Practice Areas: Elder law
Licensed in Florida since: 1995
Education: Stetson University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2022 Call today:
813-661-5297
Virtual Appointments Hemness Faller Elder Law
309 N Parsons AveBrandon, FL 33510 Visit website
Details
Emma Hemness is the founding attorney of the law firm Hemness Faller Elder Law located in Brandon, Florida. She focuses her practice primarily on elder law matters involving Medicaid qualification and eligibility, asset protection planning, VA benefits, special needs trusts, durable powers of attorney and estate planning.
Ms. Hemness is board-certified as an elder law specialist by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and is also a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She has been accredited by the Veterans Administration, a requirement for those who are involved in veteran counseling. She is licensed to practice in the state of Florida.
With a genuine concern for the well-being of her clients, Ms. Hemness helps them navigate all matters related to elder law. She communicates well and answers all their questions. She uses her more than 27 years of experience and exceptional skills for the benefit of her clients and is a tireless advocate for their rights and liberties.
Graduating summa cum laude and with dean’s list honors, Ms. Hemness has a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in human resources and finances and a minor in hotel management from Florida Southern College. She has an associate degree in business administration and graduated with dean’s list honors from Polk College. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Stetson University College of Law.
Honored for the remarkable work she has done, Ms. Hemness is the recipient of The Florida Bar’s Elder Law Attorney of the Year award, was included in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Elder Law and was named to the list of Top 50 Women Lawyers in Florida. She was named Outstanding Member of the Year by The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Actively affiliated with the legal community, Ms. Hemness is a member of the:
- Special Needs Alliance
- Public Policy Task Force
- Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
- National Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
- Brandon Chamber of Commerce
- West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging
- Florida Council on Aging
In addition, she serves as a chair for the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, an executive council member of The Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section and a board of directors’ member of Care Connections Inc.
Practice areas
Elder law- 100% Elder law
First Admitted: 1995, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://hemnesslaw.com/emma-r-hemness-esquire/
- “Florida Medicaid: LTC Programs – Qualification and Medicaid Reform”, UPDATED, January 18, 2013, Elder Law Section Annual Update and Certification Review Course
- The Elder Law Advocate, Various articles and reports, including: “Traps for the Unwary”; “Can you have your Medicaid Cake with VA Icing on Top?”
- “Florida’s Medicaid Experiment – Overhauling Medicaid through Privatization”, December, 2011, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 12th Annual UnProgram
- “Florida’s Medicaid Experiment – Overhauling Medicaid through Privatization”, August 4, 2011, Special Event, Task Force Fundraiser
- “Florida Medicaid: LTC Programs – Qualification and Medicaid Reform”, January 14, 2012, Elder Law Section Annual Update and Certification Review Course
- “Have You Hugged Your Elder Law Attorney Today?” Florida Veterans Service Officers Statewide Annual Conference, October 10, 2012
- “Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Disabilities”, Pepin Academy Parent-Teacher Conference, November 2012
- “Income Producing Property”, Broward Bar Association CLE, November 18, 2012
- “Florida’s Medicaid Experiment – Overhauling Medicaid through Privatization”, December, 2011, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 12th Annual UnProgram, 2011
- There are many areas where an elder law practitioner may need to counsel clients beyond obtaining Medicaid for nursing home coverage. These include coordinating Medicaid benefits such as Aid & Attendance with Medicaid LTSS; or preparing a new estate plan for a community spouse. This lecture covers all the wide breadth of what an elder law practitioner should be considering., Beyond Medicaid ICP: Post-Eligibility & Coordination of Other Benefits, 2020
- “Ins and Outs of Medicaid Benefits”, January 12, 2011, Elder Law Section Certification Review Course
- “Promissory Notes and Gift & Cure Strategies in Medicaid Planning”, December 4, 2010, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 11th Annual UnProgram
- “Hot Topics: Veterans Administration Benefits Change”, October 2010, Elder Law Section Retreat
- “Medicaid Crisis Planning Strategies”, October 5, 2009, Elder Counsel LLC Seminar
- “Real Estate Investments, Medicaid Planning & Veterans Benefits”, December 2008, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 9th Annual UnProgram
- “Post DRA - Planning”, April 11, 2008, 12th Annual Public Benefits Seminar, Elder Law Section
- “Medicaid Eligibility, Qualification & the DRA”, January 24, 2008, Certification Review Course, Elder Law Section
- “Florida Implementation of the DRA”, AFELA Invitation-only Workshop, September 27, 2007
- “Medicaid Eligibility and the DRA”, April 2007, 11th Annual Public Benefits Seminar, Elder Law Section
- “Qualifying for Medicaid Long Term Care Programs”, May 2007, National Business Institute
- “Medicaid ICP: The Basics”, February 2007, National Business Institute
- “Using Income Producing Property for Medicaid Eligibility”, January 2007, Breakout Session, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys UnProgram
- “Ethical Issues: Dealing with Incapacitated Clients & Evaluating Mental Incapacity”, April 2006, Fundamentals of Elder Law, Elder Law Section
- Member, Florida Council on Aging QSLA Committee, 2013
- Member, West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors, 2005-Present
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2002-Present
- Chair, West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, 2008-2011
- Life, Health, Variable Annuity, 1998
- Co-Chair, Medicaid Committee, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2010-2012
- State Bar of Florida, 1995
- Chair of Board, Senior Connection Center, Area Agency on Aging, 2008-2011
- Co-Chair, Florida Joint Public Policy Task Force for the Elderly & Disabled
- Member, Senior Connection Center Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors, 2005-Present
- Past Officer/Board Member, Florida Gulf Coast Alzheimer's Association
- Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys Board of Directors, 2004-2007
- Member, Florida Council on Aging Nominations Committee, 2013
- Member, Florida Council on Aging, 2012-Present
- Member, Executive Council of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2008-present
- Member, Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section, 2005-Present
- Section Chair, Florida Bar Elder Law Section, 2007-08
- Past President, Better Living for Seniors, Hillsborough County, 2012-Present
- Member, Special Needs Alliance, 2008-Present
- Member, National Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
- Chair, Board Certification Review Course CLE, Elder Law Section, 2007
- Officer (Treasurer, President-Elect, President) Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, 2012 - 2015
- Vice-Chair, Public Benefits Seminar CLE, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2003
- Co-Chair, Montana Retreat, CLE, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2012
- Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, 2002-Present
- Florida Bar Association, Chair, Elder Law Section, 2007-2008
- Member-At-Large, Public Policy Task Force for the Elderly & Disabled, 2009-Present
- Chair, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2007-2008
- Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
- Member, Care Connections Inc., Board of Directors, 2008-present
- Member, Brandon Chamber of Commerce
- Treasurer/Board Member, Alzheimer's Association, Florida Gulf Coast, 2003-2006
- Veterans Administration, Accreditation, 2008
- Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), 2005, National Elder Law Foundation
- Elder Law Specialist, 2004, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
- Volunteer, Sponsor & Lecturer: National Elder Law Month, May 2012 (6) Community Workshops: Topics included Veterans benefits, Elder exploitation, The LTC Ombudsman, Taking Care of the Caregiver
- Emergency Care Help Organization, Chair, Fashion Show Fundraiser, February 2003
- Volunteer, Elder Advocate/Participant in Florida Medicaid Waiver Application Meeting with Cynthia Mann, Deputy Director, CMS, Washington DC, April 20, 2012
- Emergency Care Help Organization, Participant, Canned Food Drive, May 2003, 2004
- Volunteer, Elder Advocate, SSI-Related Medicaid Rules Meetings Ongoing with Assistant DCF Legal Counsel: June 13, July 12, August 30, 2013
- Volunteer Attorney, Center for Guardian Advocacy, 2007-2012
- NAELA State Chapter Member of the Year, 2016
- Polk College, Winter Haven, Florida, A.A. in Business Administration, Highest Honors and Dean’s List, 1990
- Florida Southern College, B.S. in Human Resources and Finance and minor in Resort Management, Summa Cum Laude, Dean’s List, 1991
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, State Chapter Member of the Year, Member of the Year, 2017
- Florida Super Lawyers Magazine Lists, Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2017
- Florida Super Lawyer Magazine Lists, Top 100 Lawyers in Florida, 2017
- Florida Super Lawyer Magazine, Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2016
- Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Small Business of the Year, 2009
- National Academy Elder Law Attorneys, State Chapter, Member of the Year, 2008
- Florida Super Lawyer in Elder Law, 2008-Present, Super Lawyer
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, State Chapter, Member of the Year, 2008
- Top 50 Women Lawyers in the State of Florida, 2011
- Brandon Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year, Finalist, 2006
- Florida Bar Elder Law Section, Elder Law Attorney of the Year, 2011
- Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Elder Law, 2012-Present
- disabled
- Elderly
- Families
- Military
- persons with disabilities
- Special Needs
- Veterans
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“I have known Emma for many years. She is very knowledgeable, passionate and dedicated to assisting her clients and other members of the legal profession. Emma is a vigorous and effective advocate for the aging community.”
“Emma Hemness is a compassionate and experienced elder law attorney in Tampa, Florida. Professionals and clients alike are lucky to be able to have her as an advocate in their town.”
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2022
