© 2021 Yussman Special Needs Law
Seth is an attorney in the Yussman Special Needs Law Office. He helps families plan for their disabled loved ones, while also advising trustees and other attorneys on situations that may affect those with special needs. In addition to his special needs practice, Seth also practices in the areas of estate, business, and charitable planning, including estate and trust administration. Seth received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 2018, and received his B.S. in Business Administration in Marketing from University of Kentucky in 2015.
“I grew up around the special needs community in my small town, but had never heard of a special needs attorney. Right after law school I started working in wealth management as an Estate Planning Advisor, and one of my first clients had a special needs child. From that case on, I became the go-to advisor for everything special needs. As I began working on more cases, I realized three things: 1) I had a passion for this work; 2) the public benefits system is too complex; and 3) special needs families deserve better representation.
That is when I joined Yussman Special Needs Law. While I still practice and enjoy estate and business planning, my special needs practice allows me to have a direct impact on the lives of special needs people and their families. In getting to know each client on a deeper level, I become a trusted advisor to families in all areas of special needs; whether it be estate planning, government benefits, or the growth and development of their loved one. The most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing I get to play a small part in bettering the lives of every family I have the opportunity to work with.” –Seth
Kevin Johns is an experienced estate planning and special needs trust attorney based in Lexington Kentucky, who assists Yussman Special Needs Law in helping families plan for their loved ones. Kevin in a Fellow in the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Kevin serves an active role in the community as the past President of Central Kentucky Planned Giving Committee, as well as being an active board member for the Morehead State University Foundation and Life Plan of Kentucky. Kevin is recognized nationally as a lawyer, having received the Highest Professional AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Peer references stated that, “Kevin is an excellent attorney who cares for his clients and takes his time to make sure he guides them in how to build and plan for their futures.” “Not only is Kevin an excellent attorney, but he is also a great person who seems to genuinely care about his clients.”
“One of the very first cases I worked on as a young attorney involved the transfer of a guardianship for a special needs individual from Georgia to Kentucky. At that time, I was certain I wanted to do estate planning, but the special needs area was especially interesting to me. As I worked with more and more families who had special needs children, I recognized that there was a growing demand for such services and it was one of the parts of my practice I most enjoyed. In order to better serve my clients and to learn more about special needs work, I began to research and read as many materials I could find on special needs planning. Since that time, I have developed an estate planning practice that includes an emphasis on special needs planning. Working with families who have loved ones with special needs allows me to not only to deal with complex legal issues, but I also get to know my clients and their families on a deeper level. It’s extremely important to me that I’m making a positive difference for my clients and that I’m helping them achieve peace of mind. That is what I most enjoy about my practice.” – Kevin
Angela Sermon has over 20 years of legal experience, and as Yussman Special Needs Law’s paralegal, she is a critical member of the team. Angela assists in the administrative functions of the special needs planning practice.
Jeff is an active member of the Louisville community, having served in leadership roles as a board member of multiple organizations, including the Special Needs Alliance (where he served as President), Wellspring, the Community Foundation of Louisville, Leadership Louisville, and Metro United Way, where he was involved for over twenty years. Jeff was recognized with the Allen Society Community Service Award, the Alberta Wood Allen Continuous Service Award by Metro United Way, and the Brandeis School of Law’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Jeff is known nationally as a writer and lecturer on topics of special needs law, estate planning, business succession and charitable planning. He has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.
Jeff gravitated to special needs law while investigating the resources available to his two children with disabilities.
“Sorting through the options was overwhelming,” he remembers. “There’s no good clearinghouse that families can go to in order to get all the information they need. I talk to my clients and they to me—about so much more than legal issues. Because they know I understand what they’re facing, we talk about education, the transition to adulthood, living arrangements—all the issues so central to families dealing with special needs.” – Jeff