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At Elville and Associates, delivering consistent, high-quality service to our clients depends on strong leadership and coordination behind the scenes. We are proud to announce that Vonda Dubard has been promoted to Practice Group Manager at Elville and Associates. In this role, Vonda helps lead and coordinate the firm’s core practice groups—ensuring attorneys and staff work seamlessly together, workflows are efficient, and every client receives thoughtful, organized estate planning and elder law services. Practice groups play a critical role in supporting complex planning, maintaining quality standards, and guiding matters smoothly from start to finish. Vonda’s deep knowledge of the firm, steady leadership, and commitment to exceptional client service make her exceptionally well suited for this position. Her promotion reflects both her professional skill and the trust she has earned from colleagues and clients alike. Please join us in congratulating Vonda on this well-deserved achievement!

Authored by: Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director It was announced on Friday, December 19 th that Managing Principal Stephen Elville, Principal Attorneys Shannon Goodwin and Shannon Ladner, and Associate Attorney Sara von Stein Echeverria were honored on the 2026 Maryland Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists. Stephen R. Elville, J.D., LL.M. — Managing Principal Stephen R. Elville, President, CEO, and Managing Principal of Elville & Associates, P.C., has again been selected to the 2026 Maryland Super Lawyers List — his 11th overall and 10th consecutive year receiving this recognition. Mr. Elville’s practice centers on helping individuals and families through challenging legal landscapes with clarity, compassion, and technical skill. He leads the firm’s work in estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, tax planning and asset protection and preservation, long-term care planning, and more. Clients working with Mr. Elville benefit from his deep experience navigating both pre-crisis planning and complex crisis situations — giving them peace of mind and a personalized, long-term strategy. Throughout his career, Mr. Elville has built a reputation as one of Maryland’s most respected attorneys. His broad legal-technical knowledge, combined with a caring and client-focused approach, enables him to address a wide range of legal matters with confidence and clarity. In addition to his client work, he is a seasoned educator and speaker, regularly offering webinars and workshops for clients and the surrounding community, along with continuing education events for financial advisors. Mr. Elville is an active member of several professional organizations including the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), WealthCounsel, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and as well as the EPIC Peer Group where he travels around the country each quarter learning from and teaching likeminded attorneys. He has held leadership roles including the past Chair of the Estates & Trusts & Elder Law Sections of the Howard County Bar Association, past President of the Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS), and past Chair of the Elder Law & Disability Rights Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association. He was also the long-term Chair for Law Day Maryland and recently served as Chair of the Pro Bono Subcommittee of the Elder Law Disability Rights Section Council. Outside of his legal practice, he is President of the Friends of Baltimore Classical Music, Inc. and Founder of the Elville Center for the Creative Arts, Inc. — a nonprofit dedicated to furthering music education for students with limited means.  Mr. Elville had a feature story written about him in the national Super Lawyers Magazine about the Elville Center and his efforts surrounding this initiative. Along with his charitable endeavors, Mr. Elville also supports community organizations such as the Autism Society of Maryland, the Brain Injury Association of Maryland, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Howard County, the Howard County Public Library System Veterans Book Group program, and more. Shannon Goodwin, J.D. — Principal Attorney Shannon Goodwin has been named to the 2026 Rising Stars List for a third consecutive year. In her role as Principal Attorney, she leads Elville and Associates’ Estate and Trust Administration Department along with estate planning and tax planning. Ms. Goodwin guides clients through every aspect of administering estates — from the probate process and inventory reporting, to accountings, final distributions, and all detailed estate tasks. Her insight and dedication help families navigate what can often be complicated and emotionally difficult processes. Her background includes undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University, followed by law school — during which she distinguished herself as a member of the Syracuse Law Review. After