Bacon Wilson P.C.

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Gina M. Barry

Shareholder
Springfield Office

Phone 413-781-0560
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"I focus my practice on helping people plan for the future. Even young people should start thinking about how they will support themselves in their retirement years, and everybody needs a basic estate plan, including a will, health care proxy and power of attorney. I am down to earth, and I pride myself on making difficult and complex issues easy to understand for my clients. I have a broad client base including a mix of ages, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations."

Gina is a member of the Estate Planning/ Elder Law Department whose practice includes sophisticated estate planning issues. Additional areas of expertise include guardianship, conservatorship, planning for long-term care and residential real estate.

Education

Western New England College, J.D., cum laude, 1999

Westfield State College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1996

Holyoke Community College, A.A., High Honors, 1994

Areas of Practice

Real Estate & Zoning

Estate Planning & Elder

Bar & Court Admission

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

State Of Connecticut

District Court of Massachusetts

Professional Associations & Memberships

Massachusetts Bar Association

Hampden County Bar Association

Estate Planning Council of Hampden County

Connecticut Bar Association

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Professional & Community Activities

Founder: Joy of Jasper Horse Sanctuary, 2007 - Present

Hampden County Bar Association, New Lawyer's Section, Chair, 2003-2004; Probate Court Bench Bar Liaison, 2003-04

Greater Springfield Business & Professional Women's Club, First Vice President, 2005-06, Second Vice President, 2004-05

Western Massachusetts Elder Care Professionals, Member, Steering Committee

Holyoke North Business Network International, Membership Committee

Women's Partnership Communications Committee, Co-Chair

Women's Partnership Board of Directors, 2003-2005

Meadows Homes Human Rights Committee, Member

Women's Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley, Inc., Cheryl Reed Memorial Loan Fund Chair

Awards, Achievements & Appointments

Recipient: SuperLawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2008

Recipient: SuperLawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2007

Recipient: SuperLawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2006

Estate Planning Specialist Blends Law with a Passion for Animals, BusinessWest, October 20, 2005

Women in Business Spotlight, Valley Business Outlook, September 2005

"Woman of the Year" distinction, Women Business Owners Alliance, 2005

"Up and Coming Lawyer 2004" distinction, MA Lawyers Weekly, 2004

Pi Sigma Alpha

Alpha Chi

Catherine Bean Street Scholarship, Recipient

CALI Award for Excellence in Torts

CALI Award for Excellence in Critical Race Theory

Notary Public

Certified Mediator

Law Clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court, 1999-2000

Western New England Law Review, Articles Editor, 1998-1999

Western New England Law Review, Staff Member, 1997-1998

Videos

Video: How to Avoid Guardianship & Conservatorship

Video: Pet Estate Planning - Ensuring continued care for your non-human loved ones

Video: Will, Health Care Proxy, Durable Power of Attorney, & Homestead Declaration

Articles

Consider the Basics Before Contesting a Will
Prime, July 1, 2010

Do You Need a Trust?
Prime, June 1, 2010

Considerations for Collectors
Prime, May 1, 2010

Establish an Estate Plan Before Your Trip
Prime, April 1, 2010

The Truth About Gift Tax
Prime, March 1, 2010

For the Love of Your Partner . . . Plan Now
Prime, February 1, 2010

A Whole New World - Navigating the Uniform Probate Code
Healthcare News, January 1, 2010

‘Tis the Season . . . to Review Your Estate Plan: A New Year’s Resolution That’s Easy to Keep
Prime, December 22, 2009

Uncle Sam is Coming to Dinner – Plan Ahead and Enjoy the Holidays
Prime, December 1, 2009

When Mom and Dad Won’t Move – Sweeping the Minefield of Long Distance Caregiving
Prime, November 1, 2009

Take Steps Now to Maintain Your Independence Later
Prime, October 1, 2009

The Life Estate Deed – One Option for Protecting Your Home
Prime, September 1, 2009

Moving Forward with a Reverse Mortgage
Prime, August 1, 2009

The Basic Estate Plan: Don't Leave Home Without It
Prime, July 1, 2009

Keeping the Court Out of Your Personal Decisions
Prime, June 1, 2009

Planning Ahead - How to Save Your Nest Egg From Nursing-home Costs
BusinessWest, Healthcare News, May 25, 2009

Is an IDIOT Trust Ever a Smart Choice?
Prime, May 1, 2009

Where There's a Will, There's an Heir
Prime, April 8, 2009

Recognizing Elder Abuse - Grandma's Broken Glasses, and Other Subtle Signs of Trouble
BusinessWest, March 2, 2009

Your Place or Mine? - Providing Care for Aging Parents
Prime, March 1, 2009

The Pitfalls of Estate Planning - Sweeping the Minefield of Long-distance Caregiving
Healthcare News, January 29, 2009

Supporting Your Parents - Is it Your Duty?
Prime, January 1, 2009

Givers Gain - Use Charitable Giving to Your Advantage
Prime, November 18, 2008

Gina Barry recently founded The Joy of Jasper
The Republican, November 18, 2008

Good Grief!
Prime, October 17, 2008

Health Care Proxies and Powers of Attorney - Providing Your Voice When You Are Unable to Speak for Yourself
Prime, October 16, 2008

