Events & Seminars

In recognition of May as National Elder Law Month, Attorneys John Dugan, Steven Weil, Jennifer Taddeo and Melissa Howitt are presenting a series of seminars at local Councils on Aging to educate people about elder law. National Elder Law Month is sponsored by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). The seminars are designed by the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Probate Law Section in response to the growing legal needs of older adults, people with special needs, and their families. Topics include estate planning, how to protect your home and Medicaid and Medicare issues.

Seminars are scheduled for:
May 9, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., at the Bellingham Council on Aging – Attorney Jennifer Taddeo
May 14, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at the Medfield Council on Aging – Attorney Melissa Howitt
May 15, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., at the Plainville Council on Aging – Attorney Steven Weil
May 22, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at the Blackstone Council on Aging—Attorney Jennifer Taddeo
May 22, 2013, at 12:30 p.m., at Wrentham Council on Aging– Attorney John Dugan
June 6, 2013, at 12:00 p.m., at the Millville Council on Aging- Attorney Jennifer Taddeo
June 18, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at the Attleboro Council on Aging- Attorney John Dugan

On February 26^th and February 28^th, Attorney Steven D. Weil will participate in the M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program at Sharon High School. The Program is a joint project of the Boston Bar Association and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts to teach high school students about credit, personal finance, and smart financial choices, both in the classroom and in a special field trip to the Bankruptcy Court.

Join Attorney John Dugan at this conference to discuss the issues and challenges regardnig Estate Administration under the new MUPC.

When: Friday, December 7, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Suffolk University Law School

More Information:  Download Brochure (PDF) and Register for Conference

About The Conference
The process for administering estates in Massachusetts dramatically changed in 2012 when the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) introduced new options for administering estates. The MUPC was designed to provide streamlined, efficient and private administrative procedures for the majority of estates which are routine and uncontested, while prior judicial procedures were largely retained as an option for those wishing the assurance of formal decrees before proceeding to settle an estate.

This new flexible system was designed to provide as little or as many procedural safeguards as are appropriate in varying estate circumstances. These optional procedures are available both for opening and closing estates. Since its inception, experience has demonstrated that many practitioners have opted for Voluntary Administrations and Informal Probate as anticipated. Nevertheless, the design notwithstanding, both practitioners and court personnel have encountered a number of practice issues and challenges in the implementation of the new law.

Trials & Tribulations of Estate Administration under the MUPC will outline the new procedures and options for opening and closing estates; as well as for administering real property. It will also identify the practice issues and challenges encountered by practitioners and court personnel; and, recommend measures practitioners can employ to resolve the issues.

• On October 3, 2012, Attorney Michelle M. Raymond participated in the Women’s Success Network (WSN) monthly meeting at Highland Country Club.  The networking organization held its holiday social and bazaar. Attorney Raymond is the past Chair and member of the WSN Board. The November meeting will be held on November 7, 2012 at the Franklin Country Club.  The topic is “Blueprints for Success….Ready, Set and Achieve Your Goals for 2013.” Please see www.wsninc.org for more information.

• Attorneys Michelle Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo hosted the monthly myWMT (my Wealth Management Team) at DCDC on Thursday, October 4th. The team discussed upcoming charity events and seminars.

• Attorney Michelle Raymond is scheduled to attend the extensive Alimony Summit 2012 through MCLE.  How the courts are applying the new Massachusetts Alimony Act will be the main topic of discussion along with availability of modifications under the new law.  This is an area of much debate and interest to Attorney Raymond’s clients and she looks forward to applying the new training to assist her clients.

On September 19, 2012, Attorney John Dugan is serving on panel for lawyers who draft and administer trusts to disabled children and adults. This presentation is hosted by the Massachusetts Bar on Trust’s for Disabled Persons.

• Attorney Raymond attended the Massachusetts Law Collaborative Council’s Networking Event in Dedham on September 11, 2012 which included collaborative professionals in the areas of financial and coaching neutrals.  She looks forward to including these neutrals in her collaborative and divorce practice.

