NAELA Minnesota Chapter


MN NAELA is a community of attorneys who specialize in handling legal issues affecting people as they age and those with special needs. We believe in the importance of continuing legal education, advocacy and examining public policy issues in our mission to enhance the quality of life for older adults and persons with disabilities.

Chapter News and Events

Featured Article: Update on DHS' Treatment of Non-Homestead Life Estates and Intervention by MN NAELA Chapter: Laura Zdychnec of Long, Reher, Hanson & Price, P.A.

Sometime in 2010, the Department of Human Services ("DHS") distributed what has become known as the "Life Estate Memo" to county social services agencies. The undated and unsigned Memo postulates that a non-homestead life estate held by a community spouse must be counted against his or her community spouse resource allowance ("CSRA"), but will not be counted if held by the institutionalized spouse.  Because the Memo provides for differing treatment depending on which spouse owns the life estate, it also states that married couples must identify which of their combined resources will make up the CSRA before an eligibility determination is made. 

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Minnesota UnProgram Coming in 2019!

The chapter is busy organizing our first UnProgram to be held later this year. Date and location will be announced soon! This will be a member only event, so join our chapter now to stay up to date with all things Minnesota.

NAELA Updates

Upcoming National Law Conference Focuses on Seniors and People with Special Needs - 2019 Summit

The NAELA Summit will be held November 14-16, 2019, at the Capitol Hilton. Hosted by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), this event for elder and special needs law attorneys will engage attendees beyond a lecture by offering discussi Read More

NAELA Pays Tribute on Veterans Day

Association for Elder and Special Needs Law Attorneys Observes National Holiday Recognizing Veterans for Their Service Read More

NAELA Celebrates Residents’ Rights Month in October

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care designated October as Residents’ Rights Month to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities. Read More

NAELA Celebrates National Special Needs Law Month in October 2019

NAELA established October as National Special Needs Law Month as a grassroots effort to help people with disabilities and their families understand special needs planning and the resources available to them. Read More

NAELA Advocacy Alert - SSA POMS Update

On June 25, 2019, SSA issued a new POMS on fee approvals, which in the examples provided by SSA, states that preparation/advising of certain trusts by attorneys for individuals who are now receiving, or may in the future receive SSI, requires fee app Read More

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Margaret Grathwol

Featured Member

Margaret Grathwol

Margaret "Pook" Grathwol is a partner at Chestnut Cambronne, PA and is known by everyone as Pook (rhymes with "cook") — the name is a childhood nickname and comes from a rhyme which ended with "Margaret Mary Pickle Puss" (ask her for the full story). Pook is dedicated to helping the elderly — in her world, a client in her 70's is young, a client in his 80's is getting old, and when her clients reach their 90's, she can say they "have arrived." "I...
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Lauren Fink

Featured Member

Lauren Fink

Lauren practices elder law, estate planning, special needs trust planning, and probate and trust administration. Lauren is a frequent speaker on elder law and estate planning topics. She enjoys working with clients to create custom plans to carry out their individual goals.
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