Title: Of Counsel
Laura Raymond Swann’s practice focuses exclusively on Elder Law,
Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship and Trust Law. In addition to experience
counseling clients with both simple and complex estates and drafting traditional
estate planning documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney,
Laura also assists clients with Medicaid planning. Laura’s Elder
Law practice focuses on the legal needs of the elderly. As an Elder Law
attorney, she handles general estate planning issues and counsels clients
about planning for incapacity alternative decision-making documents. She
assists the client in planning for possible long term care needs, including
nursing home care, which includes the preservation and transfer of assets
of a client seeking to avoid spousal impoverishment of the spouse who
will still reside in the community when the other spouse enters a nursing
home. It also involves planning for Medicaid and disability planning,
including the use of durable powers of attorney, living trusts and ‘living
wills’ for financial management and health care decisions, and other
means of delegating management and decision making to another in case
of incompetence or incapacity.
Her practice also consists of probate and estate administration, including
petitioning for the appointment of personal representatives of estates,
preparing and evaluating inventory and appraisements, monitoring the creditors
claims process, petitioning for instructions regarding interpretations
of wills or for instructions regarding actions to be taken by the personal
representative, and petitioning for final distributions. She also advises
personal representatives regarding their fiduciary duties, the sell of
assets, and the preparation of accountings and reports. Laura’s
practice includes guardianship administration for guardians of the person
and estate of an incapacitated person.
Laura is a member of the American Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association,
and the Bell-Lampasas-Mills Counties Bar Association, and served as President
of the Bell-Lampasas-Mills Counties Bar Association in 1999-2000. She
served as President of the Bell County Young Lawyer Association in 1994-1995.
Laura has been a frequent lecturer on estate planning topics to both professional
and community groups in the Central Texas area. She’s also active
in several community and civic organizations.
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1992
Education
Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
J.D. – 1991
Honors: American Jurisprudence Award for Highest Grade – Trusts
& Estates
Honors: Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society – Order of the Barrister
Baylor University, Waco, Texas
B.A. – 1983
Major: Business
Major: Psychology
Professional Associations and Memberships
Texas Association of Elder Law Attorneys
National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
Bell-Lampasas-Mills Counties Bar Association, President, 1999 – 2000
State Bar of Texas
Bell County Young Lawyers Association, President, 1994 – 1995
Alzheimers Conference, Board Member, Presenter, 1998 – 2000
Past Employment Positions
Burleson, Cunningham & Rayl, Partner, 1997 – 1999
Jones, Burleson, Cunningham & Rayl, Partner, 1992 – 1997
Pro Bono Activities
American Heart Association, 1998 – 1999
Altruson International, Inc. of Temple, 1992 – 1998
Fraternities/Sororities
Zeta Tau Alpha