graduation, she gained important legal experience working as a Judicial Law Clerk for three years in the Circuit Court for Washington County, and in the District Court for Washington and Frederick Counties. She joined Elville and Associates in 2021, bringing with her a strong foundation and commitment to client care. Shannon F. Ladner, J.D. — Principal Attorney Shannon F. Ladner has earned her place on the 2026 Rising Stars List for the fourth year in a row. She leads the firm’s Estate Planning Department, where she assists clients through every stage of planning — from initial consultation to plan design and implementation, and ongoing updates as laws and life circumstances evolve. Ms. Ladner’s practice emphasizes estate planning and special needs planning. Her work is grounded in a thoughtful, client-centered approach, ensuring that each plan reflects the client’s values, goals, and unique family situation. During law school, she contributed her talents to the Human Trafficking Prevention Project Clinic, representing victims of human trafficking as a Rule 19 Student Attorney. After receiving her J.D., she served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Magistrates Susan M. Marzetta and Lori Joy Eisner in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Before joining Elville and Associates, she practiced at a small law firm in Towson, Maryland where she gained valuable experience representing clients in family law and criminal matters. Sara von Stein Echeverria, J.D. — Associate Attorney 2026 is Sara von Stein Echeverria’s first of what we see as many future inclusions on the Maryland Rising Stars list.  Ms. von Stein Echeverria focuses her practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, special needs planning, asset protection, and tax planning. She is known for her thoughtful, client-centered approach and her ability to guide individuals and families through complex planning decisions with clarity, empathy, and care. Sara works closely with clients to develop comprehensive plans that protect loved ones, reflect personal values, and provide long-term peace of mind. Sara earned her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she distinguished herself through academic excellence and legal scholarship. She also holds a Master of Science from Birkbeck College, University of London, and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Dickinson College. Prior to joining Elville and Associates, her work included humanitarian and immigration-related legal advocacy, experience that continues to inform her compassionate and inclusive approach to client service. Sara is admitted to practice in Maryland and is an active member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Baltimore City Bar Association. To learn more about this year’s honorees and the entire team at Elville and Associates, please visit www.elvilleassociates.com. The firm is steadfast in its commitment to client education, compassionate legal service, and providing peace-of-mind solutions across estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, and beyond. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com. #elvilleeducation

Authored by:  Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director Stephen Elville, Managing Principal and Lead Attorney of Elville and Associates, P.C., has been selected to the 2025 Maryland Super Lawyers List. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.  This is Mr. Elville’s 10th year being named to the Maryland Super Lawyers List and ninth consecutive year as well. Mr. Elville works with individuals and families to provide a unique attorney-client experience and peace of mind solutions to the challenges they face with estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, asset protection, tax planning matters, and more.  Mr. Elville has extensive experience in working with clients involved in crisis situations, and also brings a unique and personalized approach to pre-crisis planning.  Along with his work in the aforementioned areas, Mr. Elville’s maintains a focus in the areas of asset protection, tax planning, and disability and long-term care planning as well.  He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent attorneys in the State of Maryland and beyond for his legal-technical knowledge and ability to navigate many different types of legal matters for clients.  He is a seasoned speaker and educator, and each year presents by way of dozens of webinars, workshops for businesses and their employees, conferences, and continuing education events. Mr. Elville is currently a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Elder Counsel, Wealth Counsel, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys.  He is the past Chair of the Howard County Bar Association Estates & Trusts and Elder Law Sections and is the past President of the Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS). Mr. Elville has also served as Chair of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association and was the longtime Chair for Law Day Maryland. Recently, Mr. Elville served as the Chair of the Pro Bono Subcommittee of the Elder Law Disability Rights Section Council.  