Brief History of the Tennessee Conservatorship Project: ACC TN, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) and the law firm of Nelson Mullins formed a partnership to create the Tennessee Conservatorship Project. The first attorney training was held in 2019.
The Tennessee Conservatorship Project (TCP) provides trained pro bono attorneys and staff to represent low-income parents who need assistance in petitioning the Probate Court for legal conservatorship over young adult family members who are profoundly disabled or medically incapacitated.
In Tennessee, anyone over 18 years of age is considered a legal adult and is responsible for making his/her own decisions. By obtaining a conservatorship, parents may continue to make important decisions for loved ones who lack the ability to communicate or make decisions regarding their health, educational, placement and financial matters.
The TCP is in need of additional attorneys to represent persons seeking assistance through LAS. Attorneys who are bilingual in Spanish and other languages (including Arabic) are also encouraged to participate.
About the Training: This is an easy form driven process in Probate Court. Representatives of LAS, The Metropolitan Nashville Office of Conservatorsip Management, and Attorney Travenia Holden, who co-authored chapters on Elder Law, Guardianships and Conservatorships in the Tennessee Practice Series, will provide you with everything you need to know about handling a conservatorship case.
About the Cases: The uncontested cases take approximately five (5) hours max! Only one Probate Court appearance is required where you will ask your parent client(s) a few questions. It is a short and happy court encounter. You will be paired with a Nelson Mullins attorney to attend court with you if you are not comfortable going alone.
Who Should Attend The Training:
Attorneys and their paralegals who are interested in paying it forward to support low-income parents in caring for adult children who are profundly disabled or medically incapacitated.
Attorneys who attended the first training are encouraged to attend and refresh themselves on the process and note program updates, as well as share their personal experience working on the project.
* A light breakast will be served.
