Attorneys

Emily A. Donaldson has been practicing in the areas of elder law and estate planning for over twenty years, is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation , and holds an advanced degree in Estate Planning (LL.M.).  Her practice consists of advising clients on the complex issues encountered in aging, including pre-planning for the admission and access to Medicaid benefits to assist with long-term care expenses.  In addition, Emily assists clients with designing and structuring their estate plans to meet their needs and goals, whether it be preserving the family farm/business or planning for special needs.  She has counseled numerous individuals and families with special needs children through the complex legal and financial issues raised by the impairment.  These issues often require the appointment of a guardian and conservator, as well as special needs trust creation and administration.  Emily was selected as a member of the Special Needs Alliance, an invitation-only, national non-profit collective of leading disability and public benefits attorneys.  She is an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law, for the Elder Law course, and at the University of Kansas School of Law, for Estate Planning Principles and Practice.  Emily is also a member of the Probate Law Advisory Committee, as well as the Guardianship Committee, of the Kansas Judicial Council; and a frequent author and speaker on issues affecting the aged and individuals with disabilities.

Emily is a current member of the Board of Directors for ARCare, Inc. (https://arcare.org), a not-for-profit organization designed to provide service to disabled individuals and their families, including administration of a pooled trust for the benefit of disabled individuals with special needs.  Most importantly, it has been her greatest honor to serve as caregiver and long-term care planner for four dogs adopted during their golden years – each of which has tried to teach her the true meaning of life.