Greater Newburyport

Bar Association

2025 Schedule​​​​​​​​​​

 

 

Primer on Probate  

Thursday, September 11, 5-7

Custom House/Maritime Museum,

Newburyport and Live-streaming

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Primer on Probate is designed for attorneys who are new to Probate Law or who don’t practice in that area regularly. Our experts identify difficult issues and tell you how to manage them.

 

Attend and Learn:

• Drafting tips for wills and for avoiding probate issues

• What is the spousal elective share

• What probate issues you should include in divorce agreements

• Dos and don’ts on appointments

• What are the types of guardianships and what is the process

• What happens if there was a guardianship and now want custody

 

About the Faculty

Attorney Michael Xavier, Prince Lobel, Chair

Honorable Michelle A. Yee, Probate & Family Court

Katelyn Lynch, Assistant Register, Essex Probate & Family Court

Attorney Valerie McCormack, Integrative Legal, Newburyport

Elizabeth Tangney, Assistant Judicial Case Manager, Essex Probate & Family Court

 

To Register: https://gnba.ticketbud.com/primer-on-probate

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Cybersecurity: Protect Your Practice

How One Simple Click Or Call Could Cripple Your Practice

Tuesday, September 30, 4:30-6:00, Zoom

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1 in 4 small businesses will suffer a cyberattack this year — and 60% of them will go out of business within six months. (Statistic from the National Cybercrime Institute) Cybercrime is no longer a distant threat — it’s a daily reality for law firms of all sizes. Attend and open your eyes to the real risks your firm faces and the critical mistakes you’re making.

Attend and Learn

• Where your firm is most exposed

• Why traditional defenses are failing

• What simple actions you can take to drastically reduce your risk

• Clear, practical steps you can implement immediately, regardless of the size of your firm or your tech budget.

Topics include:

✅ Tips to recognize modern phishing emails, text scams, and scam calls

✅ Creating a Written Information Security Plan (WISP) 

✅ HIPAA, GLBA, and other legal compliance frameworks made simple

✅ USB threats & data storage best practices

✅ How to save your firm money through smarter IT practices

✅ What to look for when hiring the right IT provider

 

Faculty

David S. Markey, founder of CRCIT Cybersecurity, a veteran-owned IT company that specializes in protecting law firms and small businesses with enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions.

Gary O. Todd, Todd & Weld and President, GNBA 

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Register:https://gnba.ticketbud.com/cybersecurity-how-one-simple-click-or-call-could-cripple-your-practice-

 

Avoiding Financial Pitfalls in Divorce

Tuesday, October 7, 4-6

Zoom

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Attend this dialogue between Financial Expert Thomas G. Kilgallen, and GNBA President Gary Todd and learn:

 

• What to do if the financial outlook for one or more of the spouses seems unsustainable?

• How to make the process more amicable / less tense with a comprehensive financial plan 

• How the divorce process might change if financials indicate an income gap that means the client would have to go back to work or increase employment income for a few years? 

• How evidence of a very sustainable financial trajectory might change divorce? 

• When is the ideal time to bring a financial planner / Certified Divorce Financial Analyst into the mix as part of the divorce process?

• Best processes for involving financial planners / CDFAs.

All registrants will receive book written by Thomas Kilgallen, The Divorce Financial Handbook

 

About the Faculty

Thomas G. Kilgallen, MBA, CDFA®, CFP®, Fair Weather Strategies, LLC, Andover

Gary O. Todd, Todd & Weld, Boston, President GNBA

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To Register: https://gnba.ticketbud.com/avoiding-financial-pitfalls-n-divorce

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Advanced Drafting Issues on Family Law

Thursday, November 6, 4-6:30

 

This program will be live in Newburyport and also available as livestream.

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Focusing on challenging drafting issues, with tips for how to improve your drafting, attend this program and learn:

How to handle expectancy when representing older couples

How to draft real estate transfer language in separation agreements

What are the drafting issues in mortgages, titles, deeds and promissory notes

How to clean up creditor issues

What are the common mistakes in drafting QDROs and pension documents

 

Faculty

Margot G. Birke, ElderLaw, Newburyport

Megan E. Breaker, Kline, Gardner & O’Connor P.C., Gloucester

Donald L. Pitman III, The Pitman Law Offices, LLC, Newburyport

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To Register: https://gnba.ticketbud.com/advanced-drafting-issues-in-family-law