Alternatives to Guardianships 2022

Robert works as a Vice President and Senior Fiduciary Advisor for PNC Private Bank. Prior to his current position Robert served as the Chief Legal Officer for a guardianship company and has practiced in the area of guardianship and fiduciary law for nearly 15 years.  Robert represented numerous guardians and fiduciaries in orphans’ court litigation matters.  Robert also served as court appointed counsel for numerous incapacitated individuals. Robert graduated Widener University School of Law and is currently located in Philadelphia, PA.

Ms. Walz is a Supervising Attorney at the Health and Independence Unit at Community Legal Services (CLS) in Philadelphia, where she represents low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities in matters involving nursing home and personal care home residents’ rights, access to home and community based long term services and supports, public benefits and guardianship. In addition to representing clients, Ms. Walz engages in administrative and legislative policy advocacy and provides community education on elder law issues. She is an appointed member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts. She also serves as a consumer advocate on the Long Term Services and Supports Subcommittee of the Department of Human Services’ Medical Assistance Advisory Committee. Ms. Walz is the immediate past Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Elder Law Section. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989 and graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 1986 with a degree in English Literature.

Mr. Jaskowiak is a sole practitioner in Jenkintown, PA, who has been in practice since 1987. He received a Bachelor of Arts from La Salle College (now, University) in 1977, graduating maxima cum laude. After several years working as a licensed real estate broker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, he received his law degree from Temple University in 1987, graduating cum laude. His work in the area of elder law now focuses principally on litigation involving elder abuse, POA abuse and other financial exploitation issues, filial support, and guardianships. He has previously presented for the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (“PAELA”), the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Elder Roundtable for Justice, and both the Lehigh and Montgomery County Estate Planning Councils. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and the Third Circuit.

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.