Victoria Elizabeth Heuler

Victoria Elizabeth Heuler is Past Chair of the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section and has been an active Elder Law Attorney since 2000. Victoria is a Board Certified Specialist (B.C.S.) by the Florida Bar in Elder Law and has been continuously certified since 2007. Victoria is a member in good standing of both the Florida and Georgia bars and concentrates on matters involving incapacity and guardianship issues; protection of the rights of people with disabilities and people as they age; representation of fiduciaries and health care agents; end-of- life issues and advanced directives; advocacy and representation in matters involving exploitation of vulnerable adults; and estate and trust administration. Victoria is a prior board member and Past Chair of Elder Care Services, Inc., and a prior board member and President of The Alzheimer’s Project, Inc., both extraordinary non-profit organizations in Tallahassee, Florida. In her free time, Victoria walks, plays tennis and pickleball, rides her mountain bike, enjoys eating great food with her husband, travelling and spending time with her adult daughters. She also enjoys time with her rescues, kitty cat Aspen and pug Aristotle.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Frequent speaker on aging issues and planning options (health care surrogates, living wills, guardianship, incapacity issues, abuse and exploitation awareness and prevention, and planning for long term care needs).

Created and implemented Advance Directive Interactive Clinic - 2004

March 2004 - Multiple Sclerosis Society, Tallahassee, Florida

Created, presented and provided advice via Interactive Advance Directive Clinic to multiple sclerosis sufferers

July 2004 - Westminster Retirement Community, Tallahassee, Florida

Presentation to the Red Hat Society members (women)

Topic: Prepare and Beware: A Woman's Guide to Legal Control

Sept. 2004 - Alterra Sterling House Assisted Living, Tallahassee, Florida

Presentation to professionals

Topic: Advance Directives Issues for the Professional

Aug. 2004 - Multiple Sclerosis Society

Teleconferences for persons with Multiple Sclerosis, one in each month

Topics: Advance Directives, Living Wills, Durable

Oct. 2004 - Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Exploitation and Abuse

Oct. 2004 - Alterra Clare Bridge Assisted Living, Tallahassee, Florida

Small group discussion with family caregivers of Alzheimer-type dementia loved ones

Topic: Dispelling Myths and Mysteries about Advance Directives and Powers of Attorney

April 2005 - Senior Center, Madison, Florida (rural community)

Presentation to caregivers of Alzheimer-type dementia loved ones

Topic: Planning Options, and Understanding Advanced Directives and Similar Planning Documents

May 2005 - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

San Francisco, CA (Annual Symposium)

Fundamentals Day for new elder law attorneys

Topic: Litigation Issues Involving Elderly and Disabled Persons

Jan. 2005 - Capital Coalition, Tallahassee, Florida

Presentation to coalition of professionals in North Florida region involved in the needs of the aging and disabled

Topic: Advance Directives: A Guide for Surrogate Decision Makers

Jan. 2006 - Tallahassee Memorial Hospital & Capital Regional Medical Center, Tallahassee, FL

Panelist for community ethics and end of life discussions

April 2006 - HealthSouth Rehabilitation, Tallahassee, Florida

Clinic with breakout sessions for variety of health care professionals

Topic: Self Determination and the Client's Legal Documents: Who's in Charge

April 2006 - Developmental Disabilities Council, District 2, Tallahassee, Florida

Discussion with Developmental Disabilities leaders

Topic: Advance Directives and Guardianship Issues for persons with

Developmental Disabilities

May 2006 - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Washington, D.C. (Annual Symposium)

Panelist: Policy Advocacy Panel

Topic: State Advocacy Models

May 2006 - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Washington, D.C. (Annual Symposium)

Participant in Mock Trial Presentation

Topic: Guardianship Capacity question

May 2006 - Broadview Assisted Living, Tallahassee, Florida

Presentation to family caregivers of elder persons with Dementia

Topic: Advance Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Guardianship

Aug. 2006 - Educational Services, Inc.

