Elder Law Attorneys in Vermont

17 elder law firms in Vermont, by county and firm type.

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.

17 firms

Solo PracticeEssex Junction, VT

Holly Lemieux, Attorney at Law

Solo practice on Carmichael Street in Essex Junction, Chittenden County, run by Holly Lemieux, who is licensed in Vermont and Massachusetts. She guides executors and administrators through Vermont probate from the petition to open the estate onward, and advises trustees on trust administration, alongside Medicaid and long-term care planning and special needs trusts. Estate planning consultations are free; elder law, probate and trust administration consultations carry a fee.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more

Office: 21 Carmichael Street, Suite 201Essex Junction, VT 05452
Phone: (802) 871-5410

FirmSouth Burlington, VT

Jarrett | Hoyt PLC

South Burlington firm on Williston Road near the airport in Chittenden County, concentrating on estate planning, probate administration, Lady Bird deeds, supplemental needs trusts, adult guardianship and Medicaid eligibility. Its probate work runs from filing the will with the probate division and petitioning to appoint the executor or administrator through creditor notice, inventory and appraisal, sale of estate assets, taxes and final distribution. Founder and of counsel Glenn Jarrett is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more

Office: 1795 Williston Road, Suite 125South Burlington, VT 05403
Phone: (802) 864-5951

FirmBarre, VT

Law Office of Michael D. Caccavo

Since 1979

Barre office on Washington Street in Washington County, trading as VT Estate Law, where Michael D. Caccavo opened his own practice in 1979 and has focused mainly on estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate and real estate since 1997. It guides families through probate estates after a death and through guardianships, and arranges smaller estates to pass without probate or with a reduced probate estate. Planning covers wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, advance directives and plans for loved ones with disabilities.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 4 more

Office: 85 Washington StreetBarre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 476-4856

Solo PracticeVergennes, VT

Duprey Law, PLLC

Solo practice of Anthony R. Duprey in the Kennedy Brothers Building in Vergennes, Addison County; he opened his first Vergennes office in 1996. Represents executors and trustees in Probate Court cases and trust administration, and prepares wills, revocable trusts and Lady Bird Johnson deeds, with Medicaid long-term care planning for older clients.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office: 11 Main Street, Suite B110FVergennes, VT 05491
Phone: (802) 870-6563

FirmRutland, VT

Facey Goss & McPhee P.C.

Since 1984

Rutland firm on Allen Street, founded in May 1984, serving clients in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Its estate planning group assists executors and trustees in administering decedents' assets, handles estate probate and guardianship proceedings, and has handled international estate matters and foreign ancillary estates.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more

Office: 71 Allen Street, Suite 401Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 773-3300

FirmBrattleboro, VT

Costello Valente Group, P.C.

Brattleboro firm on Putney Road with a second Brattleboro office and one in Townshend, serving Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Takes probate litigation for families who believe a loved one's wishes are not being carried out, and prepares wills, trusts and guardianships alongside long-term care planning. Formerly Costello, Valente & Gentry, P.C.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationElder LawGuardianshipand 4 more

Office: 51 Putney RoadBrattleboro, VT 05301
Phone: (802) 257-5533

Solo PracticeBennington, VT

William C. Deveneau, Esq. PLC

Serves the whole state

Bennington solo practice serving all of Vermont, mainly Bennington, Windham, Rutland and Windsor Counties, with offices in Albany, New York and Athol, Massachusetts. Advises executors or serves as personal representative from opening the estate through the inventory, estate tax returns and closing, and litigates will and trust contests. Free 30-minute strategy session in person or by phone.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 5 more

Office: 160 Benmont Ave, Suite C3-80ABennington, VT 05201
Phone: (802) 442-9800

Free consultationVirtual consultations

Solo PracticeBrattleboro, VT

Fitts, Olson, Giddings & Ferrara, P.L.C.

Brattleboro firm in the same High Street building since the 1950s, the oldest continuously operating law association in the Brattleboro area. Handles probate and estate administration, prepares wills, powers of attorney and revocable and irrevocable trusts, and advises on asset protection and long-term nursing care. Takes new matters by phone only, not by email.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 4 more

Office: 16 High StreetBrattleboro, VT 05301
Phone: (802) 254-2345

Solo PracticeSt. Johnsbury, VT

Law Office of Jay C. Abramson

Since 1995

St. Johnsbury general practice in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, opened by Jay C. Abramson in 1995. Abramson, a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation since 2005, prepares wills, revocable trusts and powers of attorney, plans for Medicaid coverage of long-term care, and represents families in guardianship proceedings.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningMedicaid Planning

Office: 357 Western AvenueSt. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Phone: (802) 748-6200

Solo PracticeRutland, VT

Otter Creek Law, PLLC

Rutland practice on Merchants Row run by Jeffrey P. Guevin, a past president of the Vermont Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He prepares wills and trusts, plans for incapacity and long-term care including Medicaid applications and special needs, and represents clients in guardianship proceedings and probate estates. The office makes house calls.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 4 more

Office: 110 Merchants Row, Suite 2Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 855-8316

FirmBurlington, VT

Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C.

