Surrogate’s Court Guardian Ad Litem Training 2024

Two adults hold the hands of a child

Join us November 20, 2024 for “Surrogate’s Court Guardian Ad Litem Training 2024,” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Templeton Landing Restaurant (2 Templeton Terrace, Buffalo, NY 14202).

This program is designed to provide the information necessary to allow an attending attorney to qualify as a Guardian Ad Litem in Surrogate’s Court (and other courts) proceedings by providing the attendee with information concerning Part 36 and the duties of a Guardian Ad Litem in various types of Surrogate's Court proceedings.

Join us and expand your knowledge about Part 36 of the NYCRR, the required forms, and the appointment process. In addition, you will be instructed as to your obligations as a Guardian Ad Litem in various types of proceedings.

If you attend, you can gain 5.5 CLE credits: 3.5 Areas of Professional Practice; 1.0 Ethics and Professionalism; 1.0 Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias.

This event is presented by the Bar Association of Erie County’s Surrogate’s Court Committee and the Minority Bar Association of Western New York.


Agenda*

8:00 to 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast

 8:30 to 8:45 a.m.
Opening Remarks        
Chanel McCarthy, Esq., Gross Shuman PC
Vice Chair, Surrogate’s Court Committee

Overview: Guardian Ad Litem Appointments
Hon. Acea M. Mosey, Erie County Surrogate Court Judge

8:45 to 9:10 a.m.
Review of Part 36 as it Applies to GAL; Part 36 Forms; Basis and Need for Appointment and Role of GAL; Appointment Procedures
Sara Jo Whalen, Esq., Court Attorney Referee, Erie County Surrogate’s Court 

9:10 to 10:00 a.m. 
Probate Proceedings
Linda Stavalaci Grear, Esq., Pfalzgraf Beinhauer Grear Harris Schuller LLP
Mona Baskin, Esq.

10:00 to 10:25 a.m. 
Administration Proceedings
Joseph A. Shifflett, Esq., Chief Court Attorney, Erie County Surrogate’s Court

10:25 to 10:40 a.m.
Break

10:40 to 11:05 a.m.
Accounting Proceedings
Catherine E. Nagel, Esq., Nuchereno & Nagel, PLLC

11:05 to 11:30 a.m.
Miscellaneous Proceedings and Wrongful Death Compromises; GALs in Supreme Court and Other Courts
Ellen G. Spencer, Esq., Magavern Magavern Grimm LLP

11:30am tp 12:20 p.m.
Diversity and Inclusion
Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, Esq., Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

12:20 to 12:35 p.m.
Break

12:35 to 1:00 p.m.
Guardianships/Special Needs Trusts
Thomas D. Migliaccio, Esq., Migliaccio Law Firm

1:00 to 1:50 p.m.
Ethical Considerations
Sharon L. Wick, Esq., Phillips Lytle LLP

1:50 to 2:00 p.m.
Conclusion

*Agenda is subject to slight change

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2024 Western New York Legal Diversity Career Fair