Leona Beane is Chair of the
Mediation Sub-Committee on Trusts, Estates, Guardianship and the Elderly. This Sub-Committee was formed last year. The Sub-Committee has meetings with attorneys
specializing and interested in the practice of trusts, estates, wills, probate,
Surrogate’s Court proceedings, contested guardianship proceedings, and disputes
involving the elderly, with resolution on these disputes by use of Mediation
techniques. It is acknowledged these
types of disputes relate to interpersonal disputes which involve a great deal
of emotions, that overcloud the disputes and the legal issues involved. We plan to schedule a CLE program each year
on related topics and establish a library of writings in this area, along with
providing demonstrations among its members utilizing mediation techniques to
resolve these disputes.
The Sub-Committee encourages
its members to engage in further efforts to promote Mediation in the Courts,
even on temporary pilot project basis in the Surrogate’s Courts in the various
counties, and also with Judges who hear contested Article 81 Guardianship
matters. The members will collect copies
of statutes from other states that include Mediation, and have these circulated
to the group as model provisions. The
Committee will be involved in training practitioners in the process and
benefits of Mediation with disputes relating to Wills, Trusts, Estates,
contested Guardianship matters, and contracts and disputes among the
Elderly. The Sub-Committee will be
co-sponsoring programs with other Bar Association Sections and Committees and
other Bar groups.
Join the Committee
Committee Roster
