Carla Calogero

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(206) 624-6271
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Carla Calogero’s law practice focuses on: the representation of persons involved in guardianships/conservatorships, probates and trusts; advance care, end of life, and estate planning; elder and special needs law.

Carla is a past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association, and a past Chair of the Guardianship and Elder Law Section of the King County Bar Association. For more than twelve years, she has served continuously on the Executive Committees of the Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and of the King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section.

Carla is regularly appointed by the King County Superior Court to serve as Guardian ad Litem, court-appointed Attorney, or Special Representative for incapacitated persons and minors in guardianship/conservatorship, trust, probate and litigation matters.

She was named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Elder Law by her peers in years 2015 through 2020.

Carla is regularly invited to speak to attorneys, other professionals, and community groups on topics including estate planning, end-of-life planning, guardianships/conservatorships, and trust and probate administration.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Carla was a Seattle public high school biology teacher, as well as a bioethics curriculum author and instructor.  She holds a Master’s degree in Bioethics from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree in Education from Western Washington University.

Honors and Awards

  • Washington Super Lawyers Rising Star – 2015 to 2020

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Seattle Estate Planning Council. 2017 – Present.
  • Washington Women in Tax. 2018 – Present.
  • Washington State Bar Association, 2009 – Present.
    • Elder Law Section
    • Real Property, Probate & Trust Section
  • King County Bar Association, 2009 – Present.
    • Guardianship and Elder Law Section.
    • Real Property, Probate & Trust Section.
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2009 – Present.
  • Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2009 – Present.

Leadership

  • Washington State Bar Association Elder Law Section Executive Committee
    • At Large Member, 2021 to present.
    • Secretary, 2019 – 2021.
    • Trustee, 2017 – 2019.
    • Immediate Past Chair, 2016 – 2017.
    • Chair, 2015-16.
    • Outreach Chair, 2012 – 2014.
    • Young Lawyer Division Liaison, 2011 – 2012.
  • King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section Executive Committee
    • Secretary, 2022 – Present.
    • Treasurer, 2021 – 2021.
    • Legislative Co-Chair, 2015 – 2020.
    • Chair, 2014 – 2015.
    • Secretary, 2013 – 2014.
    • Treasurer, 2012 – 2013.
    • Programs Co-Chair, 2011 – 2012.
  • Sound Generations. Board of Directors, 2016 – 2021.
  • Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative. Chair, Advance Care and Legal Planning Subcommittee.  2016 – 2020.
  • Lifetime Advocacy Plus Master Pooled Trust, Trust Investment Committee Member, 2014 – 2020.
  • Washington Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders, Long Range Planning Committee, committee member.  2015 – 2018.
  • Washington State POLST Task Force. Member.  2013 – 2018.
  • American Parkinson Disease Association Northwest Chapter. Board of Directors, Member.
  • 2014 –2016.
  • Medical-Legal Partnership of Seattle University School of Law and Swedish Medical Center. Attorney Coordinator. 2010.
  • Harborview Medical Center Ethics Committee, Seattle, Washington, October 2005 – September 2008. Attended committee meetings regarding ethics consultations, ethics education, and institutional policy and co-produced ethics education forums: “The Perspectives of Guardians and Guardians ad Litem: When Treatment Decisions Go to an Outside Agency.”; “Decisions About Withdrawing Life Support for Patients with No Legal Surrogate Decision Maker.”

Selected Speaking Engagements 2018-2023

  • “Digging Deeper – Options for Disposition of Bodily Remains.” Webinar – Reed Longyear Malnati Corwin & Burnett. 2023.
  • “Advance Directives and End-of-Life Planning.” Guest Lecturer, Elder Law course, Seattle University School of Law. 2023.
  • “Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking to Hasten Death.” Family Resource Home Care. 2023.
  • “Death with Dignity.” Webinar – Reed Longyear Malnati Corwin & Burnett.  2022.
  • “Topics in Elder Law and Advance Care & Estate Planning”. Seagen, Inc. 2022.
  • “Professional Fiduciaries – Who, What, Why, and When.” Webinar – Reed Longyear Malnati Corwin & Burnett. 2022.
  • Mentor – Interactive Drafting Session. Estate Planning for the 99% Continuing Legal Education Program (“CLE”). King County Bar Association. 2021, 2022, 2023.
  • “Right to Counsel.” KCBA Inter-County Guardianship Guardian ad Litem Initial Certification. 2021, 2020, 2019.
  • “Legal Issues at the Heart of Serious Illness.” Co-Presenter with Lisa Brodoff. Rural Health Telehealth and Palliative Care Education. Washington State Office of Rural Health.
  • “Legislative and Case Law Update.” King County Bar Association Real Property and Probate Section. 2021.
  • “Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act.” Washington State Bar Association Real Property and Probate Section. 2020.
  • “Considerations in Individualized End of Life Planning.” Laird Norton Wealth Management and Reed Longyear Malnati & Ahrens Client Seminar: Estate Planning for Your 60’s and Beyond. 2020.
  • “Marshaling and Inventorying Estate Assets.” King County Bar Association 15th Annual Probate Administration CLE. 2019.
  •  “Advance Care and Estate Planning for Clients with Dementia – Ethical and Practical Considerations.” Estate Planning Council of North Central Washington. October 2019 “Considerations in Individualized End of Life Planning.”  King County Bar Association Real Property and Probate Section Meeting. 2019.
  • “Advising Clients in End-of-Life Planning.” Washington State Bar Association Real Property Probate and Trust Section Midyear Conference. 2018.
  • “The Guardian’s Considerations of End-of-Life Options in Washington State.” Washington Association of Professional Guardians Spring Conference. 2018.
  • “Guardianship in Washington State.” Swedish Family Medicine First Hill – Geriatric Fellowship Program. 2018.
  • “Planning for Dying – Legal, Ethical and Clinical Perspectives” CLE with Aging Wisdom®. Co-Presenter. 2018.

Publications

  • “Guardianships.” Co-Author. Chapter 10, Washington Lawyers Practice Manual. 2021.
  • “Fiduciaries.” Co-Author. Chapter 5, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration in Washington State. Washington State Bar Association. 2020.
  • “Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Way to Hasten Death as an End-of-Life Option.” Washington State Bar Association Real Property Probate & Trust Section, Spring 2018 Newsletter.
  • “A Durable Power-of-Attorney May be the Most Important Legal Document You Execute.”  Parkinson’s Pathfinder Winter 2014, Washington Chapter American Parkinson Disease Association.
  • King County Bar Association Family and Volunteer Guardian Handbook. Chief Editor. 2010
  • “Planning for Alzheimer’s Disease with Mental Health Advance Directives.”  Brodoff, Lisa, 17 Elder Law Journal 239 (2010). Research Assistant.
  •  “Lifting Burdens: Proof, Social Justice, and Public Assistance Administrative Hearings.” Brodoff, Lisa, 32 N.Y.U. Rev. L. & Soc. Change 131 (2008). Research Assistant.

Pro Bono Activities

  • King County Bar Association Elder Law Clinic, Attorney Volunteer, 2010 – 2015.
  • King County Superior Court Ex-Parte/Probate Department, Volunteer Attorney, Probate and Guardianship Review Calendars, 2010 – 2015
  • Washington First Responders Wills Clinic, Volunteer Attorney, 2010 – 2012.
  • Loren Miller Bar Association Estate Planning Clinic, Volunteer Attorney, 2011.
  • Eastside Legal Assistance Program, Bellevue, Washington, Volunteer Attorney.  2010 – 2012.
  • Seattle Community Law Center. Volunteer Attorney. 2010.
  • Victims of Crime Assistance, Senior Rights Assistance, Senior Services, Seattle. March 2010 –2010.

