Who We Are

Our team at Legacy Elder Law Center believes that all families deserve the strongest possible protection and the chance to control their money in later life – no matter what!

Our History

We Have Walked Your Journey.

In today’s world, many of us find ourselves in the midst of a perfect storm, facing challenges unprecedented in human history. When I began my law practice in the 1980s, it was common for clients to ask about planning for the unforeseen event of their death. “Rory, do I need a plan? What if something happened to me and I died?” However, as we moved into the 1990s and beyond, the question evolved into, “What if something happens to me and I don’t die?” This shift reflects the complex reality of our times, where the duration and quality of life have changed drastically, leaving us unprepared for the prolonged care of our elders or ourselves in the face of chronic illness or disability.

Life Lessons

Growing up, my parents equipped me with life lessons they thought I would need: education, marriage, and career. Yet, there were no discussions of caring for aging relatives. This was understandable; in their generation, the elderly often passed quickly after a critical health event. My own grandparents’ experiences were brief and sudden. Both grandfathers were smokers who had heart attacks and died relatively young. Both grandmothers had short battles with cancer and were cared for by my mother who never work outside the home. My four grandparents needed a collective total of 10 months of long-term care. However, just one generation later, my siblings and I faced an entirely different scenario with our parents. Our mother battled Parkinson’s disease with Lewy Body dementia for 14 years and our father suffered from Alzheimer’s for 11 years. Their disabilities overlapped for eight years. My family’s perfect storm intensified when my oldest son was diagnosed of autism and my youngest son was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that left him blind in one by the age of 21. The storm became overwhelming when my sister and her husband were both diagnosed with terminal cancer in their 50s.

Four Decades of Experience

This personal journey underscores the necessity of planning not just for death, but for life—a lesson that shapes the ethos of our law firm. With nearly four decades of experience, our firm specializes in navigating the complexities of long-term care and estate planning. However, what truly sets us apart is our deep understanding and empathy for our clients’ circumstances. We’ve lived through the very challenges they face, learning firsthand the importance of not only safeguarding the well-being of those facing disabilities but also supporting the caregivers who stand by them.

Our Holistic Approach

Our approach is holistic, recognizing that each family comes with its unique strengths and challenges. We listen attentively to understand your specific situation, applying our extensive legal expertise and knowledge of public benefits to craft personalized solutions. Our mission is to protect your family’s future by ensuring that your life savings are preserved rather than being depleted by the costs of long-term care and by giving you the tools you need to avoid being overwhelmed by your own perfect storm.

“They help good people through difficult times…”

Our Attorneys

LEGACY ELDER LAW CENTER

Gorham “Rory” Clark

Managing Partner And Founder

Sarah Storch

Associate Attorney – Estate Planning, Elder Law and Medicaid

Jordan Ferbrache

Director of Litigation

Our Support Team

Eliz Clark

Practice Manager

Steve Bingham

Business Development and Marketing Manager / Managing Director at GuideWISE

GuideWISE Team

Rachael Watkins

Paralegal Operations Manager

Litigation

Eileen O’Leary

Senior Litigation Paralegal

Medicaid

Odalis Aviles

Medicaid Paralegal

Estate and Elder Law Planning

Chandler Stoernell

Senior Planning Paralegal

Loraine Ferrer

Drafting Paralegal

Probate, Fiduciary and Trust Services

Tyler Sitzlar

Paralegal

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Scott Moore

Firm Administrator

Danielle Oakley

Assistant Firm Administrator

Susana Svirskas

Personal Assistant to Rory Clark / Office Administrative Assistant

Emily Wanchisn

Senior Legal Engagement Manager

Dana Clark

Marketing Assistant

CARE COORDINATION

Steve Bingham, Managing Director at GuideWISE

Leann Salas

MSW, Care Coordination Director

Kimberly Buchanan

Care Coordinator

Online Reviews

Legacy Elder Law Center

4.7

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Amanda Lewis

My experience with Emily during my free 30-minute consultation was very helpful and informative. I reside outside of the state where our estate matters were handled. After speaking with Emily, I felt more comfortable with understanding communication that should be provided to beneficiaries, options on how to proceed with my concerns, and specific language pertaining to the Will. Thank you so much for providing excellent legal information. I can have a good night's sleep and my anxiety around these issues have been greatly reduced after our meeting. Should I need representation in the future, Emily will be my first call.

Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. We're so glad to hear that your consultation with Emily brought you clarity and peace of mind during what can be a stressful time—especially when handling matters from out of state. We’re proud to have Emily on our team and will be here for you if you ever need support in the future. Wishing you continued peace and confidence moving forward!

lee ray

Liz was very knowledgeable about the services provided by Elder Law Center. She was very patient and explain the process in depth.

Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind review, Lee! We're thrilled to hear that Liz was able to provide you with clear, in-depth guidance and that her patience made the experience a positive one. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and are glad we could help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything further!

Mia Katzenberger

Emily was incredibly friendly, efficient, and highly knowledgeable. After our consultation, I felt clear and confident about the next steps to take. I would definitely recommend this firm to anyone seeking expert guidance. Thank you!

Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Emily was able to provide the clarity and confidence you needed. We take pride in making sure our clients feel supported and well-informed every step of the way. Thank you for trusting us, and for recommending our firm!

Christina Tretter-Herriger

I'm an attorney from a different state with some clients who need a small, straightforward, administrative probate matter resolved in Loudon County. I'm not licensed in VA to do this for them so I called this firm to inquire if they had availability to take it on and at what fee - literally just trying to get them to name their price and hand them an easy lift. The run around that I got from their gatekeeper/receptionist -coupled with the demand that I provide all of my clients' confidential information (!)- before they would even schedule a consult (earliest available: a week out, for the world's most straightforward question...) was quite frankly astonishing, and quickly made clear that our ideas of acceptable service to our clients do not align. I guess I will just refer my pleasant, responsive, and happily paying clients who just want an uncomplicated matter resolved with as little fuss as possible, somewhere else.

Response from the owner: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Christina. We’re sorry to hear that your experience with our intake process was frustrating. While we always aim to be helpful—especially to fellow professionals—we are ethically bound to speak directly with the individual who may become our client before we can share specifics, including pricing or legal recommendations. This is required to protect client confidentiality.We appreciate that you were trying to do the legwork for your clients, and we recognize that our process may have felt like an unnecessary barrier in this case. Your comments are being shared internally so we can continue improving the way we communicate these requirements more clearly and respectfully in the future.We wish you and your clients the very best in resolving their matter.

Emes747

It was a warm and a blessed consultation, highly appreciated..Emily is very good in answering all my questions, Superb.Thanks a lot

Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear your consultation with Emily was a positive experience. She truly cares about helping people understand their options and always takes the time to answer questions with care and clarity. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!

Dan Hodge

Rory always been good to me he took me on afer my mother passed away and he set me up with a trust account for that i'm i'm greatful

Response from the owner: Thank you, Dan! We truly appreciate your kind words and continued trust. Rory and the rest of our team are always here to support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else we can do for you!

roger velez

Very professionals and knowledgeable of the process of trust, wills and probates. Once the required information was delivered the process was fast, efficient and a happy outcome. Recommend them for your needs on these matters.

Response from the owner: Thank you, Roger! We’re so glad to hear you had a smooth and positive experience with our team. We take pride in guiding our clients through trusts, wills, and probate matters with professionalism and efficiency. We truly appreciate your recommendation!

V B

We were very fortunate to have Legacy Elder Law Center assist us with the many issues that arose regarding my brother's death and the sale of his home. The staff is excellent and communicated with us every step of the way and answered our many questions. They are amazing and made a very difficult situation so much easier and manageable. We wish to thank the staff of Legacy Elder Law Center, with special thanks to Steve Bingham and Tyler Sitzlar.

Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words and heartfelt review. We’re so sorry for your loss and truly appreciate you trusting Legacy Elder Law Center during such a difficult time. Our team is committed to guiding families through every step of the probate process, including the sale of real estate, and we're grateful we could help bring some peace of mind along the way.Steve and Tyler are honored to have supported you, and we’ll be sure to share your appreciation with the entire team. Wishing you and your family all the best moving forward.

Ashley Butler

I am highly impressed with the professionalism, urgency, and hard work that Rory, Liz, Chandler & others in this office displayed. I needed the appropriate documents filed to support my father in his estate and end of life planning. The package they offer provided all the documents he needed in a fast and urgent timeline. I was met with hugs and warmth as I worked with them closely to make sure everything was precise and correct.I would highly recommend their services no matter what your age is. Having all of the documents you need through out your life so your loved ones always know your wishes. If you are looking for the best, I highly encourage you work with them. I am blessed to have worked with them & Liz is absolutely amazing!Down to earth but professional to make sure you are always comfortable and understand the process.

Response from the owner: Thank you so much, Ashley, for your heartfelt review. We're truly honored by your kind words and so grateful you entrusted our team—including Rory, Liz, and Chandler—to assist your father during such an important time. It means a great deal to us to know that our warmth, attention to detail, and responsiveness made a difference. Planning ahead brings peace of mind, and we’re glad we could be part of that journey for your family. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Liz—she'll be thrilled! Thank you again for the recommendation.

More reviews

Memberships & Associations

Legacy Elder Law Center’s ability to listen to you, map out a financial strategy and follow through with expert planning and advocacy is invaluable in securing your family’s financial future no matter what event comes along down the road.

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robin boniface

Very good meeting! Rory handled all the questions my son had and was very patient. We are excited to execute the plan!

Phil Villarreal

Paul T. Leidy

Vita Russotto

Ms. Elizabeth Clark was a pleasure to speak with. She made me feel like I Was right at home. I look forward to working with her.

Robert Keller

They were very accommodating and pleasant. Highly recommend.

reginald melvin

Extremely professional and knowledgeable! Listened to my needs and provided very efficient and effective counsel!!!

Spring Bartley

Legacy Elder Law Center has been exceptionally professional and understanding throughout my grief and loss and my legal worries

Dawn

Emily listened, she is extremely knowledgeable. She explained things clearly, answered all of my questions and provided me with information that I needed that I didn’t think of.

