Total Credits: 5.0 CLE, 1.0 Ethics
The unfortunate reality is that many older adults have long periods toward the end of life when they are not able to make decisions for themselves – due to Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, a stroke, an accident, or some other serious medical condition. This seminar will be helpful for all practitioners who represent clients in seeking guardianship and/or conservatorship, and for practitioners who serve as guardians-ad-litem or court representatives in such cases.
You must complete this course by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2024 in order to receive credit with the Alabama State Bar.
| AGCHO.pdf (5.9 MB) | 135 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Ms. Glass is a Certified Elder Law Attorney, having been certified by the National Elder Law Foundation in 2001. Ms. Glass has had extensive experience in the field of Elder Law. She has been with the Elder Law Firm since 1997, and served as the attorney for the TARCOG Area Agency on Aging from 1987 to 1997. Prior to serving as Attorney for the Area Agency on Aging, Ms. Glass was on the staff of The University of Alabama School of Law, working in the Clinical Law Program and in the Trial Advocacy Program. She received her B.A. from the University of Alabama and her J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law. She is a charter member of the Alabama State Bar Elder Law Section, and currently serves as the Chair of the Section. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Elder Law Foundation and the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association. Ms. Glass is a frequent speaker to senior and professional organizations on legal issues affecting the elderly.
Alex Priester, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, graduated from The University of Alabama School of Law in 2020 with her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation. During her time in law school, she was awarded The University of Alabama Federal Tax Clinic Scholarship and the Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship. Ms. Priester received awards for best paper in each of her tax courses including Personal Income Taxation, Capital Gains Transactions, Corporate Transactions, Civil Tax Procedure, and Business and Accounting Ethics. She was inducted into the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society and served as an ambassador for future and incoming students of The University of Alabama School of Law. In addition to her academic studies, Alex served as a member of the Public Interest Student Board and was awarded the Dean’s Community Service Award, the Student Pro Bono Award, and the Order of the Samaritan for her pro bono and law-related volunteer work.
John Craft is a professor at Faulkner University - Jones School of Law. He received his B.A. degree from Auburn University and graduated cum laude from Jones School or Law.Professor Craft is overall director of the law school’s clinical and field placement programs. He teaches and supervises the Elder Law Clinic where his students provide pro bono legal services for Montgomery area seniors: preparing basic wills, living wills, and powers of attorney; providing representation during guardianship and conservatorship proceedings; and, assisting with nursing home Medicaid applications. Professor Craft is past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Alabama State Bar. He is a member of the Alabama Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse where he was the inaugural chair of its Legislative Advocacy Committee.Professor Craft chairs the WINGS (Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders) Task Force in Alabama working to improve state guardianship systems, avoid unnecessary guardianship, and prevent and address abuse.
Frank Barger was elected Probate Judge of Madison County in November 2018 and began his current term in January 2019. Prior to the election, Frank served as a senior staff member to his predecessor and as Madison County’s Elections Administrator. His experience is vast, with in-depth hands-on work in all facets of court operation. Prior to being elected, Barger personally handled more than 1,000 cases including wills and administrations, adoptions, mental health commitments, guardianships and conservatorships, and issues of eminent domain. Since taking office, he presided over more than 3,500 hearings, is credited with overhauling internal processes, maximizing the use of technology, and revolutionizing elections management. Frank takes great pride in working as a full-time elected official and serving all residents that conduct business or interact with the Court.
Before work in the Probate Court system Frank served as a non-profit executive – raising and directing community resources and leveraging state and federal funding to invest in programs that promoted education, served the elderly, children, mentally ill, and other at-risk populations. He has served on more than a dozen boards of directors focused on health and human services, leadership development, education, and the arts. Frank is focused on tackling the mental health crisis by developing a model Court for involuntary commitments, implementing procedures to protect our seniors and children, and safeguarding secure and transparent elections. He is also working to ensure citizens of Madison County receive top-notch customer service that include well-trained staff and implementation of current technology.
He is a recognized leader in the Probate Court system serving as a board member on the National Association of Election Official’s Research Advisory Board, member of the Secretary of State’s Probate Judge’s Advisory Committee, board member for the Alabama Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), and as a member of the Community Advisory Committee for WellStone Behavioral Health. Barger also serves on the legislative, mental health, continuing education, and election committees for the Alabama Probate Judge’s Association. He is frequently called upon by legislators, elected officials, and other community leaders for input on matters that affect not only Madison County but the entire state.
A graduate of Samford University, Ms. Boyd earned her law degree from the University Of Alabama School Of Law and her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ms. Boyd practiced in Tuscaloosa as an associate with Spruell & Powell, Inc. in the areas of insurance defense, probate, family and real estate law prior to joining the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. During her eight year tenure with the District Attorney’s Office Ms. Boyd was responsible for the prosecution of crimes against children, violent felony crimes and was the prosecutor for both the Mental Health Court and Drug Court programs. In January 2016, Ms. Boyd was appointed to serve as Mental Health Program Coordinator and Legal Counsel to the Shelby County Judge of Probate. In addition to her other duties with the Probate Office, Ms. Boyd has been appointed as a Special Probate Judge and presides over adoptions, commitments and other matters as assigned by the Probate Judge. Ms. Boyd serves on the Board of Directors of Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center, the Board of Directors of Leadership Shelby County and as the President of the Advisory Board of Shelby Volunteers in Service, a county non-profit benefiting senior citizens and volunteer efforts in Shelby County.
Mr. Sieja’s practice is centered on business and corporate law, probate, and estate planning with an emphasis on probate and commercial litigation. He advises his corporate clients from the formation of their companies to their dissolution and about everything in between. This includes routinely representing his clients in shareholder disputes, non-compete litigation, nondisclosure covenants, post-employment litigation, and contract litigation. In his probate practice, Mr. Sieja assists his clients, trustees, and fiduciaries with the administration of estates, distribution of probate assets, will contest litigation, attaining conservatorships and guardianships, heir disputes, and family land litigation. Mr. Sieja also works with his clients in forming their estate plans, including drafting their wills, revocable living trusts, life insurance trusts, durable powers of attorney, and advanced directives for health care. Mr. Sieja is a registered mediator with the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution.
Autumn Caudell earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama, and her law degree from Jones School of Law. She was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2013. Prior to joining the bar, Ms. Caudell practiced in a small firm for six years. She provided legal services in several different areas, including an emphasis on our indigent community through criminal and juvenile appointments as well as pro bono legal services with the Montgomery Volunteer Lawyers Program. She handled criminal and civil trial cases, as well as a substantial amount of transactional work and certificate of need (“CON”) work. Ms. Caudell joined the Bar as Assistant Ethics Counsel and Director of the Practice Management Assistance Program in 2019.