Presentation to professionals in the aging arena

Topic: Medicaid (I presented on the basics of Medicaid and its structure)

Jan. 2007 - Wise Choices Guardianship Training Workshop

Two-day event (Day one for professionals; Day two for families)

Topic: Guardianship, Developmental Disabilities Guardianship, and

Guardianship Alternatives

Feb. 2007 - Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)

Presentation to professionals and families involved with persons with Autism and related disorders

Topic: Guardianship and alternatives to guardianship

Feb. 2007 - Sun Trust Bank, N.A.

Presentation to Sun Trust clients and invitees

Topic: Elder law, generally, and guardianship and alternatives to guardianship.

March 2007 - National Multiple Sclerosis Society B Blueprint of M.S. Conference

Presentation to persons and families with Multiple Sclerosis

Topic: Guardianship and guardianship alternatives; disability law and rights; special needs trust and estate planning.

April 2007 - Alterra Sterling House

Discussion with health care professionals and families

Topic: Guardianships, advance directives and estate planning.

May 2007 - Sunset Rotary Club, Presentation to Rotarians and guests

Topic: Elder Law, generally, in celebration of National Elder Law Month

June 2007 - Downtown Rotary Club

Presentation to Rotarians and guests

Topic: Elder Law, generally, in celebration of National Elder Law Month, and discussion with audience participation about elder exploitation and litigation issues

Sept. 2007 - Annual Alzheimer's Caregiver Retreat

Panelist with law enforcement and banking representatives to audience of caregivers of older or disabled persons

Topic: Exploitation and undue influence issues awareness and preparedness

Dec. 2007 - AFELA UnProgram

Topic: Client Capacity and Guardianship

Jan. 2008 - Elder Review Certification Course

Presentation to Florida elder law attorneys seeking board certification

Topic: Housing Options for Seniors

March 2008 - HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Tallahassee, Florida

Presentation to patients and staff

Topic: Advance Directives for health care and end of life decisions

April 2008 - Department of Elder Affairs, Tallahassee, Florida

Presentation to in-home care providers for the elderly & disabled

Topic: Understanding and avoiding exploitation abuse

April 2008 - HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Tallahassee, Florida

Panelist guiding health care professionals and community members

Topic: End of life decision-making, advance directives and surrogate authorities

April 2008 - Department of Elder Affairs, Marianna, Florida

Presentation to in-home care providers for the elderly & disabled

Topic: Understanding and avoiding exploitation and abuse

Oct. 2008 - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Drafter of guide and presenter on expert panel to national association

Topic: Emergency Guardianships, their uses and abuses

Jan. 2009 - Florida Bar Elder Law Section

Elder Law Certification Review Course

Topic: Housing Options for Seniors

Feb. 2009 - Florida State University College of Law

Elder Law course

Topic: Housing Options for Seniors

Oct. 2009 - Florida State University College of Law

Co-Presenter with Twyla Sketchley, B.C.S.

Elder Law course

Topic: Abuse and Exploitation

Jan. 2010 - Florida Bar Elder Law Section

Elder Law Certification Review Course

Topic: Housing Options for Seniors

April & Florida Department of Elder Affairs/Area Agency on Aging

May 2010 - Training to in-home care providers and case managers

Topic: Elder abuse education and prevention

May 2010 - Southside Rotary Club

Topic: Elder abuse and exploitation awareness and prevention

Oct. 2010 - Florida State University College of Law

Health Law Society

Topic: Health Law and Elder Law, a panel presentation

Oct. 2010 - Florida State University College of Law

Co-Presenter with Twyla Sketchley, B.C.S.

