Mary Alice was born and raised in Winter Park, Florida, and attended Florida State University and Stetson University College of Law. MA Jackson practiced in her home state of Florida for the first 20 years of her practice, and is now the sole shareholder in the firm of Mary Alice Jackson, P.C. in Austin, Texas. Her practice focuses on elder law and special needs planning, including estate planning for individuals with disabilities and their families. She has an AV+ pre-eminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.
Mary Alice's husband, Bob, is the State Director for AARP Texas. She is board certified in Elder Law by the Florida Bar and is a past President of the Florida Bar Elder Law Section and the Sarasota County Bar Association.
Ms. Jackson is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a recipient of the NAELA Powley Award for Public Service. Ms. Jackson also serves on the NAELA public policy steering committee which identifies public policy priorities for advocacy on the federal level. She is a member of the Special Needs Alliance, a national association of special needs planning attorneys, and serves on its Board of Directors, its public policy and long range planning committees.
Ms. Jackson has been an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida, since 1994. Stetson was also her father’s alma mater. She currently teaches Long Term Care Planning in the Elder Law L.LM program. She is also a member of the Advisory Board the Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson.
Public speaking has always been one of Ms. Jackson’s interest, and she has made presentations on elder law and special needs related topics since the beginning of her practice in 1992. She has been a speaker at the National Conference on Special Needs Trusts, sponsored by Stetson University, since its inception in 1998. Her topics have varied from the Fundamentals of Special Needs Planning, Fee Agreements, Drafting for Trustees, and the Future of SNTs. In addition, she has spoken at the annual Special Needs Conference sponsored by the University of Texas for the past several years, where her topics have included Fund Raising and Public Benefits Recipients, the Affordable Care Act and annual SNT case law updates.
Elder law is a complex field, especially in today's world - families are no longer "traditional" and long term health care costs are skyrocketing with little assistance from any source. Clients fear financial impoverishment in addition to personal indignities and stress. Our staff is tremendous and works hard to get the job done professionally and with compassion. Nothing is easy, and certainly there is expense involved, but we provide a holistic look at clients, their families and their legal issues, and offer the counsel we believe best serves their objectives. Ultimately, clients and their designated decision makers have to make the choices which are right for them.
Practice areas
Special needs trusts and planning for individuals with disabilities
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
TX | Eligible To Practice In Texas | 2010 | 12/05/2020 |
FL | Member in Good Standing | 1992 | 12/20/2020 |
Legal answers | 3 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Theresa Award | Theresa Alessandra Russo Foundation | 2015 |
AV Rating | Martindale-Hubbell | 2008 |
Florida Trend Legal Elite 2006, 2007 and 2008 | Florida Trend Magazine | 2008 |
Florida Super Lawyers 2006, 2007 and 2008 | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2008 |
William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award | Stetson University College of Law | 2004 |
Pro Bono Service Award | Florida Bar, 12th Circuit | 1998 |
---|---|---|
Powley Award for Public Service | National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys | N/A |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Sole shareholder | Mary Alice Jackson, P.C. | 2012 - Present |
Partner and Shareholder | Boyer and Jackson, P.A. | 1995 - Present |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Senior Friendship Centers | Board of Directors, Chair | 2006 - Present |
Pines of Sarasota | Board of Directors | 2002 - Present |
Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys | Member | 1998 - Present |
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys | Member | 1993 - Present |
Florida Bar, Elder Law Section | Past Chair | 1992 - Present |
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Senior Rights PAC | Founding Member | N/A |
---|---|---|
Sarasota County Bar Association | Past Chair, Board of Directors | 2001 - 2006 |
Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care | Board of Trustees, Past Chair | 1999 - 2005 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Planning for the Elderly in Florida | Chapters 8-11 | 2005 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Stetson University College of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | N/A |
Florida State University | MA - Masters | N/A |
Florida State University | BS - Bachelor of Science | N/A |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Special Needs Trust X | Top Ten Topics in SNTs | 2008 |
AFELA Teleconference | Administrative Hearings for Medicaid Eligibility | 2008 |
Annual Symposium | Guardianships - Addressing Sexual Needs of the Incapacitated | 2007 |
Lawrence Davidow, Elder law Attorney on Jul 10, 2017
Relationship: Other
Mary Alice has a superb reputation on both a local and national level. She is a top elder law attorney and has achieved this status by involving herself with national organizations that promote advocacy and education for the field of Elder Law. She is incredibly knowledgeable and an expert in her field, but still manages to maintain a warm and approachable demeanor.
Slade Dukes, Elder law Attorney on Sep 22, 2015
Relationship: Friend
Mary Alice Jackson is one of the most preeminent elder law attorneys in the industry. She is an experienced and accomplished elder law attorney with great knowledge and skill in terms of rule, law, and practice. Moreover, she is a sincerely passionate elder law advocate, who is dedicated and diligent in terms of advising and counseling on the needs and rights of her clients. Not only do I endorse her, I truly consider her a valued mentor and resource for clients and colleagues alike.
Andrew Boyer, Elder law Attorney on Oct 5, 2009
Relationship: Co-worker
Mary Alice has built a remarkable reputation for her knowledge in this area of practice and is recognized locally and nationally for her expertise. Our Client's fears are put at ease by her ability to provide compassion and caring as well as sound legal advice. Her accomplishments and acheivements are numerous and I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to work with her.