Top best Guardianship Lawyers in Springfield | 6 available

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 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 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.

Experienced Guardianship attorney serving clients in Springfield and surrounding areas.

Experienced Guardianship attorney serving clients in Springfield and surrounding areas.

Experienced Guardianship attorney serving clients in Springfield and surrounding areas.