Speakers

Terry W. Hammond, Esq., RG

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Terry W. Hammond has been the Executive Director of the National Guardianship Association (NGA) since January 1, 2006, and is a former President and member of the Board of Directors of NGA.

Mr. Hammond is the managing attorney of the firm of Hammond Townsend Allala in El Paso, Texas. His personal practice focuses on guardianship and mental health law. He was certified as a Registered Guardian by the Center for Guardianship Certification and is also a certified guardianship mediator.

Mr. Hammond is a consultant with guardianship programs around the country, and has served as an expert witness in a number of high-profile cases in various jurisdictions. When the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held hearings on elder abuse in 2006, he was selected by the committee to offer expert testimony.

He has spoken to national audiences on a number of topics, including guardianship, protective services, and mental health issues, and was interviewed on national guardianship issues by the New York Times and on National Public Radio. Among the groups where he has represented the NGA are the National College of Probate Judges, the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, and the National Guardianship Network.

Mr. Hammond has been a proponent of reform of the Texas Adult Protective Services and MHMR systems.

In addition to his work on the national level, he currently chairs the Texas Guardianship Advisory Board, which makes recommendations on guardianship policy to the Texas Governor and Legislature, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Guardianship Association.