDS and children in the foster system. Obtained my National Guardianship Certification and Texas Guardianship Certification in 2007 and has been active with both since that time. Previously employed with The Arc of Dallas for 10 years as the Director of Guardianship and Money Management Services-and currently employed with Dignity Memorial as a Pre-Planning Advisor, part time Private Professional Guardian and Advocate for individuals attempting to obtain social services from Medicaid and Social Security.
Curious Cases and Other Oddities in Guardianship Court
Liz Emerson
Liz Emerson is a Clinical Social Worker with the Denton County Veteran Service Office. Liz has been the lead of the Veteran Community Navigator program since its inception in 2016. The program started as a pilot with United Way of Denton County and was picked up in 2018 by the county and is now fully sustained under the county budget. Liz has roots in Denton starting with her completion of her bachelor’s degree in social work at University of North Texas in 2008. Liz went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2013 from University of Texas Arlington and shortly after obtained her license. In 2020 Liz obtained her clinical license after her completion of 3,000 clinical hours and sitting for an additional exam.Liz started her social work career at Denton County Friends of the Family a local shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Liz went on to provide housing services at Giving Hope Inc. realizing the critical part housing plays in success of recovery for folks in crisis. Liz completed her graduate school internship with Health Services of North Texas where she worked with individuals living with HIV for medical case management and later the Guardianship program. After graduating Liz returned to Giving Hope to pilot the counties first Street Outreach team which she facilitated for a little under four years. In 2016 the opportunity to join the pilot with United Way presented itself and Liz has really enjoyed learning the unique challenges in accessing care that Veterans face. Liz works with Veterans and their families in crisis on a daily basis assisting them with service navigation, education, and advocacy. Liz is constantly working to reduce barriers to care through advocacy and systems change on micro and macro levels. Liz values the fact that she can create change in a community where she lives.
Veterans and Guardianship
Mandy Williams
Mandy Williams is the Attorney Investigator for the Denton County Probate Courts. Mandy graduated from the University of Tennessee with a double major in History and Religious Studies while working as an emergency department tech. Mandy went on to graduate from Texas Wesleyan School of Law, now known as Texas A&M School of Law, in 2012. After passing the bar, she started her own law practice and practiced in Family Law and Probate and Guardianship. In May 2018, she joined the staff of Denton County Probate Court as the Attorney Investigator. Mandy is from North Carolina and served ten years in the Air Force. She is a veteran of the Desert Shield/Desert Storm. She is a member of the Civil Air Patrol and the local squadron in Denton, TX-413, Nighthawk Composite Squadron, has been since August 2014. She has served as the Deputy Commander for Cadets and Squadron Commander and Finance Officer for Group VI and is currently the Finance Officer for the Squadron and Assistant Legal Officer for the Wing. Mandy is a member of the State Bar of Texas, REPTL section and Denton County Bar Association, REPTL and Women Lawyers sections.
Curious Cases and Other Oddities in Guardianship Court
Veterans and Guardianship
Marie Portales Rodriguez
Marie Portales Rodriguez is a civil litigator who practices almost exclusively in the areas of guardianship, probate, estate planning and mental health law. She has held the Guardianship Attorney Ad Litem, State Bar of Texas certification since 2005. Rodriguez practices in counties that include but are not limited to Brazos, Grimes, Leon, Robertson, Washington, Harris, Travis and Bexar Counties. Her considerable experience as a guardianship, mental health and probate litigator has allowed her to provide meaningful testimony to the Texas State Legislature about the continuing need for guardianship reforms, and her specialized areas of practice often intersect with goals and needs of varying groups and organizations. Rodriguez is a frequent, featured speaker for senior living communities, adult day habilitation/care providers, adult group home service providers, special needs/special education departments of school districts, financial planners and planning groups, area hospitals, geriatric health care practitioners and centers, and at behavioral health centers/psychiatric hospitals. She also exhibits at the Brazos Valley Senior Expo, the Texas Guardianship
Association Annual Conference, and works with and speaks to the Mental Health & Mental Retardation Authority (MHMR) of Brazos Valley, the Texas Department of Adult Protective Services (APS), Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) and other disabled/diminished capacity adult care groups or protective service providers.
Significant Differences in the Duties and Responsibilities of the Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem in Guardianship Proceedings
Meghan Hutchinson
Meghan Hutchinson has dedicated her career to guardianship services. Meghan currently serves as the Director of the Guardianship Program at The Senior Source in Dallas, Texas. She began as a Guardianship Case Manager with The Senior Source in 2002. Earlier in her studies, she earned her Bachelors in Social Work from Texas Christian University where she did an internship in guardianship with the Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2. Soon after she completed her Masters in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been a board member of the Texas Guardianship Association for multiple terms throughout her career including President in 2021. Meghan has been a Texas Certified Guardian since 2007 and a National Certified Guardian since 2002 further demonstrating her value for guardianship excellence.
Professional Guardianship Program Best Practices Workshop
Paula Flowerday
Paula Flowerday graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. Before attending law school, Paula received a B.A. in History from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. After receiving her Texas law license, Paula chose to serve the people of Texas by providing legal services to governmental entities. Paula worked for the Texas Racing Commission for over 15 years, serving not only as the agency’s first General Counsel, but also its Executive Director. During her 30+ year legal career, Paula also provided legal services to the Texas Legislative Council, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Denton County Probate Court. In private practice since 2011, Paula’s legal practice is focused exclusively on probate and guardianship. Paula is a trained mediator and volunteers as a mediator for the Denton County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. Paula Flowerday resides near Pilot Point with her husband Scott and three dogs. A life-long Presbyterian, Paula and Scott currently attend Trinity Presbyterian Church in Denton, Texas. A former Board member and Board President of HOPE, Inc., Paula supports charities that stress peacemaking and social justice.
