In a significant transition for one of Alabama’s most important elder law and disability planning resources, Alabama Family Trust (AFT) has announced key changes to its leadership structure following the passing of its former board president.
Leadership Transition at Alabama Family Trust
Clayton Davis, who served as President of the AFT Board of Directors since 2011, passed away on October 14, 2023. During his tenure, Davis was instrumental in establishing AFT as a vital resource for Alabama families seeking to create trusts for senior and disabled family members.
“Clayton did so much over the years to position Alabama Family Trust as a resource for families who wanted to create trusts to provide for their senior or disabled family members,” AFT Executive Director Lesley Byars said.
“He was known as one of the state’s leading attorneys in elder law, and AFT is blessed that he chose to work with us to help our elderly and disabled clients live their lives to the fullest.”
What Is Alabama Family Trust?
For Alabama residents unfamiliar with this important organization, Alabama Family Trust is a nonprofit entity established by the Alabama Legislature specifically to help families manage funds for elderly and disabled loved ones.
AFT’s primary function is to establish and administer special needs trusts that allow beneficiaries to maintain eligibility for crucial needs-based government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid while still having access to funds that improve their quality of life.
Special needs trusts administered through organizations like AFT provide a legally sound pathway to supplement a loved one’s care without disrupting their benefit eligibility.
The Importance of Specialized Legal Expertise
The new AFT leadership team brings impressive credentials in elder law and special needs planning to the organization. New board president Jennifer Griffin exemplifies this specialized expertise:
- Partner with Birmingham firm Campisi Law.
- Practice focused on elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, trust administration, probate, guardianship, and conservatorship.
- Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®).
- Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a certification awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation.
- Former chairperson of the Alabama State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section.
- Former chairperson and court liaison of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Probate Section.
- Graduate of Alabama State University and The University of Alabama School of Law.
This level of specialized legal knowledge is crucial when navigating the complex intersection of estate planning and government benefits.
For Alabama families with disabled or elderly members, having access to attorneys with this expertise can make a tremendous difference in long-term care outcomes.
Why Special Needs Trusts Matter for Alabama Families
For Alabama residents with disabled family members or those planning for elder care, understanding special needs trusts is critically important. These specialized legal arrangements address a fundamental problem: how to provide financial support to someone receiving government benefits without causing them to lose those benefits.
Government programs like Medicaid and SSI are means-tested, meaning recipients must maintain assets below certain thresholds—often as low as $2,000. Without proper planning, even a modest inheritance or personal injury settlement can disrupt these benefits, potentially causing more harm than good.
Special needs trusts solve this problem by:
- Holding assets in a legally separate entity from the beneficiary.
- Having a trustee manage funds for supplemental needs not covered by government benefits.
- Preserving eligibility for critical healthcare and income support programs.
- Providing structure for long-term financial management.
- Offering peace of mind to families concerned about future care.
Leadership Continues Tradition of Service
The new AFT leadership team brings diverse experience in senior and disability services:
Wallace T. Davis, the new vice chairman, retired in 2021 as president and CEO of Volunteers of America Southeast Inc. after more than 40 years of leadership. He continues to host “Uplifting Moments” on four Mobile radio stations and holds advanced degrees from Samford University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
LaTanya D. Rhines, now serving as secretary, has been with the AFT board since 2020. As an elder law attorney, she provides legal assistance to seniors through the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging, focusing on estate planning, institutional Medicaid, benefits counseling, and long-term care issues. Rhines is a graduate of The University of Alabama and The University of Alabama School of Law.
Jimmy Walsh, continuing as treasurer, brings valuable perspective as a litigation attorney and partner at Rumberger, Kirk and Caldwell in Birmingham.
His active involvement with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), including service as immediate past state president, connects AFT’s work to broader mental health advocacy efforts in Alabama.
Planning Implications for Alabama Families
The leadership transition at AFT comes at a time when special needs and elder care planning is increasingly important for Alabama families.
Several factors make proper planning more crucial than ever:
- Rising healthcare costs that can quickly deplete family savings.
- Increasing longevity creating longer periods of potential care needs.
- Changes to Medicaid eligibility rules that can affect planning strategies.
- Limited availability of care facilities in many Alabama communities.
- Complexity of coordinating benefits across multiple programs.
Securing Your Family’s Future with Expert Guidance
Navigating the complex world of special needs planning and elder law requires specialized legal expertise. At Baxley Maniscalco, our estate planning attorneys work closely with organizations like Alabama Family Trust to ensure our clients receive comprehensive guidance tailored to their unique family situations.
Whether you’re planning for a child with special needs or an aging parent requiring long-term care, having proper legal structures in place can make a tremendous difference in quality of life and financial security. Our attorneys understand the nuances of benefit eligibility rules and can help design estate plans that provide for your loved ones without jeopardizing essential government support.
To learn more about special needs trusts, Medicaid planning, or other estate planning strategies for family members with disabilities or aging concerns, schedule a consultation with our experienced team today by calling (256) 770-7232 or using our online scheduling tool.
Free consultation
Search our site
Browse our blog