He is also the President of the Friends of Baltimore Classical Music, Inc., and is the Founder of the Elville Center for the Creative Arts, Inc., a non-profit organization developed in 2014 that works to further music education in schools and other organizations that have student musicians with limited means. Shannon Goodwin, a Principal Attorney with Elville and Associates, was named to the Rising Stars List for a second consecutive year in 2025.  She is the Leader of the firm’s busy Estate and Trust Administration Department, and has quickly shown the scope and depth of her talents and abilities in the complex world of estates and trusts.  Through her guidance, she partners with clients as they address the sometimes challenging matters of the administration of loved ones’ estates from start to finish, including helping navigate the probate process, inventory and reportings, accountings, and much more. After her undergraduate work at North Carolina State University, Ms. Goodwin participated in multiple internships and externships and went on to distinguish herself as a member of the Syracuse Law Review. Upon graduating from law school, Shannon gained valuable experience by working as a Judicial Law Clerk for three years in the Circuit Court for Washington County, as well as in the District Court for both Washington and Frederick Counties. Shannon then transitioned to private practice and joined Elville and Associates in 2021. Shannon Ladner, also a Principal Attorney with Elville and Associates, was named to the Rising Stars List for a third consecutive year in 2025.  She is an integral member and Leader of the firm’s Estate Planning Department.  She educates and counsels clients through the entire estate planning process – beginning with the initial consultation, followed by the design and implementation of their plans, as well as the necessary maintenance and updating of their planning as changes occur in the laws and their lives.  Ms. Ladner’s practice focus includes estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, and tax planning. During law school, Ms. Ladner participated in the Human Trafficking Prevention Project Clinic where she diligently represented victims of human trafficking as a Rule 19 Student Attorney. Upon obtaining her Juris Doctor, Ms. Ladner gained valuable experience by working as a Judicial Law Clerk for Magistrates Susan M. Marzetta and Lori Joy Eisner in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Prior to bringing her skills to Elville and Associates, Ms. Ladner worked as an Associate Attorney at a small law firm in Towson, Maryland where she represented clients in Family Law and Criminal Law matters. To learn more about this year’s honorees and the entire team at Elville and Associates, please click here.  To learn more about Elville and Associates, its practice areas, its commitment to client education, and events calendar, please visit www.elvilleassociates.com. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com. #elvilleeducation

Authored by: Stephen Elville – Managing Principal and Lead Attorney – Elville and Associates, P.C. After nearly 25 years of serving residents of Montgomery County at its former Rockville and Pike and Rose locations, I’m proud to announce the opening of Elville and Associates’ new permanent Montgomery County office at 1700 Rockville Pike, Suite 530, Rockville - serving Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, and all of Montgomery County. Montgomery County is a dynamic setting for business and government, and a diverse population with continuous and growing needs for comprehensive and contemporary estate and other related planning. Montgomery County remains largely underserved in Elder Law, now a burgeoning area of law affecting nearly all individuals and families. Elville and Associates is both proud and privileged to serve this great community and County, and to be a Member of the Bar Association of Montgomery County. If you are a community leader, nonprofit organizer, financial advisor, CPA, insurance professional, Aging LifeCare Manager, firefighter or police officer, or other collaborative professional; or, if you know someone who is in need of client care-focused, education-based estate planning, elder law planning, special needs planning, or business related planning, we invite you to contact us. We look forward to meeting you as Elville and Associates continues to serve those who make Montgomery County great. You can reach me, Stephen R. Elville, J.D., LL.M., at 443-393-7696 x108, or at steve@elvilleassociates.com. You can also reach Lillian Hummel, our Principal Attorney at the new Montgomery County office, at 240-583-7990 x201, or at Lilly@elvilleassociates.com. Or, send us a general message here. Elville and Associates, P.C. - Planning for Life, Planning for Legacies. What’s your Plan? What’s your Legacy?

