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Bacon & Wilson, P.C.
Springfield Office
33 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 781-0560
Fax: (413) 739-7740
Contact This Firm Now
www.bacon-wilson.com
Other Addresses:
Bacon & Wilson, P.C.
9 Chapel Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Phone: (413) 562-6611
Fax: (413) 562-0548
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Bacon & Wilson, P.C.
31 Trumbull Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 584-1287
Fax: (413) 584-0453
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Bacon & Wilson, P.C. / Monsein & MacConnell
6 South East Street
Amherst, MA 01002
Phone: (413) 256-6701
Fax: (413) 256-6469
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Attorneys:
Hyman G. Darling
Gina M. Barry
Todd C. Ratner
 Bacon
& Wilson’s estate planning/probate group is one of the largest and
most in-depth practices in Western Massachusetts. Our probate attorneys have
prepared thousands of estate plans and have probated hundreds of estates, allowing
significant amounts of wealth to be transferred to charities and family members
with a significant reduction in taxes and often without the need for probate.
Our firm has represented generations of families, and our ability to serve them
has permitted us to design plans for the transfer of wealth within families
over several decades. Also, planning for family members with special needs are
attended to with emphasis on caring for the disabled loved one.
Elder law is a significant
practice area because of the aging population. Our attorneys at Bacon &
Wilson not only have the expertise to advise clients relative to these affairs,
but they are often engaged by other counsel to determine the most appropriate
means of protecting and preserving assets from long-term care expenses. Oftentimes,
long-term care expenses cannot be avoided, but the disbursement of funds may
be controlled. Our attorneys frequently speak at local, regional and national
conferences to educate other elder law attorneys, including organizations such
as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, in strategy development. Our
relationship with nursing home administrators, social workers, and hospital
discharge planners eases the transition from home living into a long-term care
facility and possibly, the return back home.
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"I get tremendous satisfaction from knowing that my clients are well-advised before making important decisions. While consistently accomplishing client objectives, assisting with tax savings, preserving assets for the next generation, and maintaining family harmony, I meet my clients' goals. I strive for each client's satisfaction and comfort with his or her plan."
Hyman, Chairman of the Estate Planning, Elder Law Department is recognized as the area's preeminent estate planner. His areas of expertise include all areas of estate planning, probate and elder law.
Education:
Western New England College, J.D., 1977
Boston University, A.B., 1972
Estate Planning & Elder Bar & Court Admission:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Professional Associations & Memberships::
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"I focus my practice on helping people plan for the future. Even young people should start thinking about how they will support themselves in their retirement years, and everybody needs a basic estate plan, including a will, health care proxy and power of attorney. I am down to earth, and I pride myself on making difficult and complex issues easy to understand for my clients. I have a broad client base including a mix of ages, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations."
Gina is a member of the Estate Planning/ Elder Law Department whose practice includes sophisticated estate planning issues.
Education:
Western New England College, J.D., cum laude, 1999
Westfield State College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1996
Areas of Practice:
Estate Planning & Elder, Real Estate & Zoning
Additional areas of expertise include guardianship, conservatorship, planning for long-term care and residential real estate.