Elder Law Course

Topic: Real stories from the guardianship front

Jan. 2011 - Florida Bar Elder Law Certification Review Course, Orlando, FL

Topic: Housing Options for the Elderly Client

Jan. 2011 - Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Elder Rights and End of Life: Medicolegal ethics (Panelist)

Jan. 2011 - HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Tallahassee, FL

Training and education regarding the incapacity and guardianship process for incapacity evaluators.

Topic: Guardianship: The Legal Aspect (Moderator and panelist)

Jan. 2012 - Florida Bar Elder Law Certification Review Course, Orlando, FL

Topic: Guardianship and Incapacity

Feb. 2012 - Clare Bridge of Tallahassee (Assisted Living), Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Advance Directives - education and discussion

April 2012 - Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Elder Law from a Practitioner's Perspective (with colleague Twyla Sketchley, Esq.)

April 2012 - National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Tallahassee Chapter, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Advance Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, Estate Planning, Veteran's Benefits, and Special Needs Planning

Nov. 2012 - Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. Continuing Education Course, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Florida Guardianships - Incapacitated Adults and Minor Children

Jan. 2013 - Florida Bar Annual Certification Review Course and Update, Orlando, FL

Topic: Guardianship Case Law Update and Analysis

Feb. 2013 - 28th Annual Alzheimer's Disease and Education Training Conference, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: "Legal Issues Impacting the Person Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and The Family"

April 2013 - Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute's "Teaming Up Against Elder Financial Exploitation", Altamonte Springs, FL

Topics: 1) "The Civil Exploitation Case, Start to Finish" (with colleagues Shannon Miller, Gainesville, David Pilcher, Orlando, and Dean LeBoeuf, Tallahassee). 2) Protections for the Principal Under the Florida Power of Attorney Act (using materials supplied by Angela Adams, with permission)

May 2013 - Adult Protective Services Annual Symposium, Orlando, FL

Topic: Ageism, Vulnerabilities, and the Civil Exploitation Case

May & June 2013 - Legal Services of North Florida, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: May - Educate local low to middle income seniors on advance directives and powers of attorney at their place of residence (congregate housing)

June - Meet one-on-one with May attendees to assist them on a pro bono basis to discuss and sign advance directives and/or powers of attorney.

June 2013 - National Association of Social Workers and the Florida State University College of Social Work, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: "The Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis - Planning Options and Potential Legal Issues"

Aug. 2013 - Big Bend Hospice Community Education Panel, Tallahassee, FL (at Lincoln Center)

Topic: Health and legal resources in the community, a panel discussion with Q&A

Nov. 2013 - Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Role-play scenarios regarding various elder law issues, and role-play scenario re: effect of U.S. v. Windsor (DOMA) decision and effect on elder law clients (with colleague Twyla Sketchley, Esq.)

Jan. 2014 - Elder Law Annual Update and Review, Orlando, FL

Topic: Elder Abuse and Exploitation - Criminal and Civil Remedies and You as the Front Line

Mar. 2014 - Wakulla County Caregiver Retreat, Wakulla Springs, FL

Topic: Essential Legal Issues for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Jan. 2015 - Caregiver's Support Seminar, Thomasville Rd. Baptist Church, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Panelist for "Filled With Peace" Planning Seminar

Mar. 2015 - Guardianship Intensive Program, Tampa, Florida (Co-chair and presenter)

Topic: Intensive, advanced-level guardianship education program for attorneys

Dec. 2015 - Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys - UnProgram, Orlando, FL

Co-presenter with Carolyn Landon, B.C.S.

Topic: Guardianship Case Law Update and the New (Guardianship) Bill

Jan. 2016 - Tallahassee Regional Estate Planning Council, Tallahassee, FL

Co-presenter with Lauchlin Waldoch, B.C.S.

Topic: New remedies to combat exploitation and abuse of the elderly

Feb. 2016 - Alzheimer's Disease Conference, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Older, maybe. . . . better, definitely! How Florida law can help elders and their caregivers have enhanced quality of life.

