Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek 

PATRICIA E. KEFALAS DUDEK

Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek concentrates her practice in the area of estate planning with particular emphasis on planning for people with disabilities, elders and their families. Her practice includes advising and preparing estate planning documents, including special needs trusts; representation in Medicaid hearings to secure appropriate services, administration of estates, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements, and contested litigation in these areas.

Ms. Dudek, a 1992 graduate of the Detroit College of Law, is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association and Past Chair of the Elder Law and Advocacy Section of the State Bar. As an advocate for persons with disabilities she is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Past Chair of the Trust Special Interest Group. Additionally she volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Metropolitan Detroit, and as Chair of the Governmental Relations Committee often provides written and oral testimony on legal and public policy issues pertaining to her clientele.

A prolific Writer and Lecturer on topics related to Medicaid, guardianship and estate planning for people with disabilities, and their right to control their support services. Ms. Dudek was the author of the model contracts for Michigans Self Determination Initiative. This facilitates control over Medicaid service budgets, and allows for creative solutions for housing and supports. Another creative solution used by Ms. Dudek on behalf of her clients is the use of a Pooled Accounts Trust for Medicaid planning. She was the first attorney in Michigan to draft one of these trusts and to secure approval for Medicaid by both the Social Security Administration and the State of Michigan. Ms. Dudek advises on the administration of special need trusts in creating public/private solutions for the support service and housing needs of elders and people with disabilities. In April 2009, Ms. Dudek was bestowed the highest honor of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) by being named an NAELA Fellow, a designation for those who concentrate practice in the field of Elder Law and meet strict criteria. Only 76 attorneys hold this title throughout the United States. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of NAELA for 2012-2013

TOP

Sanford J. Mall 

Sanford J. Mall (Sandy) is Certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation. He is the founder and senior partner of Mall Malisow & Cooney, P.C. - Holistic Special Needs, Estate and ElderCare Attorneys located in Farmington Hills, Oakland County, Michigan. Sandy's designation as a CELA distinguishes him in the practice of law as having demonstrated his expertise in estate planning, elder law and special needs disability planning and advocacy. Sandy is also listed as one of the nation's Top 100 Attorneys in Worth Magazine, December 2006 edition.

Sandy is a past Chair of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Sandy's other professional memberships of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Probate and Estate Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Wealth Counsel, the Michigan Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys and the International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers. Sandy is also a sustaining member of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and the Oakland County Bar Association where he serves on both the Lawyer Referral Committee and the Public Service Committee.

In addition to his professional memberships Sandy serves on the Heart Committee of Variety - The Children's Charity and serves as Co-Director of the Waking Wisdom Foundation. Sandy is also an instructor for the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado, teaching Estate Planning to professionals enrolled in the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) program.

Mall Malisow & Cooney, P.C. - Holistic Special Needs, Estate & ElderCare Attorneys provides holistic legal service and advocacy to individuals, families, estates and businesses. The firm's full service legal practice areas include estate planning, elder law, special needs disability planning, business succession, probate, planned giving, and estate administration.

TOP