Mary T. Schmitt Smith, a Partner at the Lipson Neilson law firm and a nationally recognized Elder Care Law expert, presented “Drafting Your Legal Representation Agreement” at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s (ICLE) second annual Elder Care Law Institute. This two-day event was held during September 15-16, 2016. Mary’s presentation provided attendees with valuable insight into topics including identifying who is and who is not your client, establishing the essential terms of the representation agreement, laying the groundwork for timely payments, keeping “the file” and for how long and in what format, and when to end the relationship. Mary also discussed the topic of being involved after the client’s passing, and how an attorney could address this potential with a client and secure consent in advance.

Mary T. Schmitt Smith advises clients about estate planning, tax, and probate options, with a distinct focus on drafting and administration of Special Needs Trusts. She is Michigan’s first Certified Elder Law Attorney. Ms. Smith served on the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Board of Directors and was recognized as a Fellow of the Academy in 2003. In 2005, she established the Theresa Law Center PC. She has received an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell for the past 17 years, and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for the past ten years.

Ms. Smith became the ninth annual recipient of the national Theresa Foundation Award in recognition of her community service for people with disabilities in 2003. She received the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award at Disability Awareness Night at Comerica Park in August 2011. Ms. Smith is a past president of the ARC of Oakland County, the nation’s sixth-largest ARC, and served on the Board of Directors for a dozen years, then on the Advisory Board for more than a decade. She is also a member of the ElderCounsel Advisory Board.

Ms. Smith is a founding member of the Special Needs Alliance, a national network of lawyers dedicated to disability and public benefits law. She has presented on probate, tax, estate planning, and special needs trust topics for bar associations and law schools in Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Texas, and New Jersey, as well as NAELA. Ms. Smith is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals (6th Circuit), where she successfully appealed a federal district court decision interpreting Medicaid law in favor of a Trustee of a Special Needs Trust. She has published numerous articles in such publications as Michigan Bar Journal, the Oakland County Bar Association’s LACHES magazine, and publications distributed by national Elder Care organizations. To learn more please visit www.LipsonNeilson.com.

Contact: Mary T. Schmitt Smith
Phone: 248-593-5000
Email: msmith@lipsonneilson.com