that brings you reports of developments and legislation of vital interest to the families of individuals with special needs and their advocates. This newsletter is brought to you by Law Office of Michael D. Toobin, P.C. 7006-G Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003 Phone (703) 354-7700, Fax 703-941-3291 E-mail: mtoobin@toobinlaw.net Health Care Reform Offers Something Old, Something New for People With Special Needs A comprehensive health care reform bill and an associated reconciliation bill finally passed both houses of Congress and were signed into law. We have highlighted some of the most important features of health care reform as it pertains to people with special needs. more... President's Nominee to National Council on Disability Divides Advocates for People With Autism The Senate has placed a hold on one of President Obama's nominees for the National Council on Disability due to concerns raised by members of the autism advocacy community about his views on the potential for curing autism and his call to move resources away from autism research and towards programs that seek to accommodate people with autism in the community. more... New Mental Health Parity Law Takes Effect But Questions Abound The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 finally went into effect this year, and it promises to dramatically alter the way people with mental illness receive and pay for treatment. more... Qualified Disability Trusts Can Offer Tax Savings In certain circumstances a third-party special needs trust may eligible for considerable tax savings. Here are the details. more...
6045 Wilson Blvd, Suite 101 Arlington, VA 22205 703-237-0027, Fax: (703) 237-0082, kelly@kellythompsonlaw.com, www.kellythompsonlaw.com Practice Areas SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING * Special Needs Trusts * Government Benefits * Structuring of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Settlements * Protection of Benefits When Receiving an Inheritance ELDER LAW * Medicare and Medicaid * Advance Medical Directives * Long Term Care * Guardianship and Alternatives * Health Care Quality Concerns ESTATE PLANNING * Wills * Trusts * Estate Tax Planning * Probate and Trust Administration * Planning for Special Needs/Disability KELLY A. THOMPSON Kelly A. Thompson is an attorney in Arlington, Virginia. She has worked in the trusts and estates field since 1977 as both a trust banker and a practicing attorney. She focuses her practice on trust and estate issues, with emphasis on planning for persons with special needs. She is the Northern Virginia member of The Special Needs Alliance, a national group of attorneys serving the legal needs of persons with a disability. She is also a member of the Virginia Guardianship Association and has an active elder law practice, handling all aspects of guardianship and planning for incapacity. Ms. Thompson is a member of the Virginia, District of Columbia and New York bars and holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. She served on the Board of Directors of Capital Hospice from 1998- 2006 and the Governing Board of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Virginia State Bar from 1995 2002. She is a past President of the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council and a Past President of the Alzheimer’s Association, Northern Virginia Chapter. Serving people with disabilities is a particular emphasis in both her practice and community service. She is an active volunteer with The ARC of Northern Virginia. and serves as counsel for the pooled special needs trust sponsored by that organization. She also serves on the Legal Advisors group for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Capital Chapter. She is the author of “Trust Administration in Virginia” published by the Virginia Bar Foundation (1997); author of the “Adult Incapacity”chapter of the The Virginia Lawyer Deskbook, and a frequent speaker for continuing legal education programs. Ms. Thompson resides in Arlington with her daughter, Emma, and is active with Families With Children From China. |
Special Needs Planning
 | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
