Located in Pittsburgh serving the entire Western and Central Pennsylvania region. The Elder Law Offices of Shields and Boris concentrates SOLELY on Elder Law and Estate Planning. All too often we see how procrastination or relying on advice from someone who isn’t legally qualified has had disastrous effects for clients.

Together our Attorneys have over 65 years of legal experience and have helped over a thousand families, couples, and individuals with Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Medicaid Planning, and Asset Protection from nursing homes.

You want the best Estate Planning Lawyers and Probate Lawyers to answer your questions. We have the experience you can rely on!

Don’t wait for a crisis to begin planning for long-term care – contact “The Elder Law Offices of Shields and Boris” today!

Practice Areas

•   Medicaid Planning - As life expectancies and long term care costs continue to rise, the challenge quickly becomes how to pay for these services. Many people cannot afford to pay $9,600 per month for the cost of a nursing home, and those who can afford to pay may find their life savings wiped out in a matter of months, rather than years. In our lifetime, Medicaid has become the long term care insurance of the middle class. But the eligibility to receive Medicaid Benefits requires that you pass certain tests on the amount of income and assets that you have. Estate planning can help and we can help with estate planning. < Read More >
•   Living Trust - A living trust is a very effective tool in estate planning, but it takes expertise on the part of your attorney as well as considerable forethought on your part. Shields & Boris has a broad understanding of estate laws and how they relate to your unique circumstances. We will guide you through this legal maze of estate planning to protect your family and save you thousands of dollars. Contact us today at 1-800-879-0984 and we can help you make sense of it all. < Read More >
•   Estate Administration & Probate - Where do you turn when a loved one dies and you are responsible for administering their estate? The Shields & Boris team of estate planning lawyers has helped many families develop estate plans designed to minimize losses to inheritance taxes and probate costs. We have the expertise to guide you through the confusing estate disposition process — proving a will, paying and collecting debts, filing and paying estate taxes, and probate costs. < Read More >
•   Asset Protection - Are you protected from the high costs of nursing home and long term care? You have worked hard all your life and saved for a comfortable retirement. You plan to pass on a nice legacy to your children and grandchildren. The Attorneys at Shields & Boris are here to help you through these troubled times. Our team will provide you with estate planning strategies to legally protect your assets from long term care expenses and qualify for Medicaid. < Read More >
•   Veterans Benefits - Are you eligible for veterans’ benefits for non-service related disabilities? A vet who is over 65 and now disabled may qualify for much needed money to pay for medical bills! The Veteran Benefit Lawyers of Shields & Boris can help you pursue your right to benefits or appeal. < Read More >
•   Special Needs - Shields and Boris has extensive experience developing difficult options that can be used to support your special needs loved one. A special needs trust helps protect assets for a person with a disability without interfering with any benifit that person is receiving. It can be structured to provide for a special needs person for their lifetime and allowing any remaining funds distributed to other loved ones or a charity.
•   Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Planning Center - Our firm has created the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Planning Center as a special division of our practice because dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease, other forms of dementia or cognitive impairment, and chronic illnesses requires a particular knowledge and skillset that we believe sets us apart from other estate planning and elder law firms. We know that dealing with disease is difficult not only for our loved ones with the diagnosis, but also for their caregivers. There are specific legal, financial, and personal considerations that should be addressed. < Read More >

Meet your team!

James P. Shields

James P. Shields - Elder Law Attorney

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Jim Shields, A Pittsburgh Attorney, has co-authored seven books including: “Not Your Parents Retirement”, “From Boomer To Doomer”, “11 Critical Things Oil & Gas Lease Holders Must Know About Estate Planning”, “The Consumer’s Guide to Estate Planning”, “What To Do When a Loved One Dies”, and “Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home!”. He has also made numerous appearances on KDKA television to discuss various aspects of Estate Planning and Elder Law.

Attorney Shields grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated cum laude from St. Francis College of Loretto, Pa in 1990. Jim went to Law School at Notre Dame and graduated in 1993. He believes the law firm’s purpose is to protect their client’s legacy. Whether the goal is to protect a legacy from unnecessary taxes or unnecessary legal fees, nursing home expenses or obtain hard earned veterans benefits for non-service related disabilities, he can help families reach these goals.

Jim is a member of the National Rifle Association. Jim’s professional accomplishments include 2018 winner of the “Five Star Wealth Manager Award”. He is also the proud father of five children Madeline, Catherine, Elizabeth, Jackson, and Jameson, and is married to the greatest person in the world, his wife Denise. His family helps keep him grounded, and remains the most important part of his his life.