Ethical Wills - Bequeath Your Values Along With Your Valuables
Business to Business, October 13, 2008

A Final Gift of Organization
Prime, August 23, 2008

Ethical Wills - Bequeath Your Values Along With Your Valuables
Prime, August 22, 2008

You Can't Take it With You . . . Consider Charity in Your Final Plans
BusinessWest, June 20, 2008

A Woman's Plan for Independence
Prime, May 2, 2008

When It's All Going to the Dogs - A Primer on the Emerging Trend of Pet Estate Planning
BusinessWest, April 14, 2008

Will Your Nest Egg Pay Your Nursing Home Costs? - Plan Now to Avoid Paying Later
April 3, 2008

For the Love of Your Partner . . . Plan Now
Prime, February 20, 2008

'Tis the Season . . . to Review Your Estate Plan: A New Year's Resolution That's Easy to Keep
January 20, 2008

Uncle Sam is Coming to Dinner - Plan Ahead and Enjoy the Holidays
Prime, November 30, 2007

When It's All Going to the Dogs: Planning For Your Pets After You're Gone
Prime, November 29, 2007

Your Place or Mine? - Providing Care for Aging Parents
BusinessWest, November 14, 2007

Grandma's Broken Glasses - Recognizing and Preventing Elder Abuse
Prime, September 24, 2007

Halt! Who Goes There? - Stopping Identity Thieves in Their Tracks
Prime, August 13, 2007

Antiques, Collections and Things - Oh My!
Prime, June 27, 2007

The Basic Estate Plan - Peace of Mind for the Savvy Traveler
Prime, May 23, 2007

Giving Them the Business: Ensuring a Smooth Transition When It's Time
Prime, May 11, 2007

Eeny Meeny Miney Moe? - Taking the Guesswork Out of Choosing an Attorney
Prime, May 2, 2007

If You Should Die Before You Wake, Whom Do You Pray Your Estate to Take?
Prime, March 1, 2007

Wills vs. Trusts - Explaining the Estate Planning Enigma
Prime, February 6, 2007

'Tis the Season . . . to Review Your Estate Plan: A New Year's Resolution That's Easy to Keep
Prime, December 21, 2006

The Will That Won't - Should it be Contested?
Prime, October 16, 2006

Homestead Declaration Sweet Homestead Declaration
Prime, October 1, 2006

Health Care Proxies and Powers of Attorney - Providing Your Voice When You Are Unable to Speak for Yourself
Prime, August 21, 2006

Where There's a Will, There's an Heir
Prime, July 30, 2006

The Medicaid Rules Have Changed, but the Planning Continues
Prime, May 30, 2006

Medicaid Madness Continues as the Rules Change Once Again
Prime, April 30, 2006

Elder Abuse - Unveiling the Dirty Little Secret
Prime, April 12, 2006

Your Place or Mine? - Addressing the Caretaker Child Conundrum.
Prime, March 13, 2006

Prescription For Progress - Taking The Mystery Out Of Medicare Part D and Its Enrollment Decisions
Healthcare News, BusinessWest, February 17, 2006

When It's All Going to the Dogs - Planning Estates with Pets
December 1, 2005

An Ounce Of Prevention - A Simple Estate Plan is Only Four Important Legal Documents Away
BusinessWest, April 25, 2005

Unlikely Bedfellows: Preserving Assets While Financing Nursing Home Care
BusinessWest, November 17, 2004

When Mom and Dad Won't Move - Sweeping the Minefield of Long Distance Caregiving
BusinessWest, August 12, 2004

A Simple Estate Plan is Only Four Documents Away
June 21, 2004

Brewing Elder Abuse - A Recipe For Disaster
Healthcare News, Valley Business Outlook, August 18, 2003

How To Avoid Guardianship
Healthcare News, April 5, 2003

A Woman's Plan For Independence
BusinessWest, March 15, 2003

When You Aren't Really You - Protecting Yourself from Identity Thieves
BusinessWest, February 27, 2003

News

Gina M. Barry - BusinessWest 40 Under Forty Honoree
BusinessWest, April 27, 2009

Local Lawyers Recognized as 2008 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars
November 21, 2008

Regional Law Firm Announces New Partners
January 18, 2008

The Write Stuff - Where There's a Will, There's a Right Way to Approach the Document
BusinessWest, January 3, 2008

8 SuperLawyers Rising Stars Among Regional Law Firm
April 20, 2007

SuperLawyers Rising Stars Among Local Law Firm
May 1, 2006

Gina Barry - Estate Planning Specialist Blends Law with a Passion for Animals
BusinessWest, October 20, 2005

Attorney Gina M. Barry: Woman in Business
Valley Business Outlook, September 29, 2005

Attorney Honored as "Woman of the Year"
June 17, 2005

Attorney Earns MA Lawyers Weekly Distinction
September 21, 2004

Lectures

Seminar: Estate Planning Basics, July 29, 2010

Seminar: Paralegal Course: The UPC in Action – The Guardianship and Conservatorship