Authored by: Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director Stephen Elville, Managing Principal and Lead Attorney of Elville and Associates, P.C., has been selected to the 2024 Maryland Super Lawyers List. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. This is Mr. Elville’s ninth year being named to the Maryland Super Lawyers List and eighth consecutive year as well. Mr. Elville works with individuals and families to provide a unique attorney-client experience and peace of mind solutions to the challenges they face with estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, asset protection, tax planning matters, and more.  Mr. Elville has extensive experience in working with clients involved in crisis situations, and also brings a unique and personalized approach to pre-crisis planning. Along with his work in the aforementioned areas, Mr. Elville’s maintains a focus in the areas of asset protection, tax planning, and disability and long-term care planning as well. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent attorneys in the State of Maryland and beyond for his legal-technical knowledge and ability to navigate many different types of legal matters for clients. He is a seasoned speaker, and each year presents by way of dozens of webinars, workshops for businesses and their employees, conferences, and continuing education events. Mr. Elville is currently a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Elder Counsel, Wealth Counsel, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys.  He is the past Chair of the Howard County Bar Association Estates & Trusts and Elder Law Sections and is the past President of the Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS). Mr. Elville has also served as Chair of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association and was the longtime Chair for Law Day Maryland. Currently, Mr. Elville serves as the Chair of the Pro Bono Subcommittee of the Elder Law Disability Rights Section Council. He is also the President of the Friends of Baltimore Classical Music, Inc., and is the Founder of the Elville Center for the Creative Arts, Inc., a non-profit organization developed in 2014 that works to further music education in schools and other organizations that have student musicians with limited means. He is also the Founder and Owner of Elville Studios, LLC. Shannon Goodwin, a Senior Associate Attorney with Elville and Associates, was named to the Rising Stars List for the first time in 2024. She is the Leader of the firm’s busy Estate and Trust Administration Department, and has quickly shown the scope and depth of her talents and abilities in the complex world of estates and trusts. Through her guidance, she partners with clients as they address the sometimes challenging matters of the administration of loved ones’ estates from start to finish, including helping navigate the probate process, inventory and reportings, accountings, and much more. After her undergraduate work at North Carolina State University, Ms. Goodwin participated in multiple internships and externships and went on to distinguish herself as a member of the Syracuse Law Review. Upon graduating from law school, Shannon gained valuable experience by working as a Judicial Law Clerk for three years in the Circuit Court for Washington County, as well as in the District Court for both Washington and Frederick Counties. Shannon then transitioned to private practice and joined Elville and Associates in 2021. Shannon Werbeck, a Senior Associate Attorney with Elville and Associates, was named to the Rising Stars List for a second consecutive year in 2024. She is an integral member and one of Leaders of the firm’s Estate Planning Department. She educates and counsels clients through the entire estate planning process – beginning with the initial consultation, followed by the design and implementation of their plans, as well as the necessary maintenance and updating of their planning as changes occur in the laws and their lives. Ms. Werbeck’s practice focus includes estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, and tax planning. During law school, Ms. Werbeck participated in the Human Trafficking Prevention Project Clinic where she diligently represented victims of human trafficking as a Rule 19 Student Attorney. Upon obtaining her Juris Doctor, Ms. Werbeck gained valuable experience by working as a Judicial Law Clerk for Magistrates Susan M. Marzetta and Lori Joy Eisner in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Prior to settling in at Elville and Associates, Ms. Werbeck worked as an Associate Attorney at a small law firm in Towson, Maryland where she represented clients in Family Law and Criminal Law matters. Renee Boyd, a Senior Associate Attorney with Elville and Associates, was named to the Rising Stars List for the first time in 2024. Ms. Boyd partners with clients in the firm’s busy Estate Planning Department to address all aspects of estate planning, including the initial drafting of wills, trusts, advance directives, and powers of attorney, as well as the continued revision and updates of those documents as changes occur in the laws and their lives. During the estate planning process she helps educate clients and provide them a comprehensive client experience throughout. Ms. Boyd’s past work as a Certified Financial Planner® enables her to offer a unique perspective in working with clients during the estate planning process and she draws from her experience in helping clients achieve their financial planning goals. Ms. Boyd’s practice focus includes estate planning, elder law, and asset protection. During law school, Ms. Boyd began her work in law as a Family Law Attorney Extern with the Law Offices of Juliet Fisher.  During this experience she developed skills in the areas of client counseling, preparation of motions and briefs, legal research and strategy planning.  She then transitioned to the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore County where she worked as a judicial assistant and oversaw the Mediation Program which strived to bring successful resolution to estate administration disputes through discussion rather than litigation.  