Patricia
E. Kefalas Dudek is the principal of Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek &
Associates. Her practice concentrates in elder law, Medicaid and
estate planning, estates/trust administration, probate, administrative
law, and disability advocacy. Ms. Dudek represents people in securing
the support services they need to play, work and live fully in their
communities through Medicaid litigation, Pooled Account Trusts,
and Self-Determination. Her practice includes advising and preparing
estate planning documents, including special needs trusts; representation
in Medicaid hearings to secure appropriate services, administration
of estates, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective
arrangements, and contested litigation in these areas. As an outspoken
advocate, Ms. Dudek often provides written and oral testimony on
legal and public policy issues pertaining to her clientele.
A prolific
writer and lecturer on topics related to Medicaid, alternatives
to guardianship and estate planning for people with disabilities,
elders and their right to control their support services, Ms.
Dudek was the author of the model contracts for Michigan's Medicaid
Self Determination Initiative. These contracts facilitate control
over Medicaid service budgets and allows for creative solutions
for housing and supports. Another creative solution used by Ms.
Dudek on behalf of her clients is the use of a Pooled Accounts
Trust for Medicaid planning. She was the first attorney in Michigan
to draft one of these trusts and to secure approval for Medicaid
by both the Social Security Administration and the State of Michigan.
Ms. Dudek advises on the administration of special need trusts
in creating public/private solutions for the support service and
housing needs of elders and people with disabilities.
Awards
and Honors:
Council of Advanced
Practitioners (CAP) - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
(NAELA) - 2010
Membership in CAP is available only to preeminent elder law attorneys
who have made substantial contributions to elder or special needs
law. Requirements include being an NAELA member for a minimum
of 10 years, AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and either an NAELA
Fellow or Certified Elder Law Attorney.
Fellow Status
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - 2009
Their highest honor - a designation for those who concentrate
practice in the field of elder law and meet strict criteria (only
76 attorneys hold this title throughout the United States) - April
2009
AV Rated - Martindale
Hubbell
An AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment
- a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her
at the highest level of professional excellence. It is the highest
rating available to any individual lawyer.
Powley Elder Law
Award - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) -
2005
This award is presented to an NAELA member who has demonstrated
a commitment to promote, in the minds of the general public, a
greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and
how elder law attorneys advocate for those rights.
Super Lawyer
- 2009 (from SuperLawyers.com)
Attorneys are only selected for this status following a rigorous
review, including peer evaluations and professional achievements.
Chairperson
- Elder Law and Disability Rights section of the State Bar of
Michigan - 2000-2001
Board Member
- United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit
Distinguished Business
Award - Arc of Western Wayne County - 1996
Academy of Special
Needs Planners - Former Advisory Board Member
See Patti's
Publications for links to articles and presentations she has
given.
See Patti
News for latest happenings.