Attorney Brittany Smith Earns CELA Certification

Attorney Brittany O.L. Smith, Esq., recently earned her Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA®) certification from the National Elder Law Foundation. The CELA® certification is frequently referred to as the "gold standard" for elder law and special needs practitioners, and only just over 500 attorneys have this certification in the entire country, including just 67 in Pennsylvania. Brittany joins fellow Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak attorneys Julie Steinbacher and Amos Goodall as CELAs, giving the law firm three of 67 in the entire state, and three of just six total that practice in the greater Williamsport and State College areas combined. 

Preparation for the CELA designation is rigorous and a multi-stepped process. Applicants for the certification must have practiced law for at least five years, half of which must be in the special needs/elder law field for at least the last three of those years. They also must demonstrate substantial involvement in special needs and elder law practice by showing a minimum number of individual cases spread across a number of different categories making up the "elder law" definition. They also must complete a day-long written exam, of which passing rates are usually below 50%. Finally, applicants must undergo a review by peers and colleagues, focused on the applicant's reputation for ethical and competent representation in elder law and special needs planning matters. 

Brittany is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and Virginia. She has been with Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak since 2015, and heads up the firm's long-term care planning and estate administration departments. Working in conjunction with long-term care planner and Certified Medicaid Planner Tammy Zilske, Brittany also handles Medicaid planning, guardianships, veterans benefits, special needs planning and tax planning clients. 

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Planning Strategies Associated with Leaving an Inheritance the Subject of Podcast Episode 21

Do you want to ensure that you can leave an inheritance to your spouse, children, other relatives, or your favorite charity? If the answer is yes, then you need to make sure that the assets you intend to pass down are protected from the cost of long-term care, which is nearly $11K per month in Pennsylvania in 2020. In episode 21 on the Second Half of Life podcast, Attorney Jenna Franks and Long-Term Care Planner Kristin Daugherty discuss the planning strategies associated with leaving an inheritance, and the steps you need to take to ensure your estate is protected.

This episode is a recording of a virtual seminar originally held on August 5, 2020, and this and other episodes of the Second Half of Life podcast can be accessed on the Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak website, as well as on several podcast directories. The podcast is also available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, Deezer, Listen Notes, Bullhorn, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro and Castbox.