PATRICIA E. KEFALAS DUDEK

Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek concentrates her practice in the area of estate planning with particular emphasis on planning for people with disabilities, elders and their families. Her practice includes advising and preparing estate planning documents, including special needs trusts; representation in Medicaid hearings to secure appropriate services, administration of estates, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements, and contested litigation in these areas.

Ms. Dudek, a 1992 graduate of the Detroit College of Law, is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association and Past Chair of the Elder Law and Advocacy Section of the State Bar. As an advocate for persons with disabilities she is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Past Chair of the Trust Special Interest Group. Additionally she volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Metropolitan Detroit, and as Chair of the Governmental Relations Committee often provides written and oral testimony on legal and public policy issues pertaining to her clientele.
A prolific Writer and Lecturer on topics related to Medicaid, guardianship and estate planning for people with disabilities, and their right to control their support services. Ms. Dudek was the author of the model contracts for Michigans Self Determination Initiative. This facilitates control over Medicaid service budgets, and allows for creative solutions for housing and supports. Another creative solution used by Ms. Dudek on behalf of her clients is the use of a Pooled Accounts Trust for Medicaid planning. She was the first attorney in Michigan to draft one of these trusts and to secure approval for Medicaid by both the Social Security Administration and the State of Michigan. Ms. Dudek advises on the administration of special need trusts in creating public/private solutions for the support service and housing needs of elders and people with disabilities. In April 2009, Ms. Dudek was bestowed the highest honor of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) by being named an NAELA Fellow, a designation for those who concentrate practice in the field of Elder Law and meet strict criteria. Only 76 attorneys hold this title throughout the United States. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of NAELA for 2012-2013

Firm Description

Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek is the principal of Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek & Associates and the Past Chair of the Elder Law & Disability Rights Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Her practice concentrates in elder law, Medicaid, estate planning, estates/trust administration, probate, administrative law, and disability advocacy.

Ms. Dudek represents people in securing the support services they need to play, work and live fully in their communities through litigation, trust administration and passionate advocacy.

Her practice includes advising and preparing estate planning documents, including special needs trusts; representation in Medicaid hearings to secure appropriate services, administration of estates, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements, and contested litigation in these areas. As an outspoken advocate, Ms. Dudek often provides written and oral testimony on legal and public policy issues pertaining to her clientele. 

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