At that same time she also provided research and administrative support to three probate court judges. Ms. Boyd’s prior professional experience tells a story of successful client relationship and business development in the financial services arena spanning over 20 years.  As Director of Strategic Services and the College Savings Plan Business at T. Rowe Price, she oversaw and managed multiple enterprise-wide strategic initiatives designed to enhance growth, profitability, and overall client satisfaction for both internal and external clients.  As a Managing Consultant and Program Manager at BridgePoint Group, she planned and led Financial Services clients projects in the area of employee benefits to ensure business goals were achieved.  She also fulfilled the roles of coach, motivator and leader as she developed proposals for projects, and performed risk analysis and managed change control. To learn more about this year’s honorees and the entire team at Elville and Associates, please click here. To learn more about Elville and Associates, its practice areas, its commitment to client education, and events calendar, please visit www.elvilleassociates.com. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com. #elvilleeducation

Authored by: Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director Elville and Associates, P.C. is proud to announce and welcome Lillian (Lilly) Hummel as a Principal Attorney with the firm. Lilly will lead the firm’s soon-to-be-established Montgomery County office. Licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia, Lilly maintains her practice focus in elder law, estate planning, estate and trust administration, and special needs planning. Lilly counsels individuals and families about eligibility for Medicaid and other programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities; navigating long-term care; and establishing and administering special needs trusts. She also represents clients in guardianship matters. Lilly is currently the Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County and a Council Member of the Elder and Disability Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. She is also a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Reflecting on joining Elville and Associates, Lilly shared, “I’m delighted to join Elville and Associates, and lead the firm’s expanded presence in Montgomery County. Elville and Associates is a leader in estate planning, with a particular focus on elder law and special needs planning. This focus aligns perfectly with my own interest in advising clients on the intersection of estate planning and benefits eligibility.” With her commitment to clients, vast array of legal knowledge, and innate leadership ability, we could not be more excited for Lilly to join our team here at our expanding firm. Please join us in welcoming Lilly to Elville and Associates! Lilly can be reached at lilly@elvilleassociates.com, or by phone at 240-583-7990

Authored by: Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director Managing Principal Stephen R. Elville and Elville and Associates are pleased to announce that attorney Shannon Goodwin has been promoted to Principal with the firm. Ms. Goodwin joined Elville and Associates as an Associate Attorney in 2021 and was promoted to Senior Associate Attorney soon thereafter.  Over the past three years, as the Leader of the firm’s busy Estate and Trust Administration Department she has quickly shown the scope and depth of her talents and knowledge in the complex world of estates and trusts.  She partners with and counsels clients as they address the sometimes challenging matters of the administration of loved ones’ estates from start to finish, including helping navigate the probate process, inventory and reportings, accountings, and much more. After her undergraduate work at North Carolina State University, Shannon participated in multiple internships and externships and distinguished herself as a member of the Syracuse Law Review. Upon graduating from law school, she gained valuable experience by working as a Judicial Law Clerk for three years in the Circuit Court for Washington County, as well as in the District Court for both Washington and Frederick Counties. Shannon then transitioned to private practice and joined Elville and Associates in 2021. In 2024, Shannon was named to the Maryland Rising Stars List by Super Lawyers.  Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Shannon can be reached at sgoodwin@elvilleassociates.com, or by phone at 443-393-7696 x116 and always looks forward to meeting new advisors and speaking with individuals and families about their estate and trust administration matters. #elvilleeducation

By: Stephen R. Elville, J.D., LL.M. – Managing Principal and Lead Attorney – Elville and Associates, P.C. Lately I’ve been thinking about the theme Elville and Associates has been talking to clients about so much since late 2022 and now into 2023, and that is achieving perfection in estate planning.  While this concept is important, and an idea that sets the bar higher than it’s likely ever been set before, it’s important to also understand that the object is not to focus on perfection at the outset – meaning perfectionism is not what I am referring to.  This problem is what holds so many people back, and not just in estate planning.  Many of us won’t move ahead with something unless we know it’s perfect or otherwise we are afraid we will make a mistake; or, we actually do get started with a project and then don’t finish for various reasons, oftentimes because we want to be perfect or we lack focus; or, perhaps something we don’t want to admit - we are afraid to finish because we’re afraid of what finishing means. For example, in the past two years I’ve had clients who have attempted estate planning multiple times in the past and did not or could not follow through.  The problem is this: when we think about estate planning, we think in terms of having to get it right and having to get it right from the get-go.  We don’t give ourselves permission to fail.  Why?  Well, because we think in terms of failure not being an option.  But that’s not how estate planning works and not how everyday life works.  In estate planning we feel that we must make perfect choices because we have no alternative - we have to plan as if death or incapacity would occur or could occur tomorrow.  