Special Needs Planning Attorneys, Laurie E. Ohall and Dana C. Kemper, to Advise Parents of Special Needs Children about to turn 18 or over the age of 18 on how to file for Guardian Advocacy without having to hire an attorney to do so.
VENUE: Guardian Advocacy Workshop
DATE: Saturday, April 22, 2017
TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
SPEAKER: LAURIE E. OHALL and DANA C. KEMPER, Special needs planning Attorneys
LOCATION: St. Joseph’s Hospital
Medical Arts Bldg—1st Floor, Classroom #1
3001 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607
Hillsborough County, FL – If your child is turning (or has turned) 18, and has been diagnosed with a developmental disability (intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, Down syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, or Prader-Willi syndrome), and continues to need your help to make financial, educational and health care decisions, you will likely need to petition the court to become a Guardian Advocate over your child.
Unfortunately, when a child with special needs turns 18, he or she is still considered a considered a “legal adult” in the eyes of the law—despite his or her disabilities.
Because of this, parents and caregivers are often prevented by law from making medical decisions, speaking to financial institutions or even managing the child’s benefits.
That is why filing for Guardianship is so critically important for parents of teens with disabilities in Florida. Only the local courts can award parents continuing legal authority to oversee their child’s personal, financial and medical affairs as he or she transitions into adulthood.
Unfortunately for parents, Guardianship can be a costly and time-consuming legal process, and the court administrators are not able to answer questions or help families because they cannot give legal advice.
Before you walk down this complicated road, parents, grandparents and caregivers are invited to join local attorneys Laurie Ohall and Dana Kemper for a free Guardian Advocacy Workshop to learn:
• How to file to be the Guardians Advocate for your child on your own, without an attorney in Florida, if you can’t afford one.
• How to avoid paying the court fees associated with petitioning the court for Guardianship if you are filing on your own.
• Exactly how to fill out the paperwork required by the courts. The attorneys will go step-by-step through all required documents to ensure parents have the correct information in place to avoid delays and denials.
• Additional legal planning strategies that parents can utilize to ensure your child has a smooth and protected transition into adulthood.
Laurie E. Ohall is a local Florida Board Certified Elder Law Attorney and is licensed in both Florida and Ohio. Dana Kemper, a local Elder Law Attorney, is licensed in Florida.
Admission is free. You must RSVP and a link will be sent to you so that you can print out the forms and bring them with you to the workshop. The workshop begins at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Medical Arts Building at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Seating is limited to 45 spots. To RSVP, simply visit http://ohalllaw.com/free-guardian-advocacy-workshop/ or call 813-438-8503.