Kelly takes a highly empathetic approach to counseling clients through major life transitions. She is a trusted advisor to individuals, families, and the fiduciaries serving those interests. Kelly’s experience spans a broad range of matters, including elder law, estate planning, trust administration, and estate litigation.
Estate and Trust Administration
She represents executors, administrators and trustees on all stages of trust and estate administration. She also has experience serving as Temporary Administrator C.T.A., and helping beneficiaries navigate contentious circumstances surrounding estate and trust administrations.
Estate and Long-term Care Planning
Kelly drafts comprehensive estate planning documents such as wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts. For particularly challenging situations, she regularly drafts key communication for family members and guardians of minor or disabled children regarding long-term care plans, financial goals, and selecting a fiduciary in an effort to align all parties around common goals and objectives.
Her experience also includes representing corporate and family fiduciaries in the formal and informal settlement of complex trusts throughout New York State and addressing concerns pertaining to fiduciary performance.
Kelly’s legal counsel is enhanced by her experience as a certified life coach. Along with her legal guidance, Kelly advises clients on essential coping and communication skills to help them navigate often challenging interpersonal dynamics.
Prior to joining Harter Secrest & Emery, Kelly practiced with Trevett Cristo P.C.; Underberg & Kessler LLP, where she served as the Trusts & Estate practice group leader; and Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP. She served a federal judicial internship for the Honorable Blanche M. Manning, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Kelly began her professional career as the Director of Public Information at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (f/k/a The John Marshall Law School).
Kelly co-authored a CLE program, Candid Talk Women at the Bar, designed to educate and encourage women to remain in the practice of law and lectured on the topic across the country. This program was featured in:
Kelly takes a highly empathetic approach to counseling clients through major life transitions. She is a trusted advisor to individuals, families, and the fiduciaries serving those interests. Kelly’s experience spans a broad range of matters, including elder law, estate planning, trust administration, and estate litigation.
Estate and Trust Administration
She represents executors, administrators and trustees on all stages of trust and estate administration. She also has experience serving as Temporary Administrator C.T.A., and helping beneficiaries navigate contentious circumstances surrounding estate and trust administrations.
Estate and Long-term Care Planning
Kelly drafts comprehensive estate planning documents such as wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts. For particularly challenging situations, she regularly drafts key communication for family members and guardians of minor or disabled children regarding long-term care plans, financial goals, and selecting a fiduciary in an effort to align all parties around common goals and objectives.
Her experience also includes representing corporate and family fiduciaries in the formal and informal settlement of complex trusts throughout New York State and addressing concerns pertaining to fiduciary performance.
Kelly’s legal counsel is enhanced by her experience as a certified life coach. Along with her legal guidance, Kelly advises clients on essential coping and communication skills to help them navigate often challenging interpersonal dynamics.
Prior to joining Harter Secrest & Emery, Kelly practiced with Trevett Cristo P.C.; Underberg & Kessler LLP, where she served as the Trusts & Estate practice group leader; and Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP. She served a federal judicial internship for the Honorable Blanche M. Manning, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Kelly began her professional career as the Director of Public Information at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (f/k/a The John Marshall Law School).
Kelly co-authored a CLE program, Candid Talk Women at the Bar, designed to educate and encourage women to remain in the practice of law and lectured on the topic across the country. This program was featured in:
