Family Law News

Court Reappoints Four Members To Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court recently reappointed Attorneys Paul K. Connolly, P. David Engle, Susan Stefan, and Steven L. Wollman to the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee for four-year terms, pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 221, §34E. Their terms will expire on May 1, 2010.
 
Established in 1973, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee is composed of fourteen judges and lawyers appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court for four-year terms on a staggered basis. The Committee secures and protects the legal rights of persons involved in mental health and retardation programs in the Commonwealth.

Paul K. Connolly, Jr., of Weston, is the Vice President and General Counsel of Energy East. He was formerly Managing Partner of the Boston office of the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP.

David Engle, of Shelburne, has practiced law in Northampton for twenty years. He directs the Disability Benefits Unit of the Center for Public Representation and represents mentally and physically disabled Social Security Disability Insurance clients. He has served on the Human Rights Committee of the Department of Mental Health.

Susan Stefan, of Rutland, is an attorney with the Center for Public Representation. Formerly, she was a Professor of Law at the University of Miami School of Law where she taught mental health law, disability law, and criminal law. A recognized scholar in the field of disability law, she served as a consultant on the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. She is the author of numerous books and articles on mental health law.

Steven L. Wollman, of Peabody, is a partner in the Swampscott law firm of Davids and Wollman, and focuses his practice on mental health law, juvenile law, and family law. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, former president of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and served as chair of the Community Services Committee.

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	Did You Know?
	You may be able to leave your pension to your spouse or child. In general, if you are married, your spouse is entitled to a portion of your pension if you die first. There is some cost to that, however, that usually serves to reduce the monthly retirement payments you would have received if the benefits were to be paid just during your lifetime. If you and your spouse agree, you can waive this survivor benefit protection, and/or sometimes name some other person(s) (such as a child) as your beneficiary. Consult with your family lawyer and review the plan summary carefully to find out your rights and responsibilities in this area.