This program is eligible for 3 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states. In 50-minute states, this program is eligible for 3.6 hours of CLE credit.. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Overview
Act 61 of 2023, enacted with unanimous bipartisan support, is Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive guardianship reform bill in three decades. In recognition of the fundamental rights at stake, the cornerstone of the law is mandatory representation by zealous counsel for every adult facing a guardianship petition, careful consideration of all alternatives to guardianship, and enhanced oversight of those appointed as guardian.
Hear from a panel of judges and attorneys as they discuss the upcoming changes to Pennsylvania’s guardianship law. Specific topics include:
- The history and context of guardianship reform in PA
- Review of Act 61 and how it will alter law and practice
- Appointment and role of counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person (ethics)
- Less-restrictive alternatives to guardianship for finances and healthcare
- Certification requirements for guardians with three or more clients
- Changes concerning guardianship review hearings
- Discussion of case scenarios
- And more!
Recorded in May 2024.
Faculty
Hon. Lois E. Murphy
Lois Murphy has been a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Montgomery County, since 2010, and the Administrative Judge of the Orphans’ Court Division since 2015. In the Orphans’ Court Division, she handles a wide variety of matters including will contests, guardianships, trust and estate matters, termination of parental rights, adoptions and matters related to minors’ estates and non-profit organizations. Judge Lois Murphy serves as Chair of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts. She also served as a Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Working Group on Public Access. Judge Murphy graduated from Harvard College in 1984, magna cum laude and Harvard Law School in 1987, cum laude. She served as a law clerk to Judge George C. Pratt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, as a trial and appellate attorney for the United States Justice Department and as counsel to a national non-profit organization. She practiced law with Morgan, Lewis and then at Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill and Sager, P.C.
Valerie L. Snow Esq.
Valerie L. Snow, Esquire is a Staff Attorney at SeniorLAW Center, where she leads the “Access to Justice in Guardianship” project. She was selected as a 2020-2022 Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow and as a 2022-2024 Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging Fellow, and is grateful to the Foundations for supporting her work at SeniorLAW Center. In addition to policy advocacy and community education, the Access to Justice in Guardianship project provides legal advice through the statewide SeniorLAW Helpline (1-877-727-7529) and direct representation—including representation for older adults facing or under guardianship in the Philadelphia Orphans’ Court. Valerie also serves as a member of the First Judicial District’s Elder Justice Committee and as the Community Service Liaison for the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Probate and Trust Law Section. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Haverford College.
Robert M. Lodge, Esq.
Robert M. Lodge is a Staff Attorney at Disability Rights Pennsylvania, where he represents individuals with disabilities in matters involving guardianship and supported decision-making. Robert earned his LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and his J.D. from Widener University Delaware Law School. Before joining Disability Rights Pennsylvania, he served as an Assistant Public Defender, where he ultimately became Chief of Diversionary and Re-Entry Programs, overseeing initiatives including Mental Health Treatment Court and other specialty court programs. Throughout his career, Robert has been dedicated to representing individuals with mental health conditions and other disabilities, advocating for their rights and access to justice within the legal system.
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