Selected Speaking Engagements 2010-2017

  • “Working with Clients with Diminished Capacity.” Panelist. Advocating for Health Care Consumers in Uncertain Times. Northwest Health Law Advocates. 2017.
  • “Less Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianship.” Advanced Guardianship Issues CLE, King County Bar Association. 2017.
  • “Examining the Guardian’s Work Through the Ethical Frameworks of Principalism and the Ethics of Care.” Guardianship Institute 14th Annual Certified Professional Guardian Continuing Education Program. 2017.
  • “Legal and Ethical Issues of Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking.” Panelist. Hastening Death by Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: Clinical, Legal, Ethical, Religious, and Family Perspectives Conference. Seattle University School of Law.  2016.
  • “Elder Law and Bioethics”, Presenter to the Care Management Certification Program at the University of Washington, Professional and Continuing Education. 2016
  • “Ethics and the Law.” Council of Nephrology Social Workers Northwest Chapter Spring Symposium. 2015.
  • “Advance Directives and Surrogate Decision-Making.”  Presenter to Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care fellows. Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. 2015.
  • “Omitted Heirs and Family Allowance.” Probate Litigation, King County Bar Association CLE.  2015.
  •  “Washington Case Law and Legislative Update.” King County Bar Association Title 11 Guardian ad Litem Certification and Recertification Training.  2015.
  •  “Guardianship Proceedings in Washington State.” Presenter to geriatric and palliative medicine physicians, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System.  April 2015.
  • “Washington Case Law and Legislative Update.” Advanced Guardianship Issues – New Paradigms for Your Guardianship Practice, King County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program (“CLE”).  2015.
  • “Powers of Attorney.” Personal Estate Planning for the 99%. King County Bar Association CLE.  2015.
  • “Durable Powers of Attorney for Healthcare.” American Parkinson Disease Association, Washington Chapter “Take Charge” program.  2014.
  • “Advance Care Directives and Surrogate Decision-Making in Washington State.” Ethics Committee, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System.  2014.
  • “Guardianship in Washington State.” Guest Lecturer, Elder Law course, Seattle University School of Law.  October 2014.
  • “Introduction to Guardianship.” Introduction to Elder Law and Guardianship, King County Bar Association CLE. 2014.
  •  “Guardianship in Washington State.” Guest Lecturer, Health Law Advocacy course, University of Washington School of Law.  2014.
  • “Advance Care and Financial Management Planning.” Personal Estate Planning for the 99%.   King County Bar Association CLE.  2014, 2013.
  • “Washington State Case Law Update.”  Washington State Bar Association 17th Annual Elder Law Conference.  2014.
  • “Special Needs Trusts.” National Alliance on Mental Illness, Senior Parents of Adult Children with Mental Illness Support Group, Crown Hill Methodist Church. 2013.
  • “Washington State Case Law Update.”  Washington State Bar Association 16th Annual Elder Law Conference.  2013.
  •  “Elder Law.” Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. Horizon House. 2013.
  • “Death of the Incapacitated Person: Legal, Ethical and Practical Issues.” Washington Association of Professional Guardians. 2012.
  • “Less Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianship.” Inter-County Guardianship Guardian ad Litem Training, sponsored by the King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section. 2012.
  • “Washington State Case Law Update.” Washington State Bar Association 14th Annual Elder Law Conference. 2011.
  • “Ethical Considerations in Probate Practice.” Estate Administration: Why Every Step is Important, National Business Institute.  2011.
  • “Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls: Best Practices When Serving as a Professional Fiduciary.” Certified Professional Guardian Continuing Education Program.  2011.
  • “Medicaid Estate Recovery” and “Guardianship and the Medicaid Client.” National Business Institute CLE. 2011.
  • “What Elders Need to Know About Elder Law.” Greenwood Senior Center.  February 2011.
  • Program Co-Chair, 2010 Annual Conference of the Washington Association of Elder Law Attorneys, “The Reformation of Elder Law: Meeting the Needs of Clients through Holistic Legal Advocacy.”
  • “Who’s Minding Our Elders in the Struggle for Social Justice?”  Program producer and moderator. Seattle University Access to Justice Institute,  2009.
  • “Guardianships in Washington State: An Overview.” Washington Guardianship 2010, Health Education Network. 2010.
  • “Less Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianships.” Washington Guardianship 2010, Health Education Network. 2010.
  • “Modifications and Terminations to Guardianships.” Washington Guardianship 2010, Health Education Network. 2010.