While this is always true, and no one knows what tomorrow may bring, this approach is fatal to success in estate planning. Rather, the best choice and the healthy choice when it comes to estate planning is to engage in an estate planning process where there is counseling and education so that you know all of the choices that are available to you, and in that estate planning process you obtain advice about what choices may be best for you based on your own individual circumstances and family situation.  As part of this estate planning process, you have a goal or develop a goal that drives your planning forward.  You make the best choices you can now, not only about how the structure of the plan works, but also who your trusted fiduciaries will be, namely, your personal representatives under your last will and testament, your guardians for minor or disabled children, your trustees, your agents under financial powers of attorney and advance medical directives, your trust protectors, and more. Having made these decisions, you eventually realize that estate planning is not just a single transaction, but a process - a lifetime process.  You eventually realize that just like financial or tax planning, or other life planning, including healthcare, fitness, or education, you don’t just set it and forget it.  You work on and develop your planning throughout your lifetime.  When you realize this and have this estate planning epiphany, you will realize that you do not need to feel under pressure about being perfect in estate planning from the outset, and this releases you to make the highest and best decisions based on what you know now.  You can then maintain and update your estate plan throughout your lifetime, and in this way you then take the real steps towards the perfection of your estate plan as an overall goal so that when your estate plan matures and you are no longer living, it will work the way you envisioned. Here’s the point:  we want to encourage and strive for perfection in estate planning.  But perfection usually does not come in one sitting or one meeting or one phase of a process (or in one workout, one piano lesson, or one audition).  Rather, perfection in an estate planning process happens as part of an overall commitment to excellence in planning throughout your lifetime and continuing legal education for yourself, your family members, and your trusted fiduciaries.  Don’t try to be perfect.  Instead, achieve perfection in your estate planning, elder care planning, or special needs planning, over your lifetime, taking into consideration all of the changes that have, and will surely continue to occur, in the coming years.  Just do your estate planning and don’t worry about being perfect. Managing Principal and Lead Attorney Stephen Elville’s work is centered in “estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning with special emphasis in the areas of tax planning and asset protection. As a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, he works to bring peace of mind to clients by creating solutions to their needs through counseling and education using the very best legal-technical knowledge available. He is a seasoned speaker and each year presents at dozens of webinars, workshops, conferences, and continuing education events. Steve has also been named to the Maryland Super Lawyers list eight times, including the past seven consecutive years. Steve is also the founder and president of the firm’s charitable organization, the Elville Center for the Creative Arts, in 2014, a 501(c) (3) organization that partners with school music programs and other organizations such as the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to give the gift of music to children who want to participate in music but don’t have the means to do so on their own. Steve may be reached at steve@elvilleassociates.com, or by phone at 443-393-7696 x108.

On Thursday, March 23 rd, Elville and Associates, an estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning firm in Columbia and Annapolis, was selected as the 2021 Recipient of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland's Organizational Leadership Award.  The Award is given annually in appreciation of an organization's dedication to and support of the work of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland. Upon learning of the firm's honor, Elville and Associates' Managing Principal and Lead Attorney Stephen Elville remarked, "I am humbly proud to receive this award on behalf of Elville and Associates from such an important, devoted, and mission-oriented organization as the Brain Injury Association of Maryland. Elville and Associates is privileged to partner with Executive Director Bryan Pugh and his staff of professionals at the Brain Injury Association of Maryland in a collaborative effort to positively affect the lives of those individuals and families impacted by traumatic brain injury.  Thank you to BIAMD for this award and for the opportunity to be a part of your important work." Founded in June 2010, by Stephen Elville, J.D., LL.M., Elville and Associates is an estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning practice.  It is the firm's mission to provide practical solutions to its clients' needs through counseling, education, and the use of superior legal-technical knowledge.  As it relates to special needs planning, the firm works collaboratively with individuals and families and their professional advisors to counsel, educate, and create a comprehensive plan for the family and their special needs loved one.  This includes, among other planning considerations: establishing proper estate planning for the family, including the use of special needs trusts leveraging means tested public benefits selecting the proper team to provide lifetime management planning for appropriate housing and an ongoing system for advocacy providing financial security planning for caregiving needs coordinating the entire extended family's planning protect the beneficiary from predators and preserving assets for other heirs Should you have any questions about Elville and Associates and its services, please contact Steve Elville at steve@elvilleassociates.com, or by phone at 443-393-7696 x108.  Bryan Pugh and the Brian Injury Association of Maryland staff may be reached at 410-448-2924.