Serves the whole state

Burlington firm with a White River Junction office whose attorneys handle matters in all fourteen Vermont counties. Its estates and trusts attorneys represent trustees in trust administration and fiduciaries and families in probate court estate and guardianship proceedings. Principal Mark Melendy served on the bar committees that drafted Vermont's trust-decanting and directed-trust acts.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office: 30 Main Street, 6th FloorBurlington, VT 05402
Phone: (802) 864-9891

FirmEssex Junction, VT

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Serves the whole state

Essex Junction estate planning and elder law firm handling trust administration for clients throughout Vermont, from Burlington to St. Johnsbury and Newport. After a death it guides successor trustees through transferring trust assets, and it prepares long-term care Medicaid applications and special needs plans. Ellen LaPlante is licensed in Vermont and New York.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more

Office: 26 Railroad AveEssex Junction, VT 05452
Phone: (802) 879-7133

FirmBurlington, VT

Wick & Maddocks

Since 1980

Chittenden County firm with offices in Burlington and Essex Junction, practicing since 1980. It assists executors and trustees with administering wills, trusts and estates both inside and outside the probate process, and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney and Medicaid planning. Initial consultations are free, and evening or weekend appointments are arranged as needed.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office: 308 College StBurlington, VT 05402
Phone: (802) 658-3037

Free consultation

FirmRutland, VT

Pratt Vreeland Kennelly Martin & White, Ltd.

Rutland general civil practice firm handling probate administration with and without wills, including small estates, estate property sales, ancillary proceedings and accountings. It also takes will challenges, estate disputes, probate appeals and guardianships, and offers trust administration, including limited fiduciary services, and supplemental needs trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more

Office: 64 North Main StreetRutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 775-7141

FirmMiddlebury, VT

Putnam & Menard, PLC

Since 2020 · Serves the whole state

Middlebury firm formed in 2020 that practices in all of Vermont's civil, probate and environmental courts. Attorney Amy Menard focuses her litigation practice on trust and estate matters, handles probate and trust administration, and commonly serves as an estate administrator or trustee. Planning work includes wills, trusts, special needs trusts and Medicaid long-term care planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more

Office: 1 Cross StreetMiddlebury, VT 05753
Phone: (802) 388-7966

FirmBrattleboro, VT

Secrest & Darrow, PLC

Downtown Brattleboro firm practicing estate planning, elder law, probate and trust administration, and guardianships. After a death it represents executors and administrators in probate court, from opening the estate through inventories, property sale licenses, creditor claims and decrees, and serves as counsel to trustees. It also prepares Long Term Care Medicaid applications.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office: 28 Vernon Street, 5th FloorBrattleboro, VT 05301
Phone: (802) 251-6598

FirmBurlington, VT

Wiener & Slater Law Offices, PLLC

Since 1979 · Serves 1 county

Burlington firm serving Chittenden County since Marc Wiener opened his practice in 1979. For executors it locates and secures estate assets, obtains appraisals, advises on debts, sells property and retitles assets to beneficiaries. Attorney Launa Slater focuses on estate planning, elder law, guardianship, probate and trust administration; the first one-hour consultation is free.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office: 110 Main Street, Suite 4FBurlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 863-1836

Free consultation

Elder law attorneys in Vermont work the legal issues facing aging adults and their families: Medicaid planning for long-term care, drafting and updating durable powers of attorney and healthcare directives, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, special needs trusts, and asset protection. Many also handle probate and estate planning; elder law is the subset focused on care planning and benefits eligibility. The Vermont healthcare proxy and financial power of attorney forms cover the two instruments.

Federal law, as Vermont applies it, sets a 5-year lookback period for Medicaid long-term care eligibility. An uncompensated transfer in the five years before the application (a gift, a transfer to a family member, a transfer to a trust that does not qualify) can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid does not pay for nursing home care. It is why Medicaid planning starts years before the care is needed, and why elder law exists as its own practice area.

Estate planning attorneys in Vermont average $297 an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $891 to $1,782 for a simple individual will and $2,400 to $3,600 for a basic revocable trust. An online service prices the same documents in the tens to low hundreds of dollars; the Vermont will cost calculator sets the two side by side.

In Vermont, estates with personal property of $45,000 or less qualify for the Small Estate Administration, a court procedure short of full probate. That route is a form rather than a court case, and most families handle it without an attorney. Above the line, formal probate generally benefits from counsel for the procedural work, even when nothing is contested. The Vermont probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.

In Vermont, the situations where counsel is typically worth the cost are: a blended family with children from a prior relationship; a business, rental property or significant investment assets; a dependent with special needs, who needs a special-needs trust to keep benefits; an estate near or above the Vermont estate tax threshold of $5,000,000; substantial property in more than one state. Where none of these apply, an online or self-help document is often enough.

Elder Law Attorneys in Vermont

Elder law attorneys in Vermont focus on Medicaid planning, long-term care funding, guardianship, and asset protection for aging families. The work is often time-sensitive: Medicaid eligibility has a 5-year lookback period, so planning typically needs to start well before nursing home care is needed.

Estate planning attorneys in Vermont charge $297 per hour for wills and estates work. A simple will done through an attorney typically runs $891–$1,782; online services cost $30–$300 for the same document.

Vermont imposes its own estate tax separate from the federal one, kicking in well below the federal exemption. Estates near the state threshold benefit from real planning — not because every family needs it, but because the line is lower than people expect.

Estates under $45,000 in Vermont can use a simplified affidavit instead of formal probate. Most families in that range can handle it without retaining counsel.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated October 15, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Vermont statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Vermont

Free Vermont forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Vermont requires 2 witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not required.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Vermont treats a power of attorney as durable by default, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirement.

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Free

Last Will and Testament

In Vermont, a will is signed before 2 witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimony.

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All Vermont forms

Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Vermont

Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Vermont: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Vermont runs $2,400 to $3,600 and a simple will $891 to $1,782, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Compare Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In Vermont, four years at a public university cost about $123,548 and the cost of living is near the U.S. average; the state levies an estate tax above $5,000,000.

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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Vermont costs an estimated $24,561 and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.7% to 2.7% of the estate. Estates under $45,000 can use a small-estate procedure instead.

Check Your State

Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Vermont takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.7% to 2.7% of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

Vermont does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorce; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.

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All Vermont tools