Jill Alise Adkins

Jill A. Adkins has more than 30 years of legal experience with wills and trusts, elder law, probates and trust administration. Jill makes the legal system as understandable and efficient as possible for her clients.

Comprehensive Estate Planning

Jill works with clients of all ages to create an estate plan that is tailored to each client's situation. Clients with young children need Wills that name guardians and include a mechanism for managing the children's inheritance. Older clients may wish to transfer a cabin or family farm to the next generation. Clients of all ages need advice to reduce or avoid estate taxes upon death. Proper estate planning can reduce the need for expensive court proceedings and help avoid family disputes after a death. Jill appreciates working with a client's financial planner or insurance agent to ensure all aspects of the client's estate plan, including beneficiary designations, are properly coordinated.

Incapacity and Long-Term Care Planning

Estate planning includes planning for the possibility of incapacity. A car accident, head injury or serious illness can render a person of any age unable to make medical or financial decisions. If an incapacitated person had not previously signed a health care directive or financial power of attorney, the family may be forced to seek court appointment of a guardian and/or conservator.

Elder Law and Advocacy

Jill is especially concerned about protecting the rights of older persons and much of her law practice focuses on Elder Law, which includes planning for long-term care and applying for Medical Assistance. Jill also helps older persons and their families to prevent abuse, especially financial exploitation, and to explore remedies when it happens.

Publications and Presentations

"Advancing the Socio-Economic Rights of Older Persons in South Africa: Leaping the Implementation Barriers of the Older Persons Act," ESR Review - Economic and Social Rights in South Africa (2011).

"Income Inequality and Executive Remuneration: Assessing the Role of Law and Policy in the Pursuit of Equality," South African Journal of Labour Relations (2010).