Special Needs Trusts

Ms. Ruthann P. Lacey Related Seminars and Products

Brightside Estate & Elder Law

Ruthann Lacey has been in private practice as an attorney for 30 years.  From the inception of her practice she has concentrated in Elder Law and Special Needs Law – a practice that is dedicated to the unique and complex planning needs of seniors, their adult children, their grandchildren, and individuals of all ages with special needs. 

Ruthann is an alumna of Trinity College where she earned a BA in piano performance, and Emory University School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and Washington, D.C.  She is a member of the Special Needs Alliance, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP), and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). 

Ruthann belongs to the DeKalb Estate Planning Council and is actively involved with several volunteer and charitable organizations including Special Olympics Georgia and ALTA Wheelchair Tennis Leagues.  She serves on the Missions Committee at Westminster Presbyterian Church, is a past Director of the National Elder Law Foundation, a past Manager of the Special Needs Alliance, and for 17 years served as a Trustee on the Board of The Georgia Community Trust.

Ruthann is an active speaker on the local, state and national levels, to both professional and public groups and organizations, and is an editor and published author.  Engagements include serving as Program Chair for the twentieth annual Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia Special Needs Trust program; presenting at the Missouri NAELA Annual Elder Law Symposium; presenting at the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention; presenting at the Utah Elder Law, Estate Planning, and Medicaid Planning program; and presenting at Stetson University Special Needs Trusts - The National Conference.  She also has been an Instructor of Estates, Trusts and Wills and Legal Research at the National Center for Paralegal Training, and is an editor and published writer.

Among other accomplishments, Ruthann has been published in the Georgia Bar Journal and Family Law Quarterly (a publication of the American Bar Association), has appeared as a guest on the Clark Howard Show, the Layman’s Lawyer, Money Matters, Inside Money, and Atlanta Issues, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlanta Journal - Constitution and the American Bar Association Journal.

Mr. K. Trace Brooks Related Seminars and Products

Brightside

Trace Brooks is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Trace Brooks Law LLC, a Georgia law firm dedicated to exceptional client service in all facets of estate planning. In addition to the firm's foundational estate planning and probate practice, Trace Brooks Law LLC has robust practices in tax planning, business succession, elder law, and special needs. Trace's practice concentrates on the needs of business owners and other high-net-worth and high-earning individuals and families.

Through sophisticated trust and estate planning techniques involving both lifetime and testamentary transfers, Trace helps his estate planning clients secure their legacies and reduce their tax liabilities. Trace also advises individuals, trusts, and businesses on complex tax issues. Trace is well-versed in tax strategies employed by high-net-worth families and advises on international tax planning for cross-border individuals and families. Trace particularly enjoys representing business owners in succession planning.

A graduate of Georgia State University College of Law (J.D.) and the University of Florida Levin College of Law (LL.M., Tax), Trace regularly volunteers with the Center for Art Law and the Georgia Lawyers for the Arts.

Mr. David LeBron McGuffey Related Seminars and Products

Elder Law Practice of David L McGuffey LLC

Ms. Kelli L. Wolk Related Seminars and Products

Cobb County Probate Court

Kelli Wolk is Chief Probate Judge of Cobb County. She began her legal career with Cobb County Probate Court in 1999 as the Law Clerk for her predecessor, Judge David Dodd.  Judge Wolk later became a Probate Litigation and Estate Planning Attorney for a Cobb County firm.  In 2008, She was elected as the Chief Probate Judge and has presided over the court since January 2009.

Kelli has served as the President of the Probate Judges’ Council of Georgia, and has served on the Executive, Legislative, and Rules & Forms Committees.  As a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Judge Wolk is a former Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Young Lawyers’ Division.  She also served as Treasurer, Law Day Chair, CLE Chair, and Trustee at Large of the Cobb County Bar Association, and as President of the Elder Law Section.  

Judge Wolk is a Former Board Member of LiveSafe Resources and MUST ministries. Additionally, she is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Cobb and served on their board.  

Kelli graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a BS in Communications, with an emphasis in Television Production.  She later attended Georgia State University College of Law and graduated in 1999. Most importantly, wife to Ron, mom to Anna, and food source/walker of Bo.