Carolyn Spicer Russ

A caring touch when you need it most

My goal is to guide you in making thoughtful estate-planning decisions that will protect your family and set them at ease regarding your health care, retirement, and estate planning and the special legal needs of old age. Together we plan ahead for Life's Big What-Ifs:

• What if you need a decision maker for emergency medical care?
• What if you become incapacitated--who will make financial and legal decisions for you?
• What if a family member becomes disabled?
• What if you need nursing home care?
• What if you decide to enter a retirement community?
• What if someone in your family needs a guardian?

  And together we plan for the Big Certainty: Who will handle your estate when you die? What will happen to your assets? How can you minimize taxes and fees for your heirs?

Together we will talk about what's really important to you and how to make good end-of-life decisions, whether that means ensuring that your faith traditions are honored at the end, or making sure that your heirs will respect your financial decisions. Then, as your lawyer, I will draw up the documents that correctly and legally represent your wishes.

Whatever life throws at you and your family, you can rest assured that I will be in your corner.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Elder Law
• Health & Health Care Law
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Trusts
• Wills
• Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania, 1982
• U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1982

Education

• George Washington University National Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1979
  J.D.
  
  
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 1970
  International Relations
  
  

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Allegheny County Bar Association-Elder Law Committee
  Member
  
  
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  
  

Pro Bono Activities

• Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti-Board member, 2001 - Present
• AFS (American Field Service)-Volunteer and host family, 2001 - Present
• East Liberty Presbyterian Church