Sessions
2024 Update on Nevada Law Impacting Trusts and Estates
10:35 AM - 11:25 AM Tue
Your Spouse’s Boots Might Be Made for Walking… But Is Your Trust Walking Too?
2:15 PM - 3:05 PM Tue
Michaelle DiGrazia Rafferty (“Michaelle”) is a shareholder attorney in the law firm of Maupin, Cox & LeGoy, practicing primarily in matters of high net worth and ultra-high net worth estate and gift tax planning, charitable planning, administration of taxable trusts and estates, as well as formation and operations of family offices, family trust companies, and tax-exempt entities.
Michaelle also participates in federal gift and estate tax-audits, tax controversies, and trust and estate litigation, including expert witness and mediation services. Michaelle is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC) where she serves as a Regent and as the Nevada State Chair. Michaelle also serves as Chair for Cambridge Forum’s U.S. Private Wealth.
She attended the University of Arizona, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from nationally recognized Eller College of Business (accounting, finance, and management). She served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. for Nevada Congressman, Barbara Vucanovich, and thereafter, attended the University of the Pacific (McGeorge) School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate with “Great Distinction,” along with various additional awards for high academic performance in the classroom and in trial advocacy.
Michaelle served as Editor of the Pacific Law Review and was awarded “Best Comment” for her published writing. Following graduation from law school, Michaelle served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Mills B. Lane III in Department 9 of the Second Judicial District Court, in Washoe County, Nevada, and thereafter joined Maupin, Cox & LeGoy in 1994 where she continues to practice as a shareholder of the firm.
Aside from Michaelle’s professional client engagements, she has served and/or continues to serve as a volunteer board member or legal advisor to many charitable organizations including University of Nevada, Reno Foundation, The ACTEC Foundation, The Community Foundation of Western Nevada, Transforming Youth Recovery, The Parasol Foundation, The Nevada Women’s Fund, Washoe Little League, South Reno Babe Ruth, and Bishop Manogue Catholic High School.
She is a regular volunteer providing pro bono legal services to the “Lawyer in the Library Program” with the Second Judicial District Court for Washoe County, Nevada, and for the Washoe County Senior Center.
In her free time, Michaelle can be found skiing, hiking, running, biking, or kayaking in the Sierra Nevada mountains and lakes.