Elizabeth Gray | Estate Planning

McCandlish Lillard

Elizabeth Gray | McCandlish Lillard

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Firm Summary

Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Elizabeth has demonstrated her expertise in elder law and special needs law for over 20 years. Elizabeth focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, guardianships, and the administration of estates. She provides experience, compassion and a meticulous attention to details in all of her work. This includes the drafting of trusts (including special needs trusts, pet trusts, trusts to minimize income taxes and capital gains), wills, powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney (also known as advance medical directives), and other succession planning documents. Elizabeth has the experience to find solutions to each client’s individual needs rather than simply using forms or other “boiler plate” materials. She has developed a reputation among her peers in the legal community as the “go to” person in the areas of elder law and special needs planning.

In addition, Elizabeth is a member of the Special Needs Alliance – an invitation-only nationwide attorney organization. She is a Past-President and the 2011 recipient of the “Outstanding Member” award of the Virginia chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA); a member of NAELA’s invitation-only Council of Advanced Practitioners; and former co-chair of three different sections of the Fairfax County Bar Association. She is a current member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and sits on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Northern Virginia.

Her other accolades include: AV® Preeminent™ ranking by Martindale-Hubbell and a “Superb” rating on AVVO. Elizabeth has been listed in Best Lawyers of America each year since 2012, an honor given to only 5% of attorneys; a recipient of the Influential Women of Virginia class of 2012; a SuperLawyer in Elder Law for Virginia and Washington, D.C. each year since 2009. Named in Washingtonian Magazine among the top elder law attorneys in the Washington, D.C. area since 2009; and listed in Northern Virginia Magazine among the top elder law attorneys in the Northern Virginia area since 2011. Additionally, in 2015 Elizabeth was recognized by her legal peers as “Lawyer of the Year” in Elder Law for Metropolitan DC in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Lawyers – 2015” guide.

The award she is most proud of is the “Legal Assistance Distinguished Service Award” from the American Bar Association for helping victims of the September 11 attacks.

Quoted in such publications as MSN Money and The Washington Post, Elizabeth provides frequent educational seminars for the public and helps fellow attorneys hone their skills by teaching Continuing Legal Education classes (CLE).

Elizabeth Gray has been practicing law since 1996. She is a member of the bar of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rather than going to a typical law school, Liz is a Virginia “law reader.” Under the law reader program, the student apprentices with an attorney under the guidelines issued by the Virginia Supreme Court and at the end of the program the student is eligible to take the Virginia Bar Examination. This unique way of obtaining her legal education has given her a down to earth attitude and an approachable style.

When she is not working, you can find Elizabeth reading, jogging, or just spending time with her family – her son, husband, and their beloved Weimaraner, Casper. A little-known fact: Elizabeth is a former professional violinist, having played with the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra and the Binghamton Pops.

Practice Areas

• Elder Law / Special Needs
• Trust, Estate and Fiduciary Litigation
• Wills, Trusts & Estates