Webinar Series: Into the Future, Mental Health Support for Families Planning for the Future

Professionals and family members will provide insight and guidance for families who may need assistance in planning the future for their loved one with a mental health condition.

Topics:

Part 1: Guardianship (An introduction to Guardianship and less restrictive alternatives)- August 12th, 2020, 4:00-6:30pm

Join professional guardian Mary Howard-Winters and Attorney Matthew Matechik as they offer unique insight into Florida guardianships. Drawing from personal and professional experience, they will review how guardianship cases come about, how a guardian protects the person and property of a vulnerable person, the legal process for establishing a guardianship, and how a guardianship is administered.

Part 2: Financial Planning (Setting up trusts/Benefits-Medicaid, Disability), September 9th, 2020 4:00-6:30pm

This presentation will help you understand the function and purpose of a special needs trust, including first party and third party funded trusts, and explain how you can provide for your loved one in trust while preserving their ability to receive Means-Tested government benefits such as SSI and Medicaid.

Part 3: Planning for the Future (Relationships in Guardianship), October 14th, 2020, 4-6:30pm

This presentation will be given by NAMI Family members who will share their experience of long term planning to support their loved ones who have experienced a mental health condition.

Meet the Speakers:

Part 1: Guardianship, Mary & Matthew

Mary Howard-Winters has been a Professional Guardian for over 6 years. She is the owner of The Concierge Guardian, LLC. Mary has a previous history of affiliation in the medical community as well as the military and brings compassion, empathy and integrity to each and every family member she serves. She is a local who grew up in Sarasota County and is married with two sons, two dogs and five chickens.

Attorney Matthew Matechik is the owner and Attorney at the Matechik Law Firm in Sarasota. He specializes in guardianships, estate planning, probate, and elder law, serving clients in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties. He strives to make access to an attorney as easy as possible by leveraging technology to connect with clients.

Mr. Matechik is the Chair of the Sarasota County Bar Association Elder Law Section. He also holds membership in the Florida State Guardianship Association, the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section, Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, Solo & Small Firm Section, the Young Lawyers Division, and the local Elder Law Inn of Court.

Mr. Matechik holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Florida State University and a J.D. cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law. His has previous experience in the national security and counterterrorism fields. He resides in Sarasota with his wife raising their two young daughters.

Part 2: Trusts & Benefits

Michele L. Miller has been advising clients regarding estate planning options and strategies based upon the client’s specific goals, assets, and needs since 2007. Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2019, she was an attorney in private practice in Minnesota, specializing in estate and transfer tax planning and trust and estate administration. She has in-depth knowledge of estate planning tools and techniques at all levels of complexity and applies her knowledge in analyzing and providing advice regarding the estate plans options and solutions.