Tag: SSI

October 09, 2017

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Protecting Public Benefits from Child Support Payments

The majority of us know that a parent has a duty to support his or her minor children, and that…

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, CELA

August 11, 2017

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Beware of Public Benefits: The Cautionary Tale of Overpayments

Recently, I have seen an increase in the number of notices from the Social Security Administration and the Department of…

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, CELA

January 20, 2017

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Maximizing Your Child’s SSI by Utilizing ABLE Accounts

I see a large number of clients who have a child receiving SSI as a result of a disability. In…

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, CELA

December 27, 2016

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ABLE Accounts Open in Virginia

For those of you who have been waiting for Virginia529 to open the enrollment process for ABLE accounts, your wait is over. The Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law in December, 2014…

Elizabeth Boehmcke

December 02, 2016

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Decanting an Irrevocable Trust to Protect Public Benefit Eligibility

Unintended consequences can occur when people fail to consider the effect of a plan on persons with special needs. Estate…

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, CELA

Memberships & Affiliations

Special Needs Alliance

SNA is a by-invitation-only national network of attorneys serving those with special needs and disabilities and their families, the “best and brightest” in the trust and estate practice. As members, Hook Law Center lawyers work with personal injury lawyers to enhance judgments, awards and outcomes for their clients with disabilities.

ACTEC – The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

ACTEC is a national organization of peer-elected trust and estate lawyers and law professors who have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in wills and trust, estate planning and tax law. Their goals are serving clients, helping the profession, and informing the public to improve and reform probate, trust and tax laws and professional responsibility. Hook Law Center President Andrew H. “Andy” Hook and attorney Letha Sgritta McDowell are both ACTEC Fellows.

NAELA – National Academy of Elder Attorneys, Inc.

NAELA improves the quality of legal services for people as they age and those with disabilities. Members have broad experience with legal issues affecting these individuals and are committed to continuing education to hone their skills. They also lead and advocate on public policy issues facing members’ clients and their families. Hook Law Center attorney Letha Sgritta McDowell is the 2021/2022 NAELA President; she and Hook Law Center President Andrew H. “Andy” Hook have both served NAELA in various other capacities and chaired multiple committees for NAELA in the past.

Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers by region through independent research and peer nomination and evaluation. Hook Law Center lawyers who have received this accolade include Andrew H. “Andy” Hook, President of Hook Law Center; Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, practicing in elder law, special needs planning, estate and trust administration and more; and Letha Sgritta McDowell, practicing in estate planning, elder law, special needs planning and more.