Bar & Court Admission:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State Of Connecticut
District Court of Massachusetts
Professional Associations & Memberships:
Massachusetts Bar Association
Hampden County Bar Association
Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, Member
Connecticut Bar Association
Professional & Community Activities:
Hampden County Bar Association, New Lawyer's Section, Chair, 2003-2004; Probate Court Bench Bar Liaison
Greater Springfield Business & Professional Women's Club, Second Vice President
Western Massachusetts Elder Care Professionals, Member, Steering Committee
Holyoke North Business Network International, Membership Committee
Women's Partnership Communications Committee, Co-Chair
Women's Partnership Board of Directors, 2003-2005
Meadows Homes Human Rights Committee, Member
Women's Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley, Inc., Cheryl Reed Memorial Loan Fund Chair
Awards, Achievements & Appointments:
"Up and Coming Lawyer 2004" distinction, MA Lawyers Weekly, 2004
Pi Sigma Alpha
Alpha Chi
Catherine Bean Street Scholarship, Recipient
CALI Award for Excellence in Torts
CALI Award for Excellence in Critical Race Theory
Notary Public
Certified Mediator
Law Clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court, 1999-2000
Western New England Law Review, Articles Editor, 1998-1999
Western New England Law Review, Staff Member, 1997-1998
Publications & Lectures:
Lecturer: Beyond Boilerplate: Singles, Unmarried and Same Sex Couples, April 2005
Author: Unlikely Bedfellows: Preserving Assets While Financing Nursing Home Care, Business West, November 2004
Lecturer: Guardianship/Mental Health Guardian Ad Litem Training, November 2004
Lecturer: How To Probate an Estate, November 2004
Author: When Mom and Dad Won’t Move – Sweeping the Minefield of Long
Distance Caregiving, Business West, August 2004
Lecturer: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Legal Clinic, June 2004
Lecturer: Staying in Control: Avoiding Guardianship with Advance Directives, July and August 2004
Lecturer: Advising Elder Clients in Crisis, May 2004
Lecturer: Guardianship and How to Avoid It: The Power of Advance Planning , May 2004
Lecturer: A Map Through the Maze - An Interdisciplinary Conference for Alzheimer's Professionals, May 2004
Lecturer: Practical Medicare and Medicaid Skills in Massachusetts, April 2004
Guest: WWLP TV Senior Showcase, 11/03
Author: Brewing Elder Abuse – A Recipe For Disaster, Valley Business Outlook,
May 2003 & Healthcare News, August 2003
Author: How To Avoid Guardianship, Healthcare News, April 2003
Author: When You Aren’t Really You: Take Steps Now to Protect Yourself
From Identity Thieves, Business West, January 2003
Court-Certified GAL Training for Category D Matters, MCLE, November 2002
Author: ‘Tis the Season…To Review Your Estate Plan, Prime Times, March
2002
Author: Homestead Exemption Update: WP Channels, August 2001
Author: United States v. Kirby: The Case for Appellate Review of Grants of Bail by District Court Judges in International Extradition Cases, 21 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 565 (1999)
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"A successful law practice is best built on an understanding of the practical aspects of the transactions themselves, not just the laws governing them. My business education and corporate consulting background enhance my ability to appreciate and comprehend the complex legal issues that face local and public companies. In addition, being born and raised in the greater Springfield area, I fully appreciate the challenges faced by area residents and businesses. Ultimately, I consider each single legal transaction to be an event in a long-lasting relationship rather than a closed-ended occurrence. I keep that perspective with all my professional relationships."
Todd is a member of the firm's Estate Planning & Elder, Real Estate and Business & Corporate departments. He handles all aspects of estate planning, all types of commercial and residential closings for buyers, sellers and lenders, as well as general business matters.
Prior to joining Bacon & Wilson, P.C., Todd spent six years holding senior business and managerial consulting positions in a fortune 100 company.
Education:
The Pennsylvania State University School of Law, J.D.
University of Connecticut School of Law, Visiting Student
Boston University Graduate School of Management, MBA
Babson College, BS
Areas of Practice:
Business & Corporate, Estate Planning & Elder, Real Estate & Zoning
Bar & Court Admission:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
State of Connecticut
Professional Associations & Memberships:
Massachusetts Bar Association
Hampden County Bar Association
Hampden County Estate Planning Council
Professional & Community Activities:
Volunteer: Massachusetts Bar Association Dial-A-Lawyer
Committee Member: Annual Max Classic Golf Tournament to benefit the Baystate Medical Center Children's Hospital
Committee Member: Omar T. Pace, M.D. Recognition Gala to benefit the American Cancer Society
Awards, Achievements & Appointments:
Recipient: SuperLawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2007
Publications & Lectures:
- Press: Family Affair - Second-generation Members Become Part of Bacon & Wilson’s Growth
Pattern, BusinessWest, April 2, 2007
- Author: Cautionary Contemporary Estate Planning Tales - Learning Our Lessons from the Rich and Famously Departed, Business West, April 2, 2007
- Author: Vacation Home Co-ownership - Proper Documentation Can Help Avoid Some Headaches, Business
West, August 21, 2006
- Author: Business in a Box - Is Franchising Risk Worth the Potential Payoff?, Business West, January
9, 2006
- Author: Eminent Domain - Ruling Blurs the Line Between Public Use and Private Economic Development, Business West, September 19, 2005
- Author: Real Estate Buyer Beware - What You Don’t Ask May Come Back to Haunt You, Business West, August 22, 2005
- Guest: "On the House" radio program on 560AM, July 2005
- Author: Caught in the Web? Beware Your Email Becoming A Binding Contract, Business West, May 30, 2005
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