University Park Elder Law Lawyers

• I am a passionate advocate for families who are in need of estate plans which take into account their unique situations and concerns. I enjoy engaging with the concerns of an aging population through carefully planned, drafted and executed estate plans contemplating inherited IRAs using standalone retirement trusts and charitable remainder trusts, Medicaid spend down strategies, asset protection, and creditor protection for beneficiaries, advanced will techniques such as separate share trusts, testamentary trusts, insurance trusts, revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts both of grantor and non-grantor varieties.
• I embrace the many different ways that I can assist with the...

Mark T. Coulter is an experienced Pittsburgh attorney with an extensive record of success solving his clients’ legal issues, with a focus of interest in Estate Planning and Elder Law issues. In over two decades as an attorney in the Monroeville/Pittsburgh area, he has represented thousands of clients in dozens of states across the country in need of assistance with their legal problems. He currently serves as the Director of the Estate Planning Centers, at The Coulter Law Offices LLC, based in Monroeville, PA and his primary focus is to help families in Southwestern Pennsylvania avoid probate, protect their assets,...

Michael H. Marks, Esq. has been a practicing attorney since 1979. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (Juris Doctor Degree, 1979) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, (MBA Degree, 1994). Member of the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations; Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Won $17,001 and prizes as a contestant on the TV game show "Jeopardy!"

Pittsburgh-based attorney Todd Spivak handles Family Law, PFA Defense, Criminal Defense, DUI Defense, and Social Security Disability. A former investigative journalist, Todd's work was twice nominated for The Pulitzer Prize.

Erin Saulino, Esq. spent fifteen years in financial regulation. She started working at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange as an Investigator for Foreign Currency, Equity and Options Trading, quickly working her way up to Director of Options Trading Investigations. Later, she was in charge of Options Trading Investigations at NASDAQ PHLX, and then Associate Director in Options Regulation at FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. At FINRA, she focused on best execution, Reg SHO, market access, customer complaints across the various options exchanges.

Continuing with her passion for helping people, Erin followed her dream of opening her own practice so that she...

Mr. Pappas is co-managing member of Vasiliadis Pappas Associates LLC. He practices exclusively in the areas of elder law, trust and estate planning, trust and estate administration, special needs planning, and veterans’ pension benefits planning. Mr. Pappas’ practice encompasses the Lehigh Valley and greater Eastern Pennsylvania.

He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law (J.D. 2004), Mr. Pappas received his undergraduate degree in political science from Temple University (B.A. 2001, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha) with a specialization in political economy...

Cathy O’Donnell is the Vice President of the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association (Luzerne County Bar); Chairperson Luzerne County Dress for Success; a member of the Board of Directors United Way Wyoming Valley; and a member of the Board of Directors for Junior Leadership of Wilkes-Barre. She is an MBA, member of the D.C. Bar, and served as a District Justice from 2000 to January 2002. In addition to her practice areas, Cathy serves as the O’Donnell Law Offices Business Manager.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Estate Administration; Orphans Court Practice; Elder Law.

Scott Bloom has been an attorney since graduating Widener University School of Law in 1996. He started his firm for the purpose of helping people with family law, elder law and estate planning issues. The firm prides itself on providing a personal touch to help individuals and families. Scott is also here to help you with your Medicaid planning. Furthermore, he is accredited by the Veterans Administration and is able to prepare Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits applications. Scott is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He has offices in both locations and will routinely meet...

Dawn Getty Sutphin has practiced in a large Philadelphia firm as well as for a smaller New Jersey Law office. She has completed the Estate Planning Certificate Program at Villanova Law School, concentrating on federal estate taxes, state inheritance tax, drafting Wills and Trusts, estate planning for individuals and for small business owners, taxation of estates and of trusts, post death estate planning, and estate administration and probate. Personal philosophy: Everyone needs an effective and personal estate plan including at a minimum a Will, as well as a Durable Power of Attorney, and an Advance Medical Directive or Living Will. These...

Liz Brendze, Esq. received her bachelor's degree from Brown University, and her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Upon graduating from law school in 1990, she was selected to serve as a law clerk at the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, for Justice Neil Lynch, Jr. After several years as an associate at the prestigious Boston law firm Hill & Barlow, Liz moved to Philadelphia with her husband. She joined the City of Philadelphia Law Department, working on civil (i.e. non-criminal) matters. She focused on two areas where federal law intersected with local programs: the Americans...