• On September 27 – 30, 2012, Attorney Michelle Raymond attended the first conference of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators in E. Falmouth, Massachusetts.  She attended additional training on mediation with high conflict parties, advances in technology and financial disclosure/documentation in mediation matters.   She looks forward to integrating this new information and practices into her mediation practice.

• On September 28, 2012, Attorney Michelle Raymond attended the North Attleborough/Plainville Rotary Club charity event which supports local charities in the North Attleboro and Plainville areas.  The event was held at Gillette Stadium.

Attorney Steven Weil will participate in an Evening Legal Clinic at the Dedham District Court. Sponsored by the Norfolk County Bar Association, the Evening Legal Clinics are held monthly, usually the first Tuesday of each month, free of charge to the members of the community at a courthouse in Norfolk County from the hours of 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Attorneys agree to participate on a pro bono basis by assisting the client on a one-on-one consultation.

Attorney John Dugan is serving on panel for a seminar on guardianships and conservatorships for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education in Boston, May 31 and Worcester on June 7. The panel of experts is providing information and updates to practicing lawyers in this practice area.

In recognition of May as National Elder Law Month, Attorneys John Dugan, Steven Weil, Jennifer Taddeo and Lori Atkins are presenting a series of seminars at local Councils on Aging to educate people about elder law. National Elder Law Month is sponsored by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). The seminars are designed by the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Probate Law Section in response to the growing legal needs of older adults, people with special needs, and their families. Topics include estate planning, how to protect your home and Medicaid and Medicare issues.

Seminars are scheduled for:

May 14, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., at the Mendon Council on Aging – Attorney Steven Weil
May 16, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., at the Medway Council on Aging – Attorney Lori Atkins
May 17, 2012, at 6:00 p.m., at the Blackstone Council on Aging – Attorney Steven Weil
May 21, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., at the Millis Council on Aging—Attorney Lori Atkins
June 12, 2012, at 6:00 p.m., at HarborOne U – Attorney Jennifer Taddeo
June 14, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at the Attleboro Council on Aging- Attorney John Dugan
September 13, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Foxboro Council on Aging- Attorney Jennifer Taddeo

Please join us! On June 12th at 6p, Attorney Jennifer D. Taddeo will be presenting “Estate Planning Basics,” a free seminar at HarborOneU.  For more information and to sign up, please visit the HarborOneU website here.

Attorneys Michelle Raymond, Steven Weil and Lori Atkins will be attending the Annual Family Law Conference on March 16, 2012 in Boston.  They will be attending presentations on new case law, the implementation of the new alimony law and how it affects child support.

On March 8th, Attorney Jennifer Taddeo presented “Estate Planning Basics” at EMC in Hopkinton. Attorney Taddeo was part of a presenting with Stephen Richardson from the Social Security Administration and Jay Butler from Bay Financial.

On March 8th, Attorney Jennifer Taddeo participated in the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Reach Out for Youth and Families breakfast at the Holiday Inn Mansfield. Attorney Taddeo is a member of the Board of Managers at the Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA in Franklin.

On February 16th, Attorney Jennifer Taddeo presented “Estate Planning Basics” at EMC in Franklin. Attorney Taddeo was part of a presenting with Stephen Richardson from the Social Security Administration and Jay Butler from Bay Financial.

Attorneys Michelle Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo hosted the monthly myWMT (my Wealth Management Team) at DCDC on Thursday, March 1st.  Attorney Michelle Raymond presented an overview of the new alimony law and how prenuptial agreements are not just a divorce planning tool to the group.  She also discussed how collaborative law is a great option for most divorcing couples who want to maintain control over their divorce and lives.

On January 25, 2012, Attorney Raymond attended the Worcester Divorce Collaborative Group meeting.  The group is part of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council and includes collaborative attorneys, coaches and financial professionals.