Guardianship Minimum Standards for Guardianship Services
Rachel Portnoy
Rachel Portnoy, LMSW, TxCG received her BSW and MSW from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Portnoy is the Court Investigator for Harris County Probate Court 3. In this role she investigates new guardianship referrals and applications, conducts an annual review of existing guardianships and is the social work supervisor for the Court Visitor Program. Prior to joining Court 3, Rachel managed the Community Engagement department with Adult Protective Services (APS) for 15 years. Rachel started her career as a case manager with the Harris County Guardianship Program and is proud to have spent her career advocating for our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Ms. Portnoy is an experienced public speaker, a member of various councils and non-profit boards, and volunteers with local organizations in an effort to affect positive change in the community.
Curious Cases and Other Oddities in Guardianship Court
Shelly West
Shelly B. West is currently with the Law Offices of Shelly B. West in Dallas Texas. Her education is from Southern Methodist University School of Law and Texas A&M University. Her professional licenses include:
Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and Licensed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Her specialties of practice include: Administration Of Probate Estates-With Or Without A Will, Litigation, Administration Of Trusts, Business Transfers, Family Law-Litigation, Guardianships, Guardianship Certification, Mediation And Negotiation Of Disputes Of All Types, Modification Of Trusts-Litigation, Structured Annuity Transfers-Litigation
Curious Cases and Other Oddities in Guardianship Court
Steven Fields
Steven D. Fields has been the Court Administrator/Senior Attorney for Tarrant County Probate Court No. Two, Fort Worth, TX, since 1999. He has been an adjunct professor at Texas A&M School of Law since 2010, teaching Guardianship and Estate Administration classes, and currently serves on the board of the Texas Guardianship Association. He is the past president of the National Guardianship Association (2008); past president of the Texas Guardianship Association (2004-2005); past chair for the Texas Senior Advocacy Coalition (2006-07); and was the first HHSC Texas Guardianship Director (1998-1999). He served for almost five years as Court Investigator for the Tarrant County Probate Courts (1993-1998) specializing in the filing of guardianship applications for indigent incapacitated individuals. He has been a licensed attorney since 1987 with a JD degree from the University of Oklahoma, and he specialized in guardianship, estate planning and probate law for various Texas law firms for 6 years. He has a BA degree in English from Oklahoma Christian University.
Learning from Recent Texas Guardianship Cases
Guardianship Legislative Update
Tam Cummings
Tam Cummings, PhD is a gerontologist dedicated to untangling the complexities of dementia. Dr. Tam founded her company to “inspire, educate, and empower dementia caregivers.” An internationally recognized author, educator and keynote speaker, Dr. Tam has helped thousands of families and professional care partners throughout the United States, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand understand the stages of dementia and the process of the disease. She has published four books for dementia caregivers and developed the Dementia Behavioral Assessment Tool (DBAT) for staging dementias and the FTD (Fronto-Temporal Dementia) staging tool for the behavioral, communication, and movement domains of FTDs. She is recognized as the HHSC subject-matter-expert (SME) and program designer in a 2018-2019 training for Texas skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Tam attended Baylor, Texas A&M, and Concordia Universities with degrees in journalism, social work, and gerontology.
Untangling Dementia
Terry Hammond
Terry W. Hammond, J.D., is the Executive Director of the Texas Guardianship Association, and is the Guardianship and Probate attorney for the Brazos County Courts at Law in Bryan, Texas. Mr. Hammond is a past president of the Texas Guardianship Association and the National Guardianship Association and was Executive Director of NGA from 2006-2010. Mr. Hammond earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and his Master of Arts Degree in History from Texas A&M University in 1979 and 1986, respectively, and his Juris Doctorate from the Texas Tech University School of Law in 1989.
Guardianship Legislative Update
Virginia Hammerle
Virginia Hammerle is an attorney with over 40 years’ experience in litigation, including complex guardianship and probate matters. A graduate of SMU Law School, she has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Specialization since 1995. Virginia is licensed and admitted to practice before Texas Courts and in the following Federal courts: Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She has worked with the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee and has testified before the Texas Senate Jurisprudence Committee on issues relating to aging and guardianship. Virginia is certified as an ad litem by the Texas Supreme Court and is accredited as an estate planner by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Care Planning Council, WealthCounsel and the Texas Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Virginia authors a weekly column for the Dallas Morning News on legal issues affecting seniors and is a frequent speaker at professional and community seminars.
Guardianship Litigation Best Practices Workshop
Wade Jewett
Wade Jewett is an Assistant Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor for Merrill. He serves our special needs community of professional Guardians, Trustees and Attorneys in Fort Worth, Texas. Wade is committed to providing clients with the knowledge and experience needed to preserve wealth and plan for the future. Wade focuses on creating a comprehensive approach to special needs planning and takes pride in serving society’s most vulnerable population.
Wade is a 2002 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, and lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Courtney, and their five children. After a successful career in the medical device industry, Wade has been in financial services for 3 years, joining Merrill in 2014. When not helping clients, Wade is involved in coaching Fort Worth Youth Soccer and serves on the elder board of his church.
Needs Based Financial Analysis: How Long will the Money Last?
See the schedule for when each presentation is available.