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STAFF ALBUM |
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| About Us
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Julie Osterhout
After receiving her Juris
Doctorate from Mercer Law School in 1980, Julie began practicing law in the Fort
Myers area. In 1990, she opened her private practice concentrating on the laws
and issues affecting the elderly. Her practice includes estate planning,
probate, guardianship, asset protection planning, and Medicaid qualification.
Julie is recognized as an
Emeritus Specialist in Elder Law by The Florida Bar. She is very active in
community activities and championed the formation of the Alvin A. Dubin
Alzheimer’s Resource Center, Inc. and was named Board Member Emeritus in 2004.
Julie has served as the chair of the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar and
has been a Director of the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys. She was chosen as a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys for outstanding service to the legal community and to seniors. Only
five attorneys in Florida have received this honor.
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Lance M. McKinney
Lance received his Juris
Doctorate with honors from the University of Florida in 1990. He is a member of
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, The
Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, The Florida Bar, The Lee County Bar
Association, and The Florida State Guardianship Association. Lance is admitted
to practice in all courts of the State of Florida. In June 2005 Lance was
certified as an Elder Law Attorney by The Florida Bar.
His practice concentrates
in the areas of probate, guardianships, wills, and trusts. Lance received formal
training in investment fiduciary responsibility, and earned the AIF® designation
from the Center for Fiduciary Studies through the University of Pittsburgh.
Lance served as a barrister in the Inns of Court and on the Board of Directors
of Age Link, an agency that provided information and referrals to the elderly.
Lance is accredited by the Veteran’s Administration to represent claimants.
Lance serves on the Board of Directors of the Lee County Chapter of National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
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Beth A. Prather
After receiving her Masters degree in Business
Administration in 1988 from Nova University and her Juris Doctorate, cum
laude, in 1992 from the University of Maine, Beth returned to her hometown
of Fort Myers to practice law. She is a member of the National Academy of
Elder Law Attorneys, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association
(President), the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (President Elect),
the Florida Bar Association and the Lee County Bar Association.
Beth is certified by the
Florida Bar as an Elder Law Attorney and is accredited with the Veterans
Administration. Her practice concentrates in the areas of life care
planning, probate, guardianship, estate planning, and Medicaid. She was
named as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine in 2008, 2009 and 2010. |
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Britton Goodlad Swank
Britton received her Juris Doctorate with High
Honors in December 2002 from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and
was admitted to practice in Florida in September 2003. She is a member of The
Florida Bar, the Lee County Bar Association and The Order of the Coif, a
national legal honor society which recognizes outstanding academic achievement
for students in the top 10% of their graduating class.
Britton completed an Elder Law Practicum through
Stetson College of Law working with the Guardianship General Master, and was a
participant in a Guardianship, Mental Health, Probate and Trust Externship at
the Thirteenth Judicial Court in Tampa. Britton is a Florida native, born in
Miami, and she attended schools in Hendry County. Britton is accredited by the
Veteran’s Administration to represent claimants. Britton serves on the Board of
Trustees of The Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center.
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Paul Bagley
Paul is the Office Administrator at the firm. Paul returned to the SW Florida area from Alabama to accept the
position when it was created at the beginning of 2000. Paul is a 1969 graduate
of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. and his previous experience
includes 30 years as administrator for various nonprofit organizations. Paul is
an active member of the Association of Legal Administrators, serving as
President of the SW Florida Chapter in 2003-2004.
Paul’s primary responsibilities at the firm are handling the human
resource and financial management needs. He also coordinates the firm’s
management committee meetings. When not at the office, Paul enjoys all types of
sports, fishing and playing Buzztime trivia.
Contact Paul at (239) 277-1718.
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Peggy Polsinelli
Peggy Polsinelli has worked for the firm since 1990.
She is a legal assistant in the Medicaid Planning practice area and assists with
Estate Planning documents when required for those clients. She has also worked
in the guardianship area in the past. Peggy obtained an associate's degree in
legal assisting in 1992 and was certified as a Legal Assistant by the National
Association of Legal Assistants in 1993.
She is also a Florida Registered
Paralegal.Peggy and her husband Paul live in Lehigh Acres and in October, 2003
welcomed their son Michael to their family.
Contact Peggy at (239) 939-7977
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Tricia Winterstein
Tricia is a legal assistant in the Medicaid Planning practice area. Tricia
joined the firm in 1990. In 1994, she received her paralegal degree and obtained
a national certification as a Certified Legal Assistant. In May 1995, she
graduated from the University of South Florida with her Bachelor of Arts degree
in business administration. After completing her educational and professional
goals, Tricia married Jeff in April 1996. Tricia is a Florida Registered
Paralegal.
They are the proud parents of Alex,
born in April 2004. Away from the office, Tricia and Jeff spend their free time
enjoying Alex, and playing co-ed softball and golf.
