“Attorney Patrick G. Curley Achieves Top Certification in Elder Law”, June 23, 2009
Attorney Patrick G. Curley Achieves Top Certification in Elder Law
Wakefield, MA – Curley Law Firm LLP proudly announces that Patrick G. Curley has earned the designation of Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) from the National Elder Law Foundation. Patrick is one of only 20 CELAs in Massachusetts and the only CELA in Wakefield.
Founded in 1993, the National Elder Law Foundation created the CELA designation to identify those lawyers who have the enhanced knowledge, skills, experience, and proficiency to be properly identified to the public as Certified Elder Law Attorneys.
Patrick now joins an elite group of attorneys who are designated experts in laws relating to the elderly and disabled – specifically in Trust and Will planning, protecting assets against nursing home costs, and securing Medicaid (MassHealth) benefits.
“Achieving CELA status is the pinnacle of elder law and estate planning practice in this country,” said Patrick. “It is a tremendous honor to be among the very few attorneys to achieve this distinction.”
Patrick added that “at a time when more attorneys than ever before are dabbling in the very complex areas of trusts and estate planning as well as Medicaid planning and asset protection, the CELA designation certifies me as one of the few experts in the whole Commonwealth. The value of working with an expert is the peace of mind that you will receive the best advice available today to protect yourself, your family and your assets.”
Becoming a CELA is a rigorous process involving many years of focused elder law and estate planning practice, dozens of hours of continuing legal education in the field of elder law, references and support from other top elder law attorneys, and a full-day national certification exam. In addition, all CELA attorneys must maintain and improve their expertise through continued elder law practice and continuing legal education.
Patrick is a graduate of Dartmouth College and The University of Michigan Law School and has practiced law since 1997. Along with his father and law partner, Attorney Mark M. Curley, Patrick has built Curley Law Firm LLP, located at 1 Common Street, Wakefield, into one of the largest law firms in Massachusetts focused exclusively on Will and Trust planning, Medicaid (MassHealth) planning and applications, asset protection, guardianship, and probate and trust administration.
Because of his expertise in estate planning and elder law, Patrick has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal on elder law topics. He participates in regular national and local conferences with the leading attorneys in the country. A frequent speaker, writer and television commentator on elder law topics, Patrick has conducted seminars for Mystic Valley Elder Services, North Shore Elder Services, the Geriatric Care Managers Association of New England, and many senior centers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes throughout Massachusetts. Please see additional information and articles at www.CurleyLawFirm.com under the “Articles” page.
Patrick proudly volunteers as President of the Board of Directors of The Boit Home, a non-profit retirement home in Wakefield. He also serves as a “Big Brother” in the Massachusetts Chapter of the Big Brother-Big Sister mentoring organization. Patrick especially enjoys spending time with his wife, Erin, who is a first-grade school teacher.
The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys in Elder Law. NELF is a private organization, whose standards for certification are not regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. More information about Patrick and Curley Law Firm LLP can be found on the firm’s website: www.CurleyLawFirm.com.