Mar. 2016 - "Developing Abilities and Restoring Rights" Legal Workshop, Tallahassee, FL

Co-Presenter with Karen Campbell, Steven Hitchcock, B.C.S. and Tina Campanella

May 2016 - "Developing Abilities and Restoring Rights" Legal Workshop, Tampa, FL

Co-Presenter with Karen Campbell, Steven Hitchcock, Honorable Kristin Glen, and Tina Campanella

Aug. 2016 - National Association of Social Worker's - Florida Chapter (Big Bend Unit), Tallahassee, FL

Co-Presenter with Monique Richardson, Esq; Val Frentz, LCSW, and Jim Akins, LCSW

Topic: Understanding and Using Legal Documents in the Healthcare Setting

Nov. 2016 - Florida State University College of Law - Elder Law Course, Tallahassee, FL

Co-Presenter with Twyla Sketchley, B.C.S.

Topic: Elder Law from the Trenches

Nov. 2016 - Elder Care Services training to Senior Volunteers

Smith-Williams Senior Center, Tallahassee, FL

Co-Presenter with Mary Wakeman, B.C.S.

Topic: Elder Law Basics

Dec. 2016 - Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys - UnProgram

Topic: Least restrictive alternatives to incapacity and guardianship - a continuum

Feb. 2017 - Florida Bar Elder Law Section (teleconference mentoring training)

Topic: Least Restrictive Alternatives to Incapacity and Guardianship

Feb. 2017 - FALLA (Florida Association of LGBT Lawyers and Allies), Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Elder Law and Estate Planning Basics

April 2017 - Senior Center Life Skills women's group at Jake Gaither Center, Tallahassee, FL

Co-Presenter with Mary Wakeman, B.C.S.

Topic: Advance Directives, Powers of Attorney, Long-term care Medicaid, and Guardianship basics

Aug. 2017 - Senior Center Life Skills women's group at Jake Gaither Center, Tallahassee, FL

Topic: Estate planning and probate

Oct. 2017 - Down Syndrome Association of Tallahassee (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Estate Planning and Guardianship for the benefit of disabled adults (with attorney Mary Wakeman of Heuler-Wakeman Law Group)

Dec. 2017 - Jacksonville Bar Association Elder Law Committee (Jacksonville, FL)

Topic: Guardianships, guardianship practice pointers, and recent legislation affecting guardianships

Jan. 2018 - Raymond James/Brett Thompson Financial Group (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Durable Powers of Attorney and agent duties and responsibilities, and Special Needs Trust for persons with qualifying disabilities (with attorney Mary Wakeman of the Heuler-Wakeman Law Group)

Apr. 2018 - Your Life Senior Living Residence (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Advance Directives, Powers of Attorney and Incapacity Issues

June 2018 - Family Café (Orlando, FL)

Topic: "When Less is More: Using More Planning With Less Restrictive Alternatives to Avoid court, Save Money and Preserve Independence"

Aug. 2018 - Tallahassee Senior Center (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Protecting Yourself From Elder Fraud and Abuse

Jan. 2019 - Tallahassee Senior Center (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Durable Powers of Attorney and agent responsibilities

Feb. 2019 - 34th Annual Alzheimer's Disease Education and Training Conference (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Legal Issues for Caregivers (co-presented with attorney Max Solomon of the Heuler-Wakeman Law Group, P.L.)

Feb. 2019 - Westminster Oaks Senior Community (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Lifetime and end of life planning, durable powers of attorney, and planning for the care of pets (co-presented with attorney Max Solomon of the Heuler-Wakeman Law Group, P.L.)

June 2019 - Jake Gaither Community Center for Senior Center's Fit for Life series (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Advance Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, Guardianship and Wills

Aug. 2019 - Community elder services panel member, Allegro Senior Living (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Elder Law issues for awareness and action

Oct. 2019 - Tallahassee Regional Estate Planning Council (Tallahassee, FL)

Topic: Florida Guardianship, Trends and Legislation