Contact Tricia at (239) 939-7548 |
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Pam Lahar
Pam is our guardianship assistant and has worked at the firm since January
1995. She enjoys helping families through the complex system of being appointed
as a guardian. She served as the secretary for the Southwest Florida chapter of
the Florida State Guardianship Association from September 2000 to September
2004, and is currently serving as the first vice president/membership chair for
the chapter. Pam is a Florida Registered Paralegal. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband, Bill,
and her animals Red and Lady.
Contact Pam at (239) 277-1722 |
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Debbie Aikens
Debbie has an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies from North Shore
Community College where she graduated with Honors. She was employed as a
paralegal in the Boston area for seven years prior to relocating to Florida in
January of 2001. Debbie works in our guardianship department and handles the
files when a guardian is applying for medicaid. Debbie is a Florida Registered
Paralegal.
Contact Debbie at (239) 791-0910 |
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Teresa Smith
Teresa is a legal assistant in the Estate Planning Department. She has
worked for attorneys since 1987 and joined the firm on December 31, 2002.
Teresa is earning her Associates degree, and her long term goal is to become an
attorney. Teresa is a Florida Registered Paralegal. Along with her husband Matt, and two dogs
Mikko and Angelica, Teresa
moved to the Southwest Florida area from New York in 1993. When not attending
night classes and doing homework, she enjoys biking and going for long drives to
explore the area.
Contact Teresa at (239) 791-0883.
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Shirley Petski
Shirley Petski joined the firm in January 2003. Shirley served as the
receptionist for two years, and she currently works part time assisting in the
estate planning and trust administration practice areas. Shirley and her husband
moved to Fort Myers after her retirement from the insurance industry in
Wisconsin. When not at the office she enjoys her seven grandchildren, one
great-grandchild, reading, traveling, playing cards, and the wonderful weather
in Florida.Contact Shirley at 239-791-0890 |
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Rosemarie Hemmings, LCSW Life Care
Coordinator
Rosemarie is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of
experience working with older adults and people with chronic illness.
Rosemarie is one of our Life Care Coordinators and joined our firm in March of
2008. As a Life Care Coordinator, Rosemarie assists our Life Care Planning
clients' in finding and keeping good care for the rest of their lives.
Rosemarie has significant experience in providing counseling and education to
those facing challenging life decisions. Rosemarie obtained her Master's
Degree in Social Work from New York University. Rosemarie has one son and
enjoys traveling.
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Jeannie Coleman
Jeannie joined the firm in March of 2010 as a Life Care Coordinator. She has
over 15 years experience working in social services. She earned her bachelor’s
degree in psychology at Ohio University, and her graduate certificate in
Geriatric Care Management through the University of Florida.
As a Life Care Coordinator, Jeannie assists families with the difficult
care-related issues of the aging process. Jeannie is happily married to her
husband David. They enjoy motorcycling, fishing, and spending time with their
two dogs, Levi and Phoebe
Contact Jeannie at 239-791-0890 |
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Peggy Boucher
Peggy Boucher works in our probate department. Ms. Boucher has an AS Degree
from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and worked in the legal arena in
Michigan before moving to Florida in 1985. Peggy has over 20 years of prior
experience in law firms and in the private sector, before joining our firm in
July 2007. Peggy is a Florida Registered Paralegal. She resides in Cape Coral with her husband, Vic, and their two labrador retrievers.
Peggy
can be reached at (239) 791-0881 |
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Christie Claeson
Christie is the Lead Factotum for the firm. She assists all
departments with general organization and file management. Christie is
currently enrolled at Edison Community College and is working towards her
Associates degree and then hopes to obtain her Bachelor's degree in
Business Management. Her long term goal is to attend culinary school and
someday own a bakery. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading,
needlepoint and playing Guitar Hero.
Contact Christie at (239) 791-0880
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Susan Mitchell
Susan is the Intake Coordinator for the firm and sets all appointment for
Estate Planning, Medicaid and Life Care Planning. Susan enjoys talking
with our clients and potential clients and asking them questions to help
determine the appropriate type of appointment for them.
Susan moved to North Ft. Myers from Maine in 2006 and began work with
our firm in December of 2006. When not at work, Susan enjoys walking,
biking, swimming, reading, photography and exploring the area. She also
enjoys spending time with her family getting together to play cards and
games.
Contact Susan at(239) 939-4832.
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Lindsey Fairbrother
Lindsey is a factotum for the firm having started in December 2008. She
assists all departments with general tasks and organization. She currently
attends Edison State College and is working towards her Associates Degree in
Paralegal Studies. Lindsey is also pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Education.
She enjoys the beach, shopping and spending time with family and friends.
You
may reach Lindsey at 239/791-0900.
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Jessica Ross
Jessica joined the firm in December of 2007 as the receptionist. She
routes existing and potential clients to the appropriate staff member,
opens and distributes all mail, greets all office arrivals and helps the
attorneys keep on schedule with their appointments. Jessica has over
twenty years in the restaurant business and treats every client like
family. When not working, Jessica enjoys spending time with her animals,
especially her horse Joe, and just being outdoors.
Contact Jessica at (239)939-4888.
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