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Thomas J. Boris

Thomas J. Boris - Elder Law Attorney

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Attorney Tom Boris, who grew up on a 100 acre farm in Washington PA, has spoken in front of thousands of individuals at seminars regarding the complex issues surrounding estate planning, financial planning, and Elder Law. Tom Boris, A Pittsburgh Attorney, has co-authored seven books including: “Not Your Parents Retirement”, “From Boomer To Doomer”, “11 Critical Things Oil & Gas Lease Holders Must Know About Estate Planning”, “The Consumer’s Guide to Estate Planning”, “What To Do When a Loved One Dies”, and “Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home!”. He has also made numerous appearances on KDKA television to discuss various aspects of Estate Planning and Elder Law.

Attorney Boris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Washington and Jefferson College and received his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law. He is married to his lovely wife Stephanie, who is also an attorney, and they have two wonderful sons, Thomas Lee and Nicholas Tyler. Tom is extremely close to his parents and considers his family as the most important thing in his life. Tom is also a member of the National Rifle Association, and in his limited free time he enjoys playing ice hockey, watching movies, and most importantly playing with his two boys.

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Glenn A. Smith

Glenn A. Smith - Elder Law Attorney

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Attorney Glenn A. Smith is a lifelong resident of the South Hills of Pittsburgh. He graduated cum laude from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1993. After more than fifteen years of general practice experience, Attorney Smith concentrated his practice in the area of elder law because of the overwhelming need of his clients to avoid the pitfalls of the estate planning process. He is dedicated to protecting the legacies of his clients, whether from unnecessary taxes, legal fees or nursing home expenses. Glenn is married to his loving wife, Tracy, and is the proud and devoted father of two children, Emma and Caden.

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Featured Posts

A Guide To Alzheimer’s Care

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Planning for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease can be complicated. Proper planning in advance can help alleviate many frustrations as the disease progresses.

The time to act is now. With proper planning, you will insure that things are handled according to your wishes and that you’ve taken the best steps possible to protect your loved ones and to protect your family’s financial security.

If you would like the guidance of a law firm which has helped many families successfully deal with these issues, then contact our firm today!

Request “A Guide To Alzheimer’s Care”:

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A Guide To Alzheimer’s Care

Planning for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease can be complicated. Proper planning in advance can help alleviate many frustrations as the disease progresses.

The time to act is now. With proper planning, you will insure that things are handled according to your wishes and that you’ve taken the best steps possible to protect your loved ones and to protect your family’s financial security.

If you would like the guidance of a law firm which has helped many families successfully deal with these issues, then contact our firm today!

Request “A Guide To Alzheimer’s Care”:

Your Name (required)

Your Address (required)

Your City (required)

Your State (required)

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Shields And Boris On KDKA

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Jim and Tom were featured on KDKA’s Showcase Pittsburgh. You can contact us for a DVD of their interview.

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Shields And Boris On KDKA

Jim and Tom were featured on KDKA’s Showcase Pittsburgh. You can contact us for a DVD of their interview.
(more…)

Don’t Let Your Personal Seat License Get Sacked

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Learn how your personal seat licenses might be at risk for probate even if just one spouse dies and how it’s at risk to pay for your long term care.

Submit the form below to get your free copy of “Don’t Let Your Personal Seat Licenses Get Sacked”.

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Don’t Let Your Personal Seat License Get Sacked

Learn how your personal seat licenses might be at risk for probate even if just one spouse dies and how it’s at risk to pay for your long term care.

Submit the form below to get your free copy of “Don’t Let Your Personal Seat Licenses Get Sacked”.
(more…)

WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM!

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We regularly prepare deeds for our clients as part of their estate and long-term health care planning. Recently, some of our clients received a “Deed Processing Notice” in the mail.

The company sending the notice offered to obtain a copy of the client’s granting deed from the county recorder along with a “complete property profile.” The notice appeared official – it contained a unique document number, response deadline, and processing fee.

The Lycoming Law Association Real Estate Committee issued a public notice warning consumers that this is a solicitation from a third-party company – not directly affiliated with the Lycoming Law Association or the county recording office – providing a service that is usually unnecessary, for an excessive fee.

After a deed is executed and presented for recording at the courthouse, the recording process may take a few weeks. The original, recorded deed is then returned to our office. We in turn deliver the original, recorded deed to the new landowner. All recorded deeds are also publicly available at the courthouse for a nominal fee (typically $10.00) Additionally, information about a property can be obtained from a tax card at the county assessment office.

If you have any concerns about any correspondence you receive, please contact us at (724) 934-5044.

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WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM!

We regularly prepare deeds for our clients as part of their estate and long-term health care planning. Recently, some of our clients received a “Deed Processing Notice” in the mail.
(more…)