Total Credits: 6 including 5 CLE, 1 Ethics
Attendees will receive a bound copy of the newly revised Alabama Probate Law and Procedure. Authored by Thomas A. Nettles IV and revised by Judge James P. Naftel II, this comprehensive publication collects, summarizes and organizes all Alabama statutes relating to the administration of decedent’s estates, and includes illustrative cases as well as suggested pleadings and forms. An essential tool for attorneys new to the area of probate, it will also serve as a valuable reference aid for seasoned practitioners.
Judge Naftel received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Mississippi, and his J.D., magna cum laude, from The University of Alabama School of Law. His practice concentrates in the areas of Estate planning (advice, planning, drafting and implementation of wills and trusts); probate (estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship); estate administration; and estate litigation. Mr. Naftel is a member of the American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trusts Section), the Alabama State Bar Association, the Estate Planning Council of Birmingham, and the Birmingham Bar Association.
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.
DAVID B. WELBORN is a partner with Browder & Welborn, LLC, who practices in the areas of estate and asset protection planning, business planning, elder law, probate, and tax law. His knowledge and experience in finance, real estate, and business is a great asset in assisting clients across his areas of practice. David was admitted to practice law in the State of Georgia in 2009, the State of Alabama in 2010, and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He earned his B.S. degree in Finance (Real Estate) from the University of Alabama, his M.B.A. degree from the University of Alabama Graduate School of Business, and his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. In law school, David drafted the “best paper” for the Business Planning final exam, was selected to the Trial Advocacy Team competition class, was a winner of the Dean’s Community Service Award, and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. David practiced with a large law firm in Atlanta, Georgia, before he and his wife returned to Alabama. David is a Lead Counsel Rated Attorney in Estate Planning Law. He has appeared on the television show, “Law Call,” and is a frequent seminar speaker on matters in the areas of estate, asset protection, business and tax planning. In 2017 and 2018, David was selected as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Estate Planning & Probate.
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.
Cynthia was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. She graduated from Central High School and then attended Vanderbilt University. She received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Alabama, majoring in History and minoring in Spanish, and she also received her Juris Doctor from The University of Alabama School of Law. Cynthia is an attorney in the private practice of law where she concentrates in estate planning and probate, business law, and real estate. She also owns a title company, Capitol Park Title.
In 2021, Cynthia was elected to the State of Alabama House of Representatives for District 63 in Tuscaloosa. She currently serves as Chair of the Tuscaloosa County Local Legislative Delegation and as a member of the Ways and Means Education Committee, the Judiciary Committee, Rules Committee, and serves as Vice-Chair of Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee. Previously, she served four terms on the Tuscaloosa City Council where she was elected by her peers as President Pro Tem of the council and served as Chair of the Finance committee. She is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and Co-Chair for its West Alabama Regional Council; she serves on the Capstone Health Services Foundation and on its Finance Committee, the Hank Poore Foundation, Immediate Past Chair of the State Bar Association’s Real Property/Probate/Trust section, and the BankFirst Advisory Board; and she is a member of and serves as a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church. She previously served on and Chaired the West Alabama Regional Commission, and she also served on the Tuscaloosa County Tax Board. Cynthia has two children, Lee and Miller. In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys playing the piano, tennis, walking, running, mountain bike riding, kayaking, and most any other outdoor activity!
