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Stillwell Elder Law · Roanoke, VA
An adult daughter holds her smiling mother's hands as they talk together on a living room sofa

About Stillwell Elder Law

A small firm that does one kind of law: helping older adults, and the families beside them, through care, decisions and the paperwork in between.

Roanoke office: (540) 555-0164

Why families choose Stillwell

Margaret Stillwell started the firm in 2009, a few years after she helped her own parents through a nursing home stay. She remembers the stack of forms on the kitchen table, the calls that went unreturned and the advice that contradicted itself. She wanted a firm that would explain things once, clearly, and then do the work.

Today we are three attorneys and two coordinators in an office in Roanoke, with home and facility visits across the Roanoke Valley. We only practice elder law: Medicaid and long-term care planning, veterans benefits, powers of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, elder abuse and estates for older adults. Doing one thing lets us do it carefully.

Families first, and the older adult at the center

Most of our first calls come from adult children. We welcome that, and we work hard to keep the whole family informed. But when a parent is our client, the plan is theirs. We meet with them, listen to them, and follow their wishes, even when the family would choose differently.

That is not just good manners. It is how the law works, and it protects everyone: plans made with a parent's real agreement hold up later.

How we work

Six promises we keep, and put in writing.

  • 01

    Plain words, written down

    Every plan comes with a short written summary in everyday language. Bring it to the next family meeting.

  • 02

    Your parent stays at the center

    When a parent is our client, we meet with them, listen to them, and respect their choices, even when the family is the one who called.

  • 03

    Fees before work

    You get a written fee in advance. Most of our work is a flat fee; anything hourly comes with an estimate.

  • 04

    Honest about limits

    We tell you what the law allows, what it does not, and when a choice is not worth its cost. No one here promises approvals or outcomes.

  • 05

    Easy to reach

    We return every call within one business day, and we tell you who to call when your attorney is in court.

  • 06

    Built for older eyes and ears

    Large-print summaries, step-free offices, home visits, and as much time as a meeting needs. No one is rushed.

What your first meeting looks like

  1. Step 1: A short call first

    Free and about 15 minutes. You tell us what is happening; we tell you if we can help and what the first meeting costs.

  2. Step 2: We send a checklist

    A one-page list of papers to bring. Bring what you can find. Missing papers are normal.

  3. Step 3: We meet your parent

    At our office, at home or by video. If your parent is the client, part of the meeting is with them alone, so the choices are truly theirs.

  4. Step 4: You leave with a written summary

    Where things stand, the options, the fees and the next three steps, in plain words you can share with the family.

More about Stillwell

  • Attorneys and staff

    Three attorneys and two coordinators, all focused on older adults and their families.

    Meet the team

  • Reviews

    What families say about working with us, including the slow weeks.

    Read reviews

  • Free community talks

    Plain-language talks on Medicaid basics and powers of attorney at libraries and senior centers, a few times a year.

    Ask about the next talk

  • The caregiver letter

    A short email four times a year with rule changes and checklists for families caring for a parent.

    Ask to join

  • Resources for families

    Guides, a look-back date tool, a document checklist and a glossary of terms.

    Open resources

  • About this website

    This is a sample site. The firm, people, fees and reviews are fictional, and nothing here is legal advice.

    Contact details

Talk it through with someone who does this every day.

Book a consultation online in about three minutes, or call and a real person will answer. We return every call within one business day.

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