Boulder County Senior Law Day
2020 Schedule
September 8th, 2020
Keynote Address:
2020 Lessons on Safety and Justice: How can our justice system best serve Boulder County and our older population during the pandemic and beyond?
Speaker: Michael Dougherty, District Attorney of Boulder County
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Topic: Elder Abuse
Description:
Elder abuse is an injustice with serious consequences for our victims and community. These cases are a priority for the District Attorney’s Office. Elder abuse impacts our victims, as well as the community’s health, safety and economic welfare. As the pandemic has illustrated, there are too many scams being perpetrated against our older population – particularly with computer devices and phones. In his address, Mr. Dougherty will review the predominant elder abuse issues facing our community, share current trends in investigating and successfully prosecuting cases involving elder abuse, and highlight what we can do together to better serve our community and our elder population.
Speaker Bio:
Michael Dougherty is honored to be the District Attorney for the 20th Judicial District (Boulder County). He has lived in Boulder since moving to Colorado to oversee the Justice Review Project, an effort to address wrongful convictions in the State of Colorado. Mr. Dougherty has served as the second-in-command for the First Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties) and as the head of the Criminal Justice Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Dougherty started his career as a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Executive Committee for the statewide District Attorneys’ Council and he is a member of the Colorado Best Practices Committee for Prosecutors. He is the proud father of 12-year-old twins.
September 10th, 2020
Session 1
Title: Protect Yourself from Scams & Fraud, 2020
Presenter: Lizbeth Parker, Specialist, Consumer Protection Unit, Boulder County District Attorney’s Office
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Topic: Scams & Frauds
Description:
Older adults are often targeted by individuals trying to get access to their money and personal information. The COVID-19 era is no different: in 2020, scammers are promoting fake vaccines, cures, treatments, bogus stimulus payments, and other fraudulent schemes related to the coronavirus. This presentation will provide an overview of the frauds and scams we hear about most often in the District Attorney’s Office, and will offer resources to help prevent older adults from falling victim to phone, online and in-person scams.
Speaker Bio:
Lizbeth Parker is the Specialist in the Community Protection Division of the Boulder County District Attorney’s office. She routinely handles consumer complaints and reports of fraud and financial exploitation of older adults in our community, and provides education and outreach on a number of subjects, all in an effort to help prevent our community members from becoming victims of crime.
September 15th, 2020
Session 2
Title: Access to Courts During COVID19
Presenter: Marizela Cano and Danielle Riccio, Clerk of Court / Civil Supervisor, 20th Judicial District
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Topic: Access to the Courts
Description:
General information of what to expect when the public has business at the Justice Center
Speaker Bio:
I am Marizela Cano a resident of Colorado for over forty years. My career with the 20th Judicial District began 15 years ago as a Court Judicial Assistant. In 2007 I became the County Court Specialist and soon after became a Supervisor in the Clerk’s Office over the criminal department. I took the oath as Clerk of Court on March 1, 2017. I have a strong work ethic and strive towards exemplary customer service as well as adhering to our organization’s policies. Danielle Riccio: I am coming up on my 12 year anniversary with the Boulder courts. For the last nine years, I have been the Civil Supervisor overseeing: District Civil, County Civil, Domestic Relations, Probate, Mental Health and Appeals.
Title: Access to Courts During COVID19
Presenter: Marizela Cano and Danielle Riccio, Clerk of Court / Civil Supervisor, 20th Judicial District
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Topic: Access to the Courts
Description:
General information of what to expect when the public has business at the Justice Center
Speaker Bio:
I am Marizela Cano a resident of Colorado for over forty years. My career with the 20th Judicial District began 15 years ago as a Court Judicial Assistant. In 2007 I became the County Court Specialist and soon after became a Supervisor in the Clerk’s Office over the criminal department. I took the oath as Clerk of Court on March 1, 2017. I have a strong work ethic and strive towards exemplary customer service as well as adhering to our organization’s policies. Danielle Riccio: I am coming up on my 12 year anniversary with the Boulder courts. For the last nine years, I have been the Civil Supervisor overseeing: District Civil, County Civil, Domestic Relations, Probate, Mental Health and Appeals.
September 17th, 2020
Session 3
Topic: Guardianship and Conservatorship in the Time of COVID-19
Presenter: Brandon Fields, Brandon Fields, P.C.
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Description:
A review of the basics of the Guardianship and Conservatorship proceedings for adults with
diminished capacity and the impact of COVID-19 on the court proceedings for such matters.
Speaker Bio:
Brandon Fields is in an attorney in private practice in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in elder law,
estate planning, probate, protective proceedings and long-term care and special needs planning.
Mr. Fields is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Elder Law
Section of the Colorado Bar Association and a regular speaker for the Alzheimer’s Association. Mr.
Fields is a graduate of Brandeis University and the National Law Center at George Washington
University.
Register for this session by clicking the button below.
September 22nd, 2020
Session 4
Title: Fiduciaries' Roles & Responsibilities
Presenter: Anne Jorgensen, Esq., Managing Shareholder, Attorney at Law, Jorgensen, Brownell & Pepin, PC
Topic: Fiduciaries
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Description:
This presentation will seek to define a fiduciary and the expectations that govern every fiduciary. A fiduciary handles the assets of another person, so the standards of care are high. Fiduciaries include: agent under power of attorney, conservator, and trustee, among other. The presenter will discuss and evaluate common pitfalls that can lead to problems and how to avoid those problems.
Speaker Bio:
Anne B. Jorgensen practices in areas of estate planning, trust litigation, probate, conservatorship and guardianships. In addition, she handles matters involving VA aid, and is an accredited attorney by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Always creative, genuine, and tenacious, she makes every effort to meet the various needs of her clients. Anne believes educating her clients empowers them to make better informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Register for this session by clicking the button below.
September 24th, 2020
Session 5
Title: Long Term Care Medicaid: Learning the Basics, and Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Presenter: John Estes, Attorney, Kapsack Law Firm, LLC
Topic: Medicaid / Long Term Care
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Description:
This presentation will cover the basics of Long Term Care Medicaid and Eligibility for Long Term Care Medicaid. It will cover eligibility requirements, changes to the Medicaid program, and common mistakes that people make when applying.
Speaker Bio:
John is an attorney at The Kapsak Law Firm in Longmont, Colorado, where his practice focuses on Estate Planning, Estate Administration, and Elder Law including Medicaid planning and planning for Long Term Care needs. Prior to joining The Kapsak Law Firm, John worked for Colorado’s State Medicaid department, drafting long term care regulations. John is a proud member of Niwot Rotary. In his free time enjoys training for and racing triathlon.
Register for this session by clicking the button below.
September 29th, 2020
Session 6
Title: Navigating Social Security
Presenter: Erin Eastvedt, Staff Attorney, Health and Elder Law Unit, Colorado Legal Services
Topic: Social Security
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Description:
As we get older, understanding how to navigate Social Security becomes more and more crucial. Erin B. Eastvedt, an experienced Social Security attorney, will explain the different types of benefits the Social Security Administration provides. The presentation will include information about eligibility for different Social Security programs; benefits offered by different programs; and other public benefits that Social Security eligibility may make you eligible for, as well as practical tips for dealing with the Social Security Administration.
Speaker Bio:
Erin B. Eastvedt is a staff attorney with Colorado Legal Services in the Health and Elder Law Unit in Denver. She received a B.A. in political science from Agnes Scott College and a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado and before the federal district court for the District of Colorado and the 9th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeals. Ms. Eastvedt has practiced primarily in the fields of public benefits law and Social Security disability.
Register for this session by clicking the button below.
October 1st, 2020
Session 7
Title: Estate Planning 101
Presenter: Kurt Hofgard, JD, CLU, ChFC, AEP, Hofgard & Associates, PC
Topic: Estate Planning
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Description:
Everyone has an estate plan, whether they know it or not. The real question: do you have an effective estate plan? We will discuss the basic concepts of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, probate and joint tenancy. We will also discuss the minimal documents for anyone to have an effective estate plan, including some things that you can do yourself.
Speaker Bio:
Kurt Hofgard is an estate planning in Boulder of over 26 years with his firm of Hofgard & Associates, P.C. Kurt enjoys working with clients of all sizes and shapes regardless of wealth. A Boulder native, Kurt graduated from Stanford and Lewis & Clark Law School.
Title: Estate Planning 101
Presenter: Kurt Hofgard, JD, CLU, ChFC, AEP, Hofgard & Associates, PC
Topic: Estate Planning
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Description:
Everyone has an estate plan, whether they know it or not. The real question: do you have an effective estate plan? We will discuss the basic concepts of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, probate and joint tenancy. We will also discuss the minimal documents for anyone to have an effective estate plan, including some things that you can do yourself.
Speaker Bio:
Kurt Hofgard is an estate planning in Boulder of over 26 years with his firm of Hofgard & Associates, P.C. Kurt enjoys working with clients of all sizes and shapes regardless of wealth. A Boulder native, Kurt graduated from Stanford and Lewis & Clark Law School.
Register for this session by clicking the button below.
Bonus Presentation at 1:15 pm
Title: Train Wrecks in Estates. How to Avoid Getting on Those Trains.
Presenter: John Gaddis and others, Attorney, Lyons Gaddis
Topic: Estate Planning
Time: 1:15 pm
Description:
Disputes in estates are increasing. They cost thousands of dollars in fees/costs and unbelievable
personal loss/conflict. How can you avoid these problems in your Estate?
Speaker Bio:
John works with some of the regions’ most interesting and diverse individuals to help them
maximize personal opportunities and meet challenges. He has been privileged to work on many
significant business plans, estate plans, and has been entrusted with handling estates and end of life
issues for many long-time clients.
Jennifer Spitz primarily practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration. She is
listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Trusts and Estates and Tax Law, and she is
listed in Colorado Super Lawyers.
Suzan Fritchel: Ms. Fritchel’s legal practice is focused in real estate and business transactions, real
estate development, natural resource matters and estate planning/administration.
