Compassionate, educational, and individualized: these are the pillars of Edwards Elder Law, P.A., and what founding attorney Stephanie Edwards feels are crucial when dealing with matters of the heart.
Focusing on elder law, Medicaid and estate planning, Edwards recognizes that clients come to her regarding an emotional event, one that has already occurred or eventually will. Whether for immediate assistance or future planning, the topics on the table don’t make for easy conversations. They are of utmost importance; the gravity of estate planning isn’t something taken lightly by the firm. While funeral wishes, incapacity planning, or even choosing beneficiaries are difficult concepts to confront, the goal of Edwards Elder Law is to demystify these processes and provide clients with peace of mind.
Driving Force
A close friend’s positive experience with an attorney is what led Stephanie Edwards into this specialty. She had been working in employment law prior to leaving the field altogether to pursue a career in human resources. Then a friend suffered the emotional rollercoaster of having a suddenly ill parent who was later hospitalized, and finally passed away. She watched as her friend initially struggled through the stressful and confusing process alone.
Eventually, her friend connected with a knowledgeable attorney who was able to help in making educated decisions about what steps to take next as well as translate the legalities involved in moving forward. This attorney was able to help her friend “see a path through the wilderness”, said Edwards. She saw emotional weight lifted from her friend’s shoulders and it was inspiration enough to draw Edwards back into law, realizing a need for support of this client segment. She re-entered the field on a mission to uncomplicate elder law for people like her friend.
Edwards Elder Law is skilled at navigating the Medicaid system and VA benefits, the ins and outs of estate planning, handling the estate of a loved one who has passed away, trust administration, wills, probate and more. The firm’s clients are quite varied. There are family members of St. Pete seniors who have passed away and own real estate in the area; some family members live far away who are concerned about their elderly loved ones living in Pinellas County. There are clients who question their loved ones’ capacity to care for themselves independently; other family members search for answers about financing care assistance options. Spouses in caregiver roles have different needs as do people planning ahead for their own futures.
Education First
Education is one of the law firm’s guiding principles. According to Edwards, they want their clients to “feel like they have a guide” through the challenging estate planning processes, using a simple, step by step approach. This focus on education provides stress relief for most people. The firm takes the time needed to ensure that their clients understand all of the options in their unique situations and assists in problem solving with them. Per Edwards, the best compliment she can get is that “she should have a been a teacher.”
Individualized Approach
Edwards Elder Law does not offer “one size fits all” guidance. Tailoring their work to the individual is a cornerstone of the practice. The aim is to identify unique needs and to create a plan for each special situation. No two stories are exactly alike to Edwards nor are there any cookie cutter plans. In order to pay enough personal attention to each valued client, Edwards Elder Law keeps their client base small, creating a “boutique” approach. They take pride in their accessibility, ensuring their clients aren’t merely numbers to them.
The entire law firm of Edwards Elder Law works hard to make their clients feel comfortable while discussing touchy subjects. There’s even a feline team member – Winston. The office cat provides “pet therapy” to visitors, lending an ear to listen and get scratched, if he’s lucky. Winston is known to help put clients at ease while discussing otherwise tough topics.
Edwards Elder Law proudly serves seniors and their families residing in Central to South Pinellas County. If you’re looking for legal care for you or your loved ones, contact St. Petersburg elder law attorney Stephanie Edwards at (727) 755-5808 or (727) 209-8282, or find them online at edwardselderlaw.com. Let them be a resource for you and your family.
