Top Estate Planning Lawyers Near Me in Springfield Area

With over 10 years of experience and results for clients in areas including estate planning, business, contracts, litigation, consumer rights, debt collection defense work, and real estate.

When you are looking for an experienced attorney to represent you, turn to our office. The Law Offices of BJ Richardson was established in 2004, and recently moved to our current location on Battlefield Road to more conveniently serve you. Our team is made up of friendly professionals who possess the legal expertise required to meet your needs. We are determined to give you the best service and look forward to exceeding your expectations to secure your family’s future. Get the personalized attention you deserve at The Law Offices of BJ Richardson.

Susan A. McCoy, partner with Cooley Shrair, manages our Estate Planning department. An Agawam native, Susan brings a diverse background of legal experience assisting clients with their personal and business planning.. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (B.A., English) and the Western New England College School of Law (JD, 1996, cum laude). Susan received the American Jurisprudence Award in Torts in 1994, and was a member of the Law Review from 1994-1995.. Susan is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Hampden County Bar Association, Western Mass Eldercare Professionals Association and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. Susan was a 2010 recipient of BusinessWest’s “40 Under Forty” award and was recognized in 2012 as one of the top twenty-five “Women To Watch” by Western Massachusetts Woman’s Magazine.. Susan provides a broad spectrum of estate and trust planning services for our clients, ranging from simple plans for young families to more sophisticated estate tax plans and planning for children with special needs.. She also focuses her practice on meeting the needs of elders in our community, providing elder law planning for those preparing for the increasing costs of nursing home care, as well as assistance with Medicaid/MassHealth applications.. Representing small, closely-held businesses, Susan provides assistance with formation, financing, succession planning and general business needs.. In addition to assisting with planning needs, Susan also provides her clients with assistance in all matters of residential and commercial real estate, including purchases, sales and refinances.

Rebecca L Evans, Attorney-at-Law, is an Attorney and Owner at the Law Firm of Rebecca L Evans. Earning her B.S. in Public Administration with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University in 2009, she continued her education, earning her J.D. from George Mason University in 2012. Rebecca L Evans spent two years of her law school time clerking for the Law Firm of Deborah N Arthur. She has also worked part time in both retail and the mortgage brokerage industry during her school years. She assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and estate administration, including wills, trusts, advanced medical directives, powers of attorney, and probate. Rebecca L Evans background and upbringing lend a personal touch to the mechanics of the legal practice and allows the firm to truly care about our clients' problems.. Rebecca L Evans has lived in Northern Virginia all of her life. She is married to Samuel Evans, has a beautiful daughter, Victoria, a handsome son, Austin, and a baby boy, Wesley, and they have a beagle -- Bella. Rebecca L Evans is a graduate of Immanuel Christian School in North Springfield, West Springfield High School and George Mason University as well as George Mason University School of Law.. Rebecca L Evans is a member of the Virginia and Fairfax County Bar Associations and actively participates in bar committees and activities.

Please contact me directly if you are in need of estate planning (trusts, wills, strategies for taxable estates or wealth preservation), asset protection, estate administration, business advice and commercial real estate transactions, including tax deferring like-kind exchanges. I am an elected Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and invite you to review my resume on Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP's web site, accessible through the link provided, for more information.

My philosophy on the practice of law is that it is important to explain the law to a client in an easily understandable way and to educate them about their options.  Someone can only make the proper decisions about how best to protect their businesses and formulate the best estate plan by having the knowledge necessary to make those important decisions.  I treat my clients the way that I want to be treated, which is to be given the information and taught what I need to know so that I can make my own decisions about what is right for my business and my family.  Being an attorney should be comparable to being an educator of the law and informing the community about what they need to know to resolve their legal needs.

Lesley knew from a young age she wanted to practice law, and began that journey early in her life. From representing Big B. Wolf in a claim from the three little pigs to her high school mock trial days, Lesley never lost sight of her goals. She worked as a paralegal for many years through high school and college before attending The University of Mississippi School of Law, where she graduated in December 2012.. After graduation, Lesley moved to Middle Tennessee to build her practice, focusing on estate planning and probate, business formation and contracts, and general litigation. She also spent time working for the State of Tennessee and gaining knowledge in Medicaid eligibility, especially for long term care.. Lesley now lives in Robertson County with her husband, Anthony, and their daughter, Evelyn. When not practicing, Lesley enjoys painting and drawing and has had the opportunity to share her work at several local galleries and events.

Laws of Practice

Kara grew up in Steelville, MO. She attended Evangel University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, while also completing some master’s-level counseling coursework. Following graduation, she attended Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she focused on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Kara’s legal internships include clerking at the American Center for Law and Justice, interning at a small law firm in Virginia, and interning in the estate planning branch of a medium-sized law firm also in Virginia. Kara is excited to be back in Springfield with her husband, Nathen, and their children, Parker and Paisley. She joined Parks & Jones as a licensed attorney in the spring of 2016. Her desire to make a difference in the lives of her clients while providing excellent quality of service makes her a great addition to an outstanding team.

I am a shareholder of Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C., and focus my practice in the areas of estate and special needs planning, trust and estates litigation, guardianships, estate settlement, and elder law.. I am a contributing author of the three-volume treatise, "Estate Planning for the Aged or Incapacitated Client in Massachusetts," and has lectured before numerous professional and civic organizations, including Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, the Suffolk University Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, and the Massachusetts Bar Association. I also taught elder law for one semester as an adjunct professor in the LL.M program at WesternNew EnglandLawSchool.. My professional affiliations include the American College of Trust and Estates Counsel, membership and past president of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County Inc., membership in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), editorial board member and book review editor of the NAELA Law Journal, vice chair of the NAELA Advocacy and Litigation Committee and past director and vice president of the Massachusetts chapter of NAELA.. I received my J.D., magna cum laude, from Western New England School of Law, and her B.A. in journalism from the University of Rhode Island.. I am a Massachusetts and New England "Super Lawyer"  in the fields of elder law, estate planning and probate, and trust and estate litigation, Boston Magazine's "Top 100 Women Lawyers in Massachusetts,"  and listed in "Best Lawyers in America" in the field of elder law.. I also serve on the board and as treasurer of the Hilltown Land Trust.. Law is my second career. For 20 years prior to entering the legal field, I worked as a journalist, editor and writer for such general interest publications as the Providence Journal, Berkshire Eagle, Palm Beach Post, Miami Herald, New York Times, Newsweek, Esquire, Mademoiselle, and New England Monthly.

I love estate planning.  It's one of the only areas of the law where I know I'm helping people every single day I'm in the office (or on the road meeting clients).. Yes, I did well in law school (graduated cum laude; top 10% of my class; Member, Order of the Coif; Chief Articles Editor for Volume 40 of the Loyola Law Review) but every attorney has a list of accolades next to his or her name.. Life is about being more than an attorney.  I get to spend my time trying to help others protect themselves and their families and be succeesful in all that they do. I have done this as an award-winning speaker and business coach.  I have done thisas a business development consultant for The Rainmaker Institute.. Now, thankfully, I get to help my clients and their families through Wills, Trusts and Estates.  I'd love to help you and your family as well.. .

I knew that I wanted to become a lawyer at a young age.  I argued with my high school history teacher to persuade him to allow me to do my term paper on a constitutional law topic, which he claimed wasn't a true "history" topic.  I won that battle and my paper was ultimately published in The Concord Review.  Most importantly, that experience was the start of a great relationship with that teacher.  He is now retired and I am long out of high school, but we still run into each other around town from time to time.. Since realizing my childhood goal 19 years ago, I've grown and changed, both as a lawyer and as a person.  What I've realized is that the core of my practice - and the part I enjoy the most - is working with people to help them successfully solve problems or otherwise get through a difficult time in their lives or business.  I've truly enjoyed and valued the client relationships that I've built over the years, and I look forward to continuing and expanding those relationships into the future.. I am also very involved in my community and with my two children.  I served several years as President of my Church’s ladies’ guild, I served as a Board Member and Clerk of Longmeadow Baseball Association, and I was a Board Member and still am a regular member of Bon Vivants cooking club.  In addition, I've coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer.  I am very active in my children's schools, including serving as a room parent, field trip chaperone, lunch/recess monitor, and Editor-in-Chief for the school's annual Yearbook.. People ask me all the time - "how do you do it all?"  I usually reply somewhat tongue-in-cheek, "I don't sleep very much."  And although I am definitely tired most nights, I wouldn't change a thing!

I focus my practice on helping people plan for the future. Even young people should start thinking about how they will support themselves in their retirement years, and everybody needs a basic estate plan, including a will, health care proxy and power of attorney. I am down to earth, and I pride myself on making difficult and complex issues easy to understand for my clients. I have a broad client base including a mix of ages, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations.. Founder: Joy of Jasper Horse Sanctuary, 2007 - Present. Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, President 2013-14; Board Member 2010-12. Hampden County Bar Association, New Lawyer's Section, Chair, 2003-2004; Probate Court Bench Bar Liaison, 2003-04. Greater Springfield Business & Professional Women's Club, First Vice President, 2005-06, Second Vice President, 2004-05. Western Massachusetts Elder Care Professionals, Member, Steering Committee. Holyoke North Business Network International. Women's Partnership Board of Directors, 2003-2005. Meadows Homes Human Rights Committee, Past Member. Women's Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley, Inc., Community Connections Co-Chair

I am an attorney at the law firm of Carnahan Evans in Springfield, Missouri, where I am a member of the Estate Planning Practice Group. My practice involves communication with clients aimed at understanding their unique estate planning needs and objectives, and the preparation of various estate planning documents, including simple and complex trusts, wills, powers of attorney, premarital agreements, and business documents to accurately reflect those needs. I also assist in the administration of the estates of loved ones who have recently passed away.. I genuinely enjoy the personal communication that comes with my profession, and appreciate the opportunity to sit down with clients to discuss their concerns and objectives regarding the assets they have worked so hard to acquire over their lifetime, as well as the continued protection of their family members in the event of incapacity or death. Most people spend a lifetime accumulating their assets, but many neglect to spend just a few hours to protect them. It is my hope that after meeting with me, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and relief at having taken important steps toward protecting your assets and providing for your family's continued welfare in the future.. I earned my J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in May of 2015, graduating with a concentration in Estate Planning and Taxation. While in law school, I was awarded the 2015 Michelle Arnopol Cecil Award for Excellence in Taxation, and held numerous leadership positions, including membership on the executive board of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. I was a member of the Missouri Law Review editorial board from 2013-2015, and am the author of two published articles in the Missouri Law Review. I received my bachelor’s degree in History, with a minor in Business, from the University of Missouri in 2011.. I look forward to the opportunity to assist you in your estate planning matters!

I am a Springfield native. Bachelor and Master's degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Studied in Italy, Greece, and Germany.. Law degree from the University of Florida, where I graduated Order of the Coif, a distinction reserved for the top 5% of the past five years of law graduates. During law school I published three legal articles and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Law Review.. After law school, I clerked for the Hon. Thomas Gibbs Gee on the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in Houston, TX, before returning to Florida to practice with Foley & Lardner.. Founded Aton Law Firm, LLC in Springfield in 1990. Practice areas include corporate law, estate planning and real estate. Licensed in Missouri, Florida and Arkansas.

I am a Missouri attorney and graduated from the William H. Bowen School of Law, in Little Rock, Arkansas. I received my Bachelors of Arts at a small Christian private school, College of the Ozarks, in Point Lookout, Missouri. I currently practice as a personal injury attorney in Springfield, Missouri, and I enjoy spending time with my family in my free time.

I am a dedicated attorney based in Northern Virginia, with a practice focused exclusively on estate planning, elder law, and estate administration. My mission is to provide compassionate and comprehensive legal counsel to clients navigating complex estate and elder law issues.. Here’s how I can assist you:. Estate Planning: I offer customized estate planning services, including wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives, ensuring your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected.. Long-Term Care Planning: I help clients explore alternatives to nursing homes and, when necessary, assist in protecting life savings from the high costs of skilled nursing care, alleviating the emotional and financial stress of placing a loved one in a facility.. Guardianship and Conservatorship: Through proactive estate planning, I help clients avoid guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. When these proceedings are unavoidable, I guide families through the process to obtain the necessary legal authority to care for their loved ones.. Special Needs Planning for the Disabled: I assist disabled individuals in securing health insurance and other essential benefits by qualifying for Medicaid and other government programs. I also help families plan and provide for disabled loved ones through wills and trusts.. Probate, Estate, and Trust Administration: I advise executors and administrators on post-mortem planning and the probate process in Virginia, ensuring estates are managed and settled efficiently and in accordance with the law.. General Aging and Disability Advice: I connect clients with local resources for aging and disability matters throughout Northern Virginia, offering holistic guidance and legal support tailored to the aging process.

I am a certified Guardian ad Litem for children and the elderly.  I can be appointed by the court or requested privately to represent the most vulnerable members of our community.  During my college years I interned for a Federal Judge and on Capitol Hill.

Hello, my name is Joe Piatchek.  I was born and raised in Springfield, MO, and I am the managing attorney at The Piatchek Law Firm, LLC.  Experience, knowledge, skill, and value are important qualities to look for when you need a lawyer. Choosing someone you can talk honestly and openly with about deeply personal issues, and knowing that person will listen and understand, is perhaps just as important. At The Piatchek Law Firm, LLC, we are proud to offer a wide range of attentive and effective legal services in the Springfield area, as well as throughout the entire state of Missouri. We are just as proud to have earned the trust of our clients and we look forward to having the opportunity to earn yours as well. That trust starts with an accessible, understanding attorney — we currently have four attorneys available at our firm, who are all long time residents of Missouri who understand the special concerns of families and businesses located in the Ozarks.

Deborah N. Arthur, Attorney-at-Law, has built a long-standing reputation in the Fairfax County, Virginia community for being an attorney with a drive for success. Earning her B.S. in Business Administration from George Mason University in 1977, she continued her education, earning her J.D. from George Mason University in 1982, after spending two years at the Department of Justice. Since then, Mrs. Arthur has assisted those in need of legal representation in matters concerning divorce, bankruptcy, personal injury, family law, and estate matters. So, what separates Mrs. Arthur from the crowd?. She understands that bad things sometimes happen to good people. That's why she will listen to your case objectively, then provide you with an open and honest legal perspective on your situation. With 40 years of experience as an attorney, Deborah Arthur is prepared to go the distance for you. Why settle for anything less?. Deborah Arthur has lived in Northern Virginia all of her life. She is married and has one married daughter, Rebecca L Evans, who is a graduate of Immanuel Christian School in North Springfield, West Springfield High School, and George Mason University.  Mrs. Evans is a graduate of the law school at George Mason University and the owner of the Law Office of Rebecca L Evans.. Mrs. Arthur is an active church member at Calvary Road Baptist Church.  She volunteers in both chldren's ministry and women's ministry.

David Sanborn received a B.A. from Carleton College, M.A. from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and J.D. from Boston University, where he had the pleasure of serving as Assistant Note Editor for the Boston University Law Review.  He has served on the Monson Zoning Board and as MonsonTown Counsel.  He has also served as Chairman of the Longmeadow Board of Assessors and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at The First Church of Monson.  He has been a presenter for Way Finders for first time home buyers on the legal aspects of purchasing a home and on estate planning after becoming a homeowner.

Cameron was born and raised in Missouri. He grew up in Springfield and attended Evangel University graduating with a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a concentration in Pre-Law. After graduation, Cameron attended law school in Virginia Beach, VA at Regent University School of Law with a focus in Estate Planning and Elder Law. Cameron’s legal internships included working with a large law firm; clerking for The Honorable Judge Der-Yeghiayan, a United States Federal District Court Judge in Chicago, Illinois; and spending the summer of 2010 interning at the law offices of R. Clancy Parks, Attorney at Law. 2011 marked the time Cameron joined the law firm as a licensed attorney. Having both of their professional goals aligned, practicing law together has enabled Clancy and Cameron to harness their synergistic potential which maximizes the quality of service they provide their clients.

Born and raised in the Ozarks, Keaton graduated from Bolivar High School after being very active in Scouting, the FFA, band and media classes. He is an Eagle Scout, and has worked numerous summers at Camp Arrowhead in Marshfield, MIssouri, in addition to working for the ScoutReach program and leading a crew to New Mexico's Philmont Scout Ranch.. Keaton attended college at Missouri State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, with a minor in Human Resources Management. At MSU, Keaton served on the Executive Board of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, was selected for the Emerging Leaders Program, and was a member of the Pride marching band. During his last semester of undergraduate studies, Keaton served as a intern for Senator Kevin Engler in Jefferson City.. After graduating from Missouri State, Keaton went on to Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, where he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and studied comparative constitutional and criminal law while studying abroad in Barbados. During his summers, Keaton completed externships with the Cedar County, MO Prosecuting Attorney's office, during which time he utilized a student practice license to prosecute a felony jury trial in Polk County.. In addition to his private practice, Keaton also serves part-time as an assistant prosecutor for the Webster County Prosecutor's office.

Born and raised in the Ozarks and a native of Springfield, Missouri, Randy Smith graduated from Kickapoo High School, then went on to earn a degree from the University of Missouri. Following his undergraduate education, Smith attended the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law.   Mr. Smith and his team live, work, and raise their families in the Ozarks and are active within the community.. He was licensed by the Missouri Bar Association and admitted to practice in the Federal United States District Court Western District of Missouri.. Mr. Smith focuses on the professional and personal legal needs of small business owners; his broad client list includes entrepreneurs, local banks, software companies, physicians, contractors, real estate developers and hotel and restaurant owners.  Estate Planning is a primary component of Mr. Smith’s practice.  Business owners and individuals have entrusted Mr. Smith for over fifteen years to handle their affairs and help them accomplish their specific goals to protect themselves and their families.  Prior to the practice of law Mr. Smith had 8 years of complex commercial transaction and real estate experience outside of the legal profession.  This experience formed his unique perspective on the practice of law which gave him a fundamental understanding of the client experience when dealing with law firms and lawyers.

Attorney, Communicator, Advisor, Connector. I use ideas, intellect and influence to help to build a better world.. In my professional life, I pursue the following roles:. My day-to-day routine includes: