Elizabeth Durnell-Maier founded Durnell Maier Law, LLC, to be a caring and knowledgeable elder law practice dedicated to helping seniors and their families with the many legal challenges they face, including paying for the care they need and protecting their beneficiaries. Elizabeth is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation and the Ohio Bar Association.

Over the past decade of working in elder law, Elizabeth has assisted hundreds of families qualifying for government benefits they didn’t realize were available to them, along with preserving a portion of their assets at the same time. She has also helped hundreds in setting up the proper documentation to ensure that their loved ones didn’t have the hassle, publicity, or expense of probate before opening Durnell Maier Law.

After seeing so many worst-case scenarios over the years of clients facing probate and losing their assets, Elizabeth has led countless seminars educating Ohioans on the importance of having a proper plan in place. She is passionate about teaching clients how to avoid all of them, creating the best-case scenarios for their future instead.

Elizabeth belongs to the Ohio NAELA chapter, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Shelby County Bar Association, the Sidney Kiwanis Club and sits on the New Choices Board of Directors, where she is currently the President. She is also a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Newport where she also lectors.

Outside of the office, Elizabeth can be found exploring local restaurants and at a game cheering on the Xavier Musketeers along with her hometown Houston Wildcats!

EDUCATION

• BS, Xavier University (2005)

• JD, Florida Coastal School of Law (2007)

Kim Estess, Esq., is dually certified as a specialist in elder law by the National Elder Law Foundation and the Ohio State Bar Association and certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the OSBA.

Her practice with the O’Diam & Estess Law Group, Inc., focuses on estate planning, estate administration, elder law, asset protection, Medicaid, special needs planning and guardianships.

“I firmly believe that providing outstanding service requires more than just excellent legal work — it also involves taking the time to establish a strong relationship with each client in order to truly understand their unique family situation and goals,” she says.

Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by The Ohio State Bar Association and The National Elder Law Foundation, Ashley Shannon Burke, Esq., represents clients in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate Administration and is admitted to the practice of law within the State of Ohio, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the District Court for Southern District of Ohio.

Ms. Burke advises and assists clients on Medicaid, estate planning for families with disabilities, lifetime gifting and transfers at death, asset protection, and with trust and estate administration.

Ms. Burke obtained her law degree, Cum Laude, from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2009. In 2006, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminology, Summa Cum Laude, from The Ohio State University.

She is a frequent speaker on Elder law and Special Needs law matters and participates in various community organizations involved with providing services to consumers who are disabled.

Ms. Burke’s law firm, Burke & Pecquet, LLC, is an individual and family focused practice that provides Elder Law, Special Needs, and Estate Planning services to Southwest Ohio and the Cincinnati Area.

Gwenevier N. Demarest, Esq., is an owner and member attorney of Demarest & Demarest LLC in Bellbrook.

She practices as an elder law attorney focusing primarily on preparing clients for and guiding clients through the Medicaid system. Gwenevier is a member of the National Association of Elder Law and has a personal connection to helping family and their loved ones through the aging process.

Living with her husband in a home that has been in her family for nearly a century, she understands the importance of protecting a family legacy and knows how a clear path forward can make all the difference.

After graduating from the University of Dayton School of Law, Gwenevier spent time working as an associate with a large Cincinnati based firm where she gained the skills she uses in her practice today. While attending law school, Gwenevier served as President of the Christian Association of Leadership in Law and Chief Justice of the UDSL Moot Court team.

When she’s not working, Gwen enjoys relaxing with her husband and two pups, fly fishing, and playing the violin. She and her husband are active members in their church and aim to help Bellbrook and the surrounding communities in any manner they can.