By:  Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director Elville and Associates, P.C.’s Annapolis estate planning attorneys are proud to announce their new Annapolis location at 2450 Riva Road in Annapolis, across from Annapolis Town Center. At this prime location at the corner of West Street and Riva Road, the Annapolis estate planning attorneys of Elville and Associates can better meet the needs of our clients, professional referral partners, and the communities it serves. This standalone office location is available by appointment, for consultations and meetings with our Annapolis estate planning attorneys. Founded in June, 2010, by Managing Principal and Lead Attorney Stephen R. Elville, J.D., LL.M., Elville and Associates is an estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning practice.  It is the firm’s mission to provide practical solutions to its clients’ needs through counseling, education, and the use of superior legal-technical knowledge.  It is also the firm’s mission to educate regarding the importance of estate planning and maintaining one’s planning over time, as despite their importance the minority of Americans have a will or living trust in place, according to AARP. Education and counseling are the foundations upon which the Annapolis estate planning attorneys of Elville and Associates’ serves its clients, partners, and surrounding communities.  The firm counsels its clients based on the core principles of the Elville Legacy System™ -- the six steps to perfect estate planning.  Mr. Elville has also developed programs for clients who wish to streamline the planning process but still wish to enjoy the benefits of the educational component throughout, including Elville Self-Direct Select™ and Elville Self-Direct Protect™, a limited-attorney-assistance client education program for estate planning.  The firm also offers an Advisors’ Forum every two months for its planning team partners, a continuing education series that covers the latest topics in the world of estate planning, elder law and special needs planning. To view our busy educational webinar calendar, or full list of the firm's services, including elder law, special needs planning, business planning, estate and trust administration, and litigation, please visit us at www.elvilleassociates.com.  The Annapolis estate planning attorneys with Elville and Associates look forward to being a resource to you as they guide you through the planning process and offer peace of mind along the way.  To set a free consultation, please contact Legal Administrator Mary Guay Kramer at 443-741-3635 or at mary@elvilleassociates.com. #elvilleeducation

By – Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director – jeff@elvilleassociates.com, 443-393-7696 x117, @elvilleassoc WHEN and WHERE -- CHOOSE FROM ONE OF THREE DATES: Tuesday, October 22nd -- 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center -- 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia 21044 Wednesday, October 23rd -- 10 - 11:30 a.m. at Turf Valley Resort -- 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City 21042 Thursday, October 24th -- 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center -- 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia 21044 "Will My Estate End Up in Probate? Will I Outlive My Savings? Will My Plan Work the Way I Want?" Presented by Elville and Associates’ estate planning and elder law attorney Nicole T. Livingston, these events are designed to educate you so that you can control your future, protect your hard-earned savings and have peace of mind.   Nicole has offered hundreds of workshops throughout her 15-year career -- and it shows in her presentations! Highlights will include: Wills and Living Trusts – Learn the advantages and disadvantages to both. Asset Protection – How to protect your assets and your family’s inheritance from creditors, divorce, and lawsuits. Long Term Care Planning – How to avoid losing your life savings. Next Spouse Protection – How to protect your assets from your surviving spouse’s next spouse. Probate – What is it and how to prevent it. Estate Taxes – What are they, and how to minimize or eliminate. Medicaid and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits – The latest laws and how to qualify for the benefits. IRA Protection – How to take advantage of maximizing income tax “stretch out.” Special Needs – How to provide for special needs (disabled) children and grandchildren. Legacy Planning – Good planning involves more than money. Learn some powerful tools to help instill important values in younger generation family members. Light fare and refreshments will be served. RSVPs are required for these events, so please respond to this email or use the RSVP links provided to secure your seat! We look forward to hosting you!