Brian Burns

We received great advice on planning for the future and protecting assets by setting up a trust, will, and AMD. Loved working with Rory, Kathy and the whole team.

Lloyd Calderon

Excellent info; listened well to needs and concerns. Knowledgeable and respectful with a dose of empathy.

Pamela Finster

It has been my pleasure to know and work with Attorney RoryClark and the staff of The Legacy Elder Law Center for the past six years. They have assisted me with the complexity of helping my parents create their irrevocable trust. With Rory's expertise and guidance, the entire family feels that our parents' financial future is secure. My thanks to all for making this experience so easy and allaying our fears.

Adrienne M

Very informative and professional

Captain Tightpants

Very helpful and informative. Excellent and friendly staff as well!

Carlton Conley

My consultation with Emily was very pleasant and informative. We look forward to working with her.

Ashley Funk

Legacy Law was incredible and I look forward to working with them in the future!

Danielle Lavoie

Kristy Howell

Was very helpful and knowledgeable and gave me alot of good advice on how to handle my father's estate and I was very happy with the help I received through just one phone call

Julie

I have an awesome consultation! So much valuable information for deciding on what’s needed to protect my mother from wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Tamara Fleming

I appreciate the support you all provided me after losing my mother, in January 2024. Your team gave the information that allowed for me to make a difficult decision based on what was in my best interest. You all were even kind of enough refund my retainer fee. Grateful for your service.- Douglas Fleming

Vadim P.

Karen Tid

Emily is super and upbeat. I told of her the very hard issues of foreclosure and she gave me an assurance that it could be stopped. Since there is no money available until the 1st, she recommended a Free source. I called that number but unlike Legacy Elder Law Center, those phones aren't manned and no one ever called back.It's refreshing to have an upfront legal team who explained cost upfront. I recommend them highly. Your questions, calls, answers, and upfront expense are important and she addressed them quickly and amicably without judgement. Additionally called a day ahead of what I expected. She was sharp, fresh, and ready to go.Give them a call and trust their knowledge because I'd already done some research and she was spot on about the fees and their fee is fair. Great team!

Jet Lobster007

It was very enlightening.

Rosemarie Thomas

Lisa Freire

This team has done nothing but work to help me. They have been confidantes, therapists, and obviously legal experts. They have taken a potentially disastrous situation and turned it around in a flash and explained all of my options at each stage of the process. I could not be happier with their work. We're not done yet and there are still some hurdles to jump but without them I really would be up the creek without a paddle.Thank you Leann, Rachael, Eliz, Rory and the rest for your patience, expertise, and kindness. Worth every penny.

Pauleen

Edwin Allen

We greatly appreciate the assistance provided Liz with our elder care challenge. She responded quickly and provided excellent advice. Thank you!

Lauren Penman-Garcia

Very helpful, knowledgeable and professional.

Samuel Krislov

The Legacy Elder Law Center is just what we have been looking for: a place where people genuinely serve those who are elderly and protect them from the vagaries of old age and worry. Judy and i are both at ease as we go through the process of securing our needs and those of our loved ones. We recommend them highly. Their work is invaluable.

Charles Price II

yo! these people are awesome! and Eliz is the best. Talk about being thorough, communicative, and wanting to put you in the best situation based upon where you are and where you are looking to go. I've been recommending them around to all my friends because I know how important this stuff is. And for them to offer the comprehensive help they do and aid to ensure you understand is well worth it!

Rosalie Wallace

EMILY WAS TRULY VERY HELPFUL ON TIME PHONE CONSULTATION I AM GOING TO HIRE THEM FOR I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE FOR MY BEST INTERESTS LOOK AY THEIR REVIEWS VERY REMARKABLE

Marie Bailey

Emily, was very helpful to me and took the time, to explain the path that I needed to take, in order to move ahead, with my issue. She gave me, some much needed, peace of mind. Thanks again.

Chris Johnson

Emily was very helpful and informative. She took a huge weight off my shoulders.

Stephen A. Vaughan

Awesome Service

Cathleen Weadon

Tricia Devlin

Needed some questions about probate answered. Emily was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and kind with my situation over the phone. (Wow, I didn't even have to drive into town for a free consult) Don't hesitate to use their practice if you need this type of information. I know this is Emily's job, but she made me feel confident to proceed with my actions and if I could I would give her more than five stars for how she spoke and treated me. Excellent experience. Thank you Emily!

Joe

They are an honest and reputable organization. I would recommend them to anyone that needs probate services in Virginia. They will look into every detail and give you an honest response to your questions. Racheal was awesome. Call them if you need their services.

nell fagan

This consultation was very informative and helpful. I look forward to working with your group! I'll be in touch to set up an appointment.

Alexis Guirand

Emily Wanchisn has been very helpful. I appreciate her time & directions on how I should proceed with my probate issues. I will follow through & keep her informed on the outcome so she can direct or redirect me accordingly. I am grateful for her legal knowledge. The Legal Elder Law Center is recommended to all requiring this type of assistance.