Alison M. Packard

Biography:

Alison Packard is an attorney whose life experiences have prepared her to help people with disabilities. Alison attended BYU Law School, where she met and married a fellow classmate, Dan Packard. They went to classes together, studied together, and finished law school on the same day, graduating with honors. As Alison was preparing to take the Texas bar exam, her life changed dramatically when she gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Angela, who suffered a massive brain hemorrhage during delivery. Alison immediately postponed her plans to take the bar exam and devoted all of her efforts to taking care of Angela and her other children. When Alison returned to work, she helped litigate some very substantial cases worth millions of dollars. However, she soon discovered that her real passion is helping people with disabilities. Alison understands and loves her clients. She knows what it is like to fight for a child with special needs. She knows how complicated and confusing the government bureaucracy can be. She understands how important it is to have services and resources in place that will enhance the quality of life for an individual with disabilities.

Alison’s life has been a challenging and rewarding journey-full of struggles, disappointments, triumphs, and great joy. Alison has now been licensed to practice law for over 25 years, and she focuses her current practice on special needs planning, including trust and estate work, government benefits, guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, and general probate work.

Practice Areas:

• Estate Planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney)
• Special Needs Estate Planning (first-party and third-party special needs trusts, government benefits eligibility)
• Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship
• Probate Work (probate of wills, heirship determinations, independent and dependent administrations)

Education:

• Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Provo, Utah
  • J.D. with Honors – 1994
• Brigham Young University
  • Bachelor of Science, Psychology – 1990
  • Honors: summa cum laude

Professional Associations:

• State Bar of Texas
• Academy of Special Needs Planners
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• Texas NAELA, Special Needs Chapter
• Texas Bar College
• Board of Directors, Epilepsy Foundation of Central and South Texas

Certified Legal Specialties:

• Licensed to Practice law in Texas, 1996

Current Employment Positions:

• Attorney

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 1996