John B. Payne, Attorney, established his practice in 1983, becoming a full-service general practice and litigation firm in 1988, when John received his LL.M. in Taxation. John lectures on estate planning and other topics to groups interested in legal issues. He is the author of Michigan Probate and Counseling the Elderly Client in Michigan, plus numerous articles and seminar manuals. Experienced in appellate matters John has appealed many criminal, civil rights and tax cases in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Pamela Crowther is an experienced attorney whose practice involves criminal and civil litigation including family law, business litigation, constitutional challenges, securities enforcement and government compliance, health care fraud, criminal defense, and civil and criminal appeals. With over twenty years of experience, she is a seasoned litigator with clients who run the gamut from the individual seeking advice on custody to a large corporation facing product liability claim. Her practice covers a wide-range of civil and criminal matters in federal and state courts and before administrative tribunals. She has represented numerous corporations and individuals in product liability cases; complex commercial and...

Gladys Wiles has over 22 years experience in Estate Planning, Elder Law, Real Estate and Business Law. Each case is unique and the laws are complicated, but Gladys takes a comprehensive strategic and personal approach in handling your case working closely with you as well as other experts to achieve the best possible outcome.

A native of the Lehigh Valley, Attorney Wiles received her J.D. from The Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, cum laude, a B.A. from Muhlenberg College and a M.A. from Lehigh University. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Lehigh County Bar Association. Attorney...

Sean B. Patton is an associate at Schoffstall Elder Law, LLC, a firm dedicated to the practice of elder and special needs planning law, guardianship, estate planning, and estate administration. Sean retired from the USMC in 2022 after over twenty years of honorable service. During his time in uniform, Sean served around the world, supporting both conventional and special operations forces, including combat tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Sean earned numerous commendations during his military career, but he takes great pride in two in particular. First, is the Judge Advocate Association’s Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Award for a “demonstrated...

I am a shareholder in the law firm of Leisawitz Heller. I am the only certified elder law attorney practicing in Berks County. I am a graduate of Bucknell University and hold a J.D. degree from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and an LL.M in tax law from the Villanova University School of Law.
My practice is limited to trust and estate matters, including elder law, estate administration, estate planning, asset protection planning, long-term care planning, guardianships, special needs planning and fiduciary litigation.
I currently serve as a trustee of the Berks Community Trust which is a...

Michelle M. Forsell, a resident of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, focuses her practice primarily on estate planning and administration, elder law, real estate, business law, and Veterans benefits. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and its Pennsylvania Chapter. Ms. Forsell is a past president of the Bar Association of Lehigh County, an American Bar Foundation Fellow, a Master of the Villanova Law Inn of Court, and a Montgomery County Arbitrator. She is active in her community as she sits on numerous boards including Frederick Living, a Mennonite Health Services not for profit continuing care retirement...

Dan Monahan has been representing clients in estate related matters since he graduated from Villanova University Law School in 1978. In 2000 he returned to Villanova Law School and received an LL.M. in Tax with an emphasis on estate and trust planning and administration. The following year he obtained his Certificate in Estate Administration from Villanova. Dan has been recognized for his estate work by Main Line Today magazine. He was awarded an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards reflecting confidential opinions from members of the bar...

My practice is primarily focused on civil litigation. I joined Behrend and Ernsberger, P.C. as an associate attorney in 2011. I graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida in 2008 with two degrees: a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in International Relations. I also minored in Economics. While in college, one of my favorite activities was to volunteer as a tutor with the Urban Scholars Outreach Program, a program that provided free tutoring on Saturday mornings to underprivileged children of all grade levels. I also served as an intern for the Honorable Congresswoman Kathy...

Lauren is a dedicated estates & trusts and litigation attorney who takes great pride in providing superior client service, coupled with the legal assistance her clients need. She practices in Pennsylvania, primarily in matters including will and trust disputes, guardianships, and fiduciary matters. Lauren prioritizes listening to her clients and working hard to protect and advance their interests. Learn more about Lauren by visiting: https://www.utbf.com/attorneys/

I have been practicing law since 1992 and focusing in Elder Law since 1995. I help protect families from losing their savings to nursing home costs and help protect and care for their older loved ones. I help families with: Medicaid and Asset Protection Planning, Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, POAs, etc.), Estate Administration, Guardianships and Real Estate Transactions. I have represented many non-profit and for profit elder care institutions and have represented the Montgomery County Office of Aging and Adult Services since 1999.