Mary F. Radford
Professor of Law Emerita- Education
J.D., Emory University School of Law (1981)
B.A., Newcomb College of Tulane University (1974)
- Specializations
Trusts and Estates
- Biography
Mary F. Radford joined the College of Law faculty in 1984. Her teaching areas are Wills, Trusts & Estates; Estate Planning; and Law & the Elderly. Radford has also taught as a visiting professor at the law schools of the Phoenix School of Law, University of Georgia, Emory University and the University of Tennessee.
In 1990-91, she worked as a Supreme Court Fellow for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. Before she began teaching law, she practiced as an associate attorney at the Atlanta firm of Hansell & Post, 1981-84. Prior to attending law school, Radford taught English and French at two Atlanta high schools.
Radford was the president of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC) in 2011-12. She served as the reporter for the Georgia Trust Code Revision Committee (2005-10), the Georgia Guardianship Code Revision Committee (1997-2004) and Georgia Probate Code Revision Committee (1992-96) of the State Bar of Georgia. She was the principal draftsperson for Georgia's enacted Trust, Guardianship, and Probate Codes. She was the 2004 chair of the AALS Section on Donative Transfers, Fiduciaries and Estate Planning.
Radford is the author of Georgia Trusts & Trustees; Guardianships & Conservatorships in Georgia; the sixth and seventh editions of Redfearn: Wills & Administration in Georgia; and numerous law review articles. She frequently gives presentations on estate planning and guardianship topics at local, national, and international seminars. In 2009, she was awarded the Verner S. Chaffin Career Service Award by the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. In 2002, she was awarded the Treat Award for Excellence by the National College of Probate Judges.
- Publications
Books
Mary F. Radford, Georgia Trusts and Trustees (2021-2022 ed. 2011)
Lawrence H. Averill Jr. & Mary F. Radford, Uniform Probate Code and Uniform Trust Code in a Nutshell (7th ed. 2021).
Mary F. Radford, Georgia Guardianship and Conservatorship (2013-2014 ed., West 2013) (annual from 2012).
Mary F. Radford, Georgia Trusts and Trustees (2011-2012 ed., West 2011).
Lawrence H. Averill, Jr. & Mary F. Radford, Uniform Probate Code and Uniform Trust Code in a Nutshell (6th ed., West 2010).
Mary F. Radford, Redfearn: Wills and Administration in Georgia (7th ed., Thomson West 2008 & Supp. 2009-).
Mary F. Radford, George Gleason Bogert & George Taylor Bogert, The Law of Trusts and Trustees, secs. 975-1030 (Thomson West 2006 & Supp. 2007-).
Mary F. Radford, Guardianships and Conservatorships in Georgia (Chattahoochee Legal Press 2005 & Supp. 2005, 2007, 2009).
Mary F. Radford, Redfearn: Wills and Administration in Georgia (6th ed., Harrison Co. 2000 & Supp. 2001-2007).
Mary F. Radford, Brown's Georgia Pleading, Practice and Legal Forms-Annotated, Vol. 10 (Title 53: Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates), (Harrison Co., 1999)
Mary F. Radford & Floyd E. Propst, Georgia Probate Court Bench Book (3d ed., 1999).
Mary F. Radford, Exclusion and Exemption in Bankruptcy of Debtor's Interests in ERISA-Qualified Retirement Plans (Callaghan & Co. 1986).
Book Chapters
Mary F. Radford, Trust Arbitration in United States Courts, in Arbitration of Trust Disputes: Issues in National and International Law 175 (S.I. Strong & Tony Molloy, eds. 2016).
Mary F. Radford, Using Mediation in Guardianship Cases Involving Adults with Diminished Capacity, in Mediation for Estate Planners: Managing Family Conflict 141 (Susan N. Gary, ed. 2016).
Mary F. Radford, 2002 Updates to Chapters 1-12, in Handbook for Probate Judges of Georgia (Council of Probate Judges of Georgia, 2005).
Mary F. Radford, Affirmative Action in American Employment Law: Past, Present & Future, in Workplace Equality: An International Perspective on Legislation, Policy and Practice (Carol Agocs ed., 2002).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates, in 10 Brown's Georgia Pleading, Practice and Legal Forms Annotated (Rev. ed., Harrison Co., 1999).
Mary F. Radford, Sex Discrimination in Employment, in Feminist Jurisprudence, Women and the Law: Critical Essays, Research Agenda, and Bibliography (Betty Taylor, Sharon Rush, & Robert J. Munro eds., Rothman, 1999).
Mary F. Radford, The Transformation of Sex Discrimination Law and Theory, in Feminist Jurisprudence, Women and the Law: Critical Essays, Research Agenda, and Bibliography (Betty Taylor, Sharon Rush, & Robert J. Munro eds., Rothman, 1999).
Mary F. Radford, in Handbook for Georgia Probate Judges (3d ed., Council of Probate Judges of Georgia, 1999).
Mary F. Radford, Parental Leave: Judicial and Legislative Trends; Current Practices in the Workplace, in International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans -- Report 87-3 (1987).
Articles
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships and Fiduciary Administration (2021-2022 Developments), 74 Mercer L. Rev. 277 (2022).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships and Fiduciary Administration (2020-2021 Developments), 73 Mercer L. Rev. 281 (2021)
Mary F. Radford, What If Granny Wants to Gamble? Balancing Autonomy and Vulnerability in the Golden Years, 45 ACTEC L.J. 221 (2020).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 72 Mercer L. Rev. 327 (2020).
Stuart C. Bear, Mary F. Radford, & Francis J. (Frank) Rondoni, Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law Isn't It? The Ethical, Legal, and Practical Considerations Involving the Financial Exploitation of Seniors (Part 2), Prac. Law, June 2019, at 18.
Stuart C. Bear, Mary F. Radford, & Francis J. (Frank) Rondoni, Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law Isn't It? The Ethical, Legal, and Practical Consideration Involving the Financial Exploitation of Seniors (Part 1), 65 No. 2 Prac. Law. 45 (2019).
Mary F. Radford, Ethical Concerns When Lawyer Is or Represents Fiduciary, Est. Plan., Nov. 2017, at 18.
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 68 Mercer L. Rev. 321 (2016).
Mary Radford, Ethical Considerations in Serving as or Representing Executors, Trustees, and Other Fiduciaries, 22 ALI-CLE Est. Plan. Course Materials J. 29 (2016).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 67 Mercer L. Rev. 273 (2015).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 66 Mercer L. Rev. 231 (2014).
Mary F. Radford, Predispute Arbitration Agreements Between Trustees and Financial Services Institutions: Are Beneficiaries Bound?, 40 ACTEC L.J. 273 (2014).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships and Fiduciary Administration(2012-2013 Developments), 65 Mercer L. Rev. 295(2013)
Teaching Trusts & Estates and Elder Law: Pedagogy for the Future, 117 Penn St. L. Rev. 987 (2013) (panelist).
Mary F. Radford, Using Arbitration and Mediation to Resolve Estate and Trust Disputes, ALI-CLE227 Westlaw SV024
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 65 Mercer L. Rev. 295 (2013).
Mary F. Radford & Clarissa Bryan, Irrevocability of Special Needs Trusts: The Tangled Web That is Woven When English Feudal Law is Imported into Modern Determinations of Medicaid Eligibility, 8 NAELA J. 1 (2012).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 64 Mercer L. Rev. 325 (2012).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships and Fiduciary Administration(2010-2011 Developments), 63 Mercer L. Rev. 385 (2011).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 63 Mercer L. Rev. 385 (2011).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, & Fiduciary Administration, 62 Mercer L. Rev. 365 (2010).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, & Fiduciary Administration (2008-2009 Developments), 61 Mercer L. Rev. 385 (2009).
Mary F. Radford, Ethical Challenges in Representing Families in Family Limited Partnerships, 35 ACTEC J. 2 (2009).
Mary F. Radford, Elder Law: Economic Planning for the Golden Years: Symposium Issue: Introduction, 1 Phoenix L. Rev. 321 (2008).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships & Fiduciary Administration (2007-2008 Developments), 60 Mercer L. Rev. 417 (2008).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates (2006-2007 Developments), 59 Mercer L. Rev. 447 (2007)
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 59 Mercer L. Rev. 447 (2007).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates (2005-2006 Developments), 58 Mercer L. Rev. 423 (2006).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates (2004-2005 Developments), 57 Mercer L. Rev. 403 (2005)
Mary F. Radford, Advancements and the Consequences of Drawing Bright Line Rules, Georgia Probate Notes, Feb. 2005, at 1.
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, and Fiduciary Administration, 57 Mercer L. Rev. 403 (2005).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates (2003-2004 Developments), 56 Mercer L. Rev. 457 (2004)
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships and Fiduciary Administration, 56 Mercer L. Rev. 457 (2004).
Mary F. Radford, Mediation in Adult Guardianship Cases, Nat'l C. Prob. Judges Life & Times, Spring 2003, at 20.
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts, Guardianships and Fiduciary Administration, 55 Mercer L. Rev. 459 (2003).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates, 54 Mercer L. Rev. 583 (2002).
Mary F. Radford, Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation in Probate, Trust, and Guardianship Matters, 1 Pepp. Disp. Resol. L. J. 241 (2000-2001).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates (2000-2001 Developments), 53 Mercer L. Rev. 499 (2001).
Mary F. Radford, An Introduction to the Uses of Mediation and Other Forms of Dispute Resolution in Probate, Trust, & Guardianship Matters, 34 Real Prop. Prob. Tr. J. 601 (2000).
Mary F. Radford, The Inheritance Rights of Women under Jewish and Islamic Law, 23 B.C. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 135 (2000).
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates (1999-2000 Developments), 52 Mercer L. Rev. 481 (2000).
Brown's Georgia Pleading, Practice and Legal Forms-Annotated, Vol. 10 (Title 53: Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates)
Mary F. Radford, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates (1998-1999 Developments), 51 Mercer L. Rev. 527 (1999).
Mary F. Radford & F. Skip Sugarman, Georgia’s New Probate Code, 13 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 605 (1997).
Mary F. Radford, By Invitation Only: The Proof of Welcomeness in Sexual Harassment Cases, 72 N.C. L. Rev. 499 (1993-1994).
Mary F. Radford, The Case Against the Georgia Mortmain Statute, 8 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 313 (1992).
Mary F. Radford, Implied Exceptions to the ERISA Prohibitions Against the Forfeiture and Alienation of Retirement Plan Interests, 1990 Utah L. Rev. 685 (1990).
Mary F. Radford, Sex Stereotyping and the Promotion of Women to Positions of Power, 41 Hastings L.J. 471 (1990).
Mary F. Radford, Georgia Inheritance Rights of Children Born Out of Wedlock, Ga. St. Bar J., Aug. 1986, at 1.
Mary F. Radford, The Availability of Retirement Plan Benefits to Creditors in Bankruptcy: Analyzing the Conflict Between ERISA and the Bankruptcy Code, 1986 Ann. Surv. Bankr. L. 1 (1986).
Unpublished Papers
Other