Victoria E. Heuler

Associate

PRACTICE

Victoria Heuler joined the McConnaughhay firm in 2006. She is a Board Certified Elder Law Attorney by the Florida Bar and has been practicing in the area of elder law since 2000.  Her primary focus is guardianship and capacity issues, but she also handles matters involving the protection of elder rights, representation of fiduciaries and agents, end-of-life issues and advanced directives, advocacy and representation in matters involving exploitation of vulnerable adults, and estate and trust administration. She is a regular presenter and contributor to the court ordered 8-hour family guardian education course in the Second Judicial Circuit. Victoria is a leader in educational discussions on topics related to aging and has created and presented a unique advanced directives clinic designed to allow interaction with participants in discussing and preparing individualized advanced directives, including living wills. She is also trained in guardianship mediation and is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator.  In 2011, Victoria was recognized by The Supreme Court of Florida, the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar and the Florida Pro Bono Coordinators Association for her "exceptional pro bono service in 2010."

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Advocacy/Litigation Special Interest Group - Chair: 2002-2003; 2003-2004;
  2004-2005 and Member: 2006-2007
- Amicus Committee - Chair 2006-2010; Vice Chair 2005-2006
- Public Relations Committee 2006-2009
- Public Policy Liaison with Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys 2004-2006

Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
- President 2008       
- Board of Directors 2003-2010
- Area Representative Coordinator 2004-2006      
- Joint Public Policy Task Force - Co-Chair: 2006-2008
- Public Policy Liaison with National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys 2004-2006

Alzheimer's Project of Tallahassee
- President 2011-2012
- Board of Directors 2004-2010
- Chair - Board Development Committee

Florida State Guardianship Association
- Past liaison to Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys

Big Bend Chapter of Florida State Guardianship Association         
- Founding member and Secretary 2002-2003; 2003-2004; 2004-2005
- President 2007-2009         
- Chair, Subcommittee on incapacity process
- Founding and current educator for required 8-hour family guardian course

Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar
- Chair of the Veteran's Benefits Committee "Basics" Sub-committee

Tallahassee Memorial Health Care Clinical Ethics Committee         
- Attorney member 2005-2010

PUBLICATIONS
"Just the Facts, Ma'am, Not the Label: Mental Disorder Diagnoses in a
     Guardianship Proceeding." Volume 18, Issue 2, 2006 NAELA News.

ADMISSIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
The Florida Bar
     Board Certified in Elder Law by The Florida Bar
The Georgia Bar
Accredited Attorney - U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs

EDUCATION
Florida State University School of Law, J.D., 1993
Florida State University, B.A., with honors, 1986