Shaffer Law Office, LLC

Elder Law

Gina Shaffer’s law practice is quite unique. It’s unique in the community because few attorneys in Harford County practice—let alone focus on—elder law. It’s unique within the industry because of the personal relationship Ms. Shaffer builds with each client, a philosophy of caring and concern that is shared by every member of her staff.

Ms. Shaffer graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School in 2001 and was admitted to the bar the same year. After working with a large firm for two years, she opened her own practice in 2003. Tracey McLauchlin, associate attorney, brings 12 years of labor and employment experience to the practice and prepares most of the litigation for guardianship and other cases that go to court.

“I hope our clients realize how very important and special each individual is to us,” Ms. Shaffer says, “and that we will do everything we can to make their life less worrisome.”

“There are legal actions that people can take to protect their assets but they have to get some guidance from a knowledgeable source...”

Elder law includes assisting seniors and their family members with a variety of financial and legal issues that affect the senior population. Many clients come to Ms. Shaffer for help in obtaining public benefits, for nursing home or assisted living placement and/or estate planning.

“The most common situation that brings people into the office is the application process for medical assistance,” Ms. Shaffer says. “Seniors and their families often try to do it on their own based on advice from friends and family members. Then they find out that advice was wrong. There are legal actions that people can take to protect their assets but they have to get some guidance from a knowledgeable source before they take actions that could be detrimental.”

People are using Internet resources to save money on the preparation of many legal documents and it is not working well. “In the case of elder law and estate planning, the laws are very specific and vary from state to state so a generically prepared document is often inadequate,” Ms. Shaffer says. “A consultation or engagement of an attorney can assure the document is prepared properly and, most of the time, will end up saving the client money in the long run.”

A will or trust is not the only document needed for estate planning. “A power of attorney and an advance medical directive are important documents in the process,” Ms. Shaffer says. “A valid power of attorney naming a family member to make decisions and handle financial business can prevent the time and expense of a guardianship.” Without a reliable agent to help with decision making and bill paying, many people are subjected to court-ordered guardianship.

Ms. Shaffer presents the intricacies of elder law to her clients in a way that is non-intimidating, easy to understand and reasonably priced. “They are not coming to me because they’re wealthy,” she says. “I explain everything they need to know and everything they need to do in one or two visits and I bill them at a reasonable rate. I want them to know that our firm focuses on the entire well-being of every individual.”

Shaffer Law Office, LLC
207 Fulford Avenue
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-420-7992

www.shafferlegal.com

Pictured left to right: Tracey D. McLauchlin and Gina D. Shaffer
Photography: Coyle Studios