Michele P. Fuller
Michele P. Fuller is the founder of Fuller Special Needs Law; and President of Advocacy, Inc., a non-profit organization serving as a trustee of special needs trusts and settlement trusts. Her law practice focuses on special needs planning and settlement planning.
Michele proudly served as Special Assistant Attorney General for the $600 million Flint Water Case where she also designed the settlement process. She was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals because of her work in that case. She also advocated as co-counsel on behalf of the minor patient claimants in the $13 million Hawthorn class action matter.
Leadership and Advisory Roles
Michele has held leadership positions in several national and state organizations:
- • Former Chair – Elder Law and Disability Rights Section (ELDRS) of the State Bar of Michigan
- • Advisory Board Member – Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP)
- • Board of Directors – Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- • Elder Law and Special Needs Advisory Board – Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE)
- • Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) – active member
Publications and Writing
Michele and her award-winning special needs attorney spouse, Kevin Urbatsch, frequently write together. Their books include:
- • Administering the Michigan Special Needs Trust
- • Administering the California Special Needs Trust (second and third editions)
- • Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future (sixth and seventh editions [NOLO Press])
Michele has contributed numerous individual articles to publications including:
- • Trial Magazine (of the American Association of Justice [AAJ])
- • Michigan Bar Journal
- • Elder Law Answers
- • NAELA News
- • MAJ Journal
Michele and Kevin have co-authored articles published in:
- • BiFocal (of the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Law and Aging)
- • Estates and Trusts Magazine
- • NAELA Journal
Honors and Awards
Michele is honored to have received the 2018 State Bar of Michigan Unsung Hero Award, given annually to an attorney demonstrating dedication in their practice for the betterment of others. Additional recognitions include:
- • Super Lawyers – annually since 2018
- • 10 Best Elder Law Attorneys and Distinguished Lawyers – American Institute of Legal Counsel
- • Board of Directors – Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- • Women-in-Law Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Attorney of the Year – Lawyer's Monthly Magazine (2016)
- • Top Special Needs Child Advocate – Parenting Magazine (2013)
Speaking and Education
Michele regularly presents for various national and statewide organizations, including:
- • Brain Injury Association of Michigan
- • Michigan Guardianship Association
- • ElderCounsel
- • MassMutual
- • The ABA
She also co-hosts two major national events:
- • Special Needs Planning Symposium – held every February in Napa, California, with over 500 special needs planning attorneys and fiduciaries in attendance since 2016
- • Great Lakes Special Needs Planning Symposium – held annually since 2021