Special Needs Trusts
Location: LPGA International
1000 Champions Drive Daytona Beach, FL 32124
Directions to LPGA International:
Program: Special Needs Trusts
Speaker's Bio: Melissa originally joined SunTrust Bank in September 2001 and is now a First Vice President and Trust Consultant for the Private Wealth Management Department in Florida. Prior to returning to her home state of Florida, Melissa was an attorney with the law firm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, P.C. of Chicago, Illinois where she concentrated her practice in the areas of estate planning, guardianship and special needs trusts drafting and administration. Prior to joining Wildman Harrold, Melissa worked for Old Kent Bank (n.k.a. FifthThird Bank) as a Vice President and Trust Officer handling guardianship, special needs trusts and estate administration. Melissa also worked as a staff attorney for the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office representing vulnerable juveniles and disabled adults from 1992 through 1997 and previously taught as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School. Melissa has guest lectured for the Elder Law Class at St. Thomas Law School, Dade County Probate and Guardianship Bar, Developmental Disability Workshops, Fiduciary and Investment Risk Management Association and the University of Miami School of Law, where she served as an adjunct faculty member in the Spring of 2008. Melissa authored an article published in the FIRMA Forum in the Summer of 2007, titled “The Use of Special Needs Trusts and the Management of Risk”.
Melissa received her B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from University of South Florida in 1988, J.D., Cum Laude, from the John Marshall Law School in 1991, Chicago, IL and her L.L.M. in Health Law from DePaul University College of Law in 1994. Melissa was the recipient of the 2001 Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation Maurice Weigle Exceptional Young Attorney Award for her significant involvement in community activities and pro bono work. Currently, Melissa is a member of the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, where she is serving on the Transitional Independent Living Resource Center Committee, the Advisory Council to the Association for Retarded Citizens (“ARC”), and board member of The Coalition to Prevent Abuse of Vulnerable Adults and Florida’s Children First. Melissa is licensed to practice law in both Illinois (1991) and Florida (2003).
Costs: $20.00 for all attendees, payable at the door. Please note that persons making reservations and not cancelling by noon, Monday June 14th,, will be invoiced by the EPCFC for the program cost.
Continuting Education: Pending - we are applying for two hours of credits for Attorneys, CPAs, and CFPs.
Reservations: Contact Bruce Van Deusen at 386-437-2224 or by Email: bvdpa@aol.com
W. Bruce Van Deusen, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, AEP
V.P. and Program Chair - Estate Planning Council of the Fun Coast
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Office: 386-437-2224; Fax: 386-845-9249