Attorney Michelle M. Raymond will attend the 10^th Annual Family Mediation Institute held by the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation in Wellesley Hills, MA. The Honorable Paula M. Carey, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts provided the Keynote Address on “The State of the Probate and Family Court: Good, The Bad and The Ugly”.  Attorney Raymond also attended presentations on “Thinking Outside the Box: Expanding Settlement Options Beyond Off-The Shelf Solutions” and “The Intersection of Divorce and Bankruptcy”.  She looks forward to using this knowledge in her upcoming mediations, settlements and court cases.

Attorneys Michelle M. Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo hosted the monthly My Wealth Management Team meeting at DCDC.  The team of experienced financial and wealth management experts along with business coach Greg DeSimone discussed how to assist clients achieve their financial goals in 2012.  For more information about myWMT, please go to www.myWMT.org.

Attorney Michelle M. Raymond participated in the Women’s Success Network (WSN) monthly meeting at Lake Pearl Luciano’s in Wrentham.  The networking organization held its holiday social and bazaar. Attorney Raymond is the past Chair and current board member of the WSN Board.  The January meeting will be held on January 4, 2012 at the Franklin Country Club.  The speaker Janet M. Letourneau, MBA, CPBA will be speaking on “So Much to Do! So Little Time!!”  Please see www.wsninc.org for more information.

Attorney Steven Weil will participate in the Evening Legal Clinic. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Bar Foundation the Evening Legal Clinics are sponsored monthly, usually the first Tuesday of each month, free of charge to the members of the community at a courthouse in Norfolk County from the hours of 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Attorneys agree to participate on a pro bono basis by assisting the client on a one-on-one consultation.

Attorneys Michelle Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo will address the Women’s Success Network on Wednesday, November 2^nd on “Preparing For the Unexpected.”  For more information, or to register, please visit the event page at the Women’s Success Network.

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Attorney John Dugan is a member of the distinguished faculty for a series of seminars Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (“MCLE”) is running across the state through the month of October.  These seminars will prepare new and practicing estate planning and probate attorneys for the sweeping changes brought about by the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code.  The seminars will be held in Worcester, Burlington, Andover, Springfield, and via Webcast. Visit the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education website to sign up or to learn more.

On Wednesday, September 21st, Attorney Jennifer D. Taddeo will teach Estate Planning Fundamentals and Planning with Life Insurance at MCLE’s Basics Plus: Estate Planning Basics course. This two-day course is intended to familiarize attorneys new to the practice of law or new to this practice area with the essentials of estate planning. This is Jennifer’s fourth year on faculty. For more information, please visit the MCLE website.

Attorney John Dugan will be panel member for seminar on Massachusetts Probate Code on Sept. 20, sponsored by Essex Bar Association and Greater Lynn Bar Association. Other participants are Mary Schmidt, Jennifer Ulwick Rivera and Attorney Ned Notis-McConarty.

On September 7, 2011, Attorneys Michelle Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo will participate in the Women’s Success Network (WSN) monthly meeting at Lake Pearl Luciano’s in Wrentham.  Following open and table networking, Lau Lapides will be presenting “Engaging Your Audience With Presence and Energy”.  Attorney Raymond is the past Chair and current board member of the WSN Steering Committee.

On August 4, 2011, Attorneys Michelle Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo hosted the monthly My Wealth Management Team meeting at DCDC.  The team of experienced financial and wealth management experts discussed the new alimony law and its impact on our clients and myWMT’s participation in the upcoming MegaBusiness Expo 2011.  For more information about myWMT, please go to www.myWMT.org.

Attorney John Dugan will be speaking with the Wrentham Council on Aging on Wednesday May 18th. For more information, please visit MassBar.

On May 11, Attorneys Michelle Raymond and Jennifer Taddeo will host a free seminar at HarborOne U in Mansfield, Massachusetts on where therapy and coaching end and the legal world begins, focusing on how to get a practical, realistic view of divorce, custody and support options before making that crucial decision; how the law can assist people with disabled or addicted children or relatives; and how to deal with the legal aspects of family crisis in a proactive rather than reactive manner.

On May 11th, Attorney Jennifer D. Taddeo will host a meeting of the Child Care Parent Advisory Council of the Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA, and on Thursday, April 21st, she participated in a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA.