Current Issues in Conservatorships: Assuring the Best Interests of Elders and the Vulnerable are Protected

Scott MacDonald is the founder and leader of the Special Needs Team at Merrill Lynch, a group of financial advisors and client associates dedicated to enhancing the long-term well-being of special-needs, disabled and elderly individuals by offering financial advice and guidance. Scott joined Merrill Lynch in 1987 and has spent his entire career addressing the unique needs of society’s most vulnerable members. Passionate about his work, Scott provides wealth planning and investment management for Special Needs Trusts and other court-supervised trusts, as well as probate investing for Conservatorships and Guardianships. He offers extensive knowledge of various state Probate Code restrictions on investments, as well as the terms of the Uniform Prudent Investor Act. Scott facilitates close collaboration with attorneys, caregivers, trustees, fiduciaries, benefits counselors, and other professionals. A regular lecturer and media contributor, he is the author of numerous articles and publications related to special-needs and elder financial strategy.

The Honorable Judge David J. Cowan is Supervising Judge of the Probate and Mental Health Depts. of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. In that capacity, he oversees sixteen courtrooms and works with the other judges, Court management and justice partners on the operations of the Court for these disciplines. He serves on the Court’s Operations and Executive Committees. Since March 2018, he has been sitting in Dept. 3 of the Mosk Courthouse – focused solely on long or complex Probate trials and settlement conferences. Previously, he spent five years handling a Probate calendar and trial assignment; managing and deciding decedent estates, trusts, guardianships and conservatorship cases.

As the Senior Member of the Law Offices of Tamila C. Jensen, Tamila has been practicing (or teaching) law since 1973. Her early work was in the area of real estate and land use with related business issues. This often involved not only public hearings before various administrative bodies but also writs and appeals arising therefrom. Her practice always involved work in probate court and this eventually grew into a practice that now focuses on elder law, the developmentally disabled, family law, and, of course, real estate. She continue to help other attorneys with appellate issues.

As we understand elder law today, it involves a variety of services to older members of the community and their families. This includes wills and trusts, conservatorship, probate and trust litigation, medi-cal planning, special needs trusts.

Tamila has represented individuals and small business for many years and strive to provide qualify services that meet the needs of her clients.