Continuing Legal Education

The following is a list of continuing legal education seminars that I have attended recently:

2023

Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Summer Conference in East Lansing, Michigan on July 21, 2023. Education provider: MI-NAELA. Topics included:

• the use of Testamentary Trusts in senior estate planning and Medicaid planning.
• Michigan Medicaid hot topics
• the use of Irrevocable Trusts in senior estate planning and Medicaid planning in Michigan
• best practices for Michigan Elder Law Attorneys

63rd Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute in Plymouth, Michigan on June 15-16, 2023. Education provider: the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Topics included:

• Planning for Inherited Retirement Accounts in 2023 after Secure 2.0
• Advance Directives and Surrogate Decision-Making
• Handling Small Estates
• Post-pandemic Perspectives on Probate and Estate Planning Practice
• Trustee and Personal Representatives Duties with Professional Business Entities: Administration
• Retirement Assets and Special Needs Trusts
• Efficient Estate Planning Workflow

Medicaid and Health Care Planning Update 2023 webinar in Troy, Michigan on April 4, 2023. Education provider: the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Topics included:

• Latest Developments in Medicaid Planning
• Medicaid Practice After the Public Emergency Ends
• Medicaid Planning for Single People in 2023
• Medicaid Planning for Married Couples in 2023

Elder Law Section Spring Conference seminar in East Lansing, Michigan on March 31, 2023. Education provider: State Bar of Michigan Elder Law Section. Topics included:

• Medicaid Update
• Office Accessibility
• Vulnerable Seniors and the Attorney General
• the Michigan Attorney General's role in Charitable Trusts

32nd Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents in Michigan webinar in Troy, Michigan on February 16, 2023. Education provider: the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Topics included:

• Future-Proofing the Estate Plan
• Draft Grandchildren Trusts and Educational Trusts
• Drafting for the Professional Company
• Drafting for Digital Assets
• Drafting Engagement and Closing Letters
• Drafting for Cottage Properties
• Drafting for Disinheritance

2013

53rd Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute in Plymouth, Michigan on June 14-15, 2013.  Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Educaton.  Topis included:

• Probate and Trust Law Cases update
• the Top Ten Powers in Your Durable Power of Attorney
• the Medicaid Application
• Recent Probate and Estate Planning Legislation in Michigan
• Estate Planning for Resident and Nonresident Aliens and US Citizens with Foreign Ties
• Joint Revocable Trusts:  When to use and when not to use
• Estate Planning for the Young Family
• Administration of Trusts with Unique Assets
• Medicare and Medicaid Update 2013
• the Ethics of Estate Planning and Elder Law
• Dealing with Aging Clients
• Assisting Clients with End-of-Life Decisions
• The Non-tax Reasons for Decanting

2013 Medicaid Planning Update in Plymouth, Michigan on April 23, 2013. Education provider: the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Topics included:

• Latest developments in Medicaid Planning
• Half-a-loaf divestment planning
• Estate recovery in Michigan
• Planning to protect against exploitation of elders

Contested Estate Proceedings in Michigan in Plymouth, Michigan on April 23, 2013. Education provider: the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Topics included:

• Discovery in contested estate matters
• Challenging accountings and other breaches of fiduciary duties
• Challenging trusts and dispositive provisions
• Will contests

22nd Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents in Plymouth, Michigan on February 14, 2013. Education provider: the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Topics included:

• Drafting for changes in the Michigan durable power of attorney statute
• Grantor Trusts
• Drafting for uncertain times and changing tax laws
• Drafting for and asking about awkward topics in estate planning
• Drafting to protect estate plans from marriage
• Using defined value clauses with closely-held business interests
• Transfers of real estate into and out of trusts
• Drafting for exoneration of trustees

Financial Forecasting in Elder Law on January 15, 2013.  Education provider:  ElderCounsel.  Topics included

• Using spreadsheets to verify financial information and draft life care plans for clients.

2012

2012 Medicaid Update in Plymouth, Michigan on April 26, 2012.  Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Topics included:

1. Latest Developments in Medicaid Planning
2. Joint and Unavailable Property
3. Overview of MI Choice and PACE
4. Estate Recovery Overview
5. Estate Recovery Defenses, Strategies and Venues for Litigation

Estate and Financial Planning for Families with Special Needs Children in Plymouth, Michigan on April 26, 2012.  Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Topics included:

1. Estate Planning for Families with a Special Needs Child
2. Drafting Durable Powers of Attorney and Special Needs Trusts
3. Financial Planning Issues for Special Needs Children
4. Housing, Caregiver, and Trustee Issues for Special Needs children
5. Retirement Plan Distributions and the Special Needs Beneficiary

Social Security Practice in the Changing Landscape in East Lansing, Michigan on February 10, 2012.  Education provider:  the State Bar of Michigan Social Security Lawyers Section.  Topics included:

1. How to prove disability and make a record with pre- and post-hearing memoranda
2. Office of Disability Adjudication Review updates
3. recent Social Security law updates

2011

Planning for the Generations conference in Chicago, Illinois from July 19 to July 21, 2011.  Education provider:  ElderCounsel and WealthCounsel.  Topics included:

1. Trends in an Uncertain Planning Environment, the State of Estate Planning
2. Elder Law Update and Drafting Supplemental Needs Trusts
3. Legal Technology Trends
4. Designing the Best Medicaid Asset Protection Trust for your Clients
5. How the New Estate Tax Laws Affect Asset Protection for Seniors
6. Medicaid Planning in a Guardianship Proceding - Is it Really Possible?
7. Continuum of Care: the Ongoing Client Experience
8. Top 10 Tips for Marketing and Running an Efficient Elder Law Practice
9. When is Aid and Attendance Better than Medicaid?

Elder Law and Disability Rights 9th Annual Spring Conference in Plymouth, Michigan on March 4, 2011.  Education provider:  the State Bar of Michigan Elder and Disability Rights Section.  Topics included:the State Bar of Michigan Elder and Disability Rights Section. Topics included:

1. Involuntary Treatment in the 21st Century
2. Update on Medicare Advantage Plans
3. The update to the estate tax laws in the 2010 Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurnace Reauthorizaton and Job Creation Act of 2010
4. Navigating the MI Choice Waiver Program
5. Health Care Reform Law Resources
6. Overview of action at the state capital regarding elder law matters in Michigan

2010

Planning for the Generations conference in Chicago, Illinois from August 11 to August 13, 2010.  Education provider:  ElderCounsel and WealthCounsel.  Topics included:

1. Estate Tax Planning in 2010
2. Elder Law and Special Needs Planning in 2010
3. Design of Joint Living Trusts
4. Roth IRA Conversions in 2010
5. Trust Techniques for the Elder Law Practice
6. Planning for Persons with MS
7. Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning for Veterans
8. Adding Spice to Your Elder Law Practice

2010 Medicaid Update in Plymouth, Michigan on April 22, 2010.  Educaton provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Topics included:

1. Latest developments in Medicaid Planning
2. Waiver Services in Licensed Settings
3. When to Use a Pooled Account Trust
4. Medicaid qualification when both spouses are in a nursing home

VA Benefits in Plymouth, Michigan on April 22, 2010.  Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Topics included:

1. VA disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation
2. Claims procedures, right to appeal, and representation before the VA
3. Special Monthly pension for veterans
4. Long-term care for veterans in Michigan

Elder Law and Disability Rights Eight Annual Spring Conference in Plymouth, Michigan on March 26, 2010.  Education provider:  the State Bar of Michigan Elder and Disability Rights Section. Topics included:

1. Ladybird Deeds for Elder Law Attorneys
2. Medicaid Cross Examination
3. Avoiding Real Estate Foreclosures for Elder Law Attorneys and Insurance on Vacant Property
4. the Michigan Trust Code and Practical Tips for the Elder Law Attorney
5. What's New in Law and Technology

2009

Elder Law Planning and Drafting in Tampa, Florida from October 5-6, 2009.  Education provider:  ElderCounsel.  Topics included:

1. Gifting Pre-DRA and Post-DRA
2. Crisis Planning Strategies
3. Understanding the Theory Behind an Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts
4. Drafting the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
5. Funding the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
6. Incorporating a Revocable Living Trust, Will, and ancillary planning documents into a Medicaid Asset Protection Plan
7. Case Studies and Discussion
8. Building a sustainable elder law practice

Advising Elderly Clients & Those with Disabilities in Plymouth, Michigan on June 18, 2009.  Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Topics included:

1. Special Problems in Representing the Elderly and Disabled Client
2. Incapacity and Powers of Attorney
3. Guardianship and Conservatorship Techniques
4. Government Income and Health Programs for the Elderly and those with Disabilities
5. Medicaid Planning and Application
6. Spousal Impoverishment:  increasing the spouse's share
7. Administrative Hearings and Appeals

Drafting an Estate Plan for an Estate Under $5 Million in Plymouth, Michigan on May 5, 2009.  Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

2009 Medicaid Planning Update in Plymouth, Michigan on April 28, 2009. Education provider:  the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Topics included:

1. Latest Developments in Medicaid Planning
2. Medicare Part D and Medicare advantage plans
3. Planning for the Homestead
4. Drafting the "Solely for the Benefit" of Trust
5. Practical Tips for Turbulent Times

Elder Law, Estate Planning, and Probate attorney Andrew Byers helps people in Troy, MI and throughout Oakland County, MI including Royal Oak, Clawson, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Rochester Hills, as well as throughout the metro Detroit area, including Macomb County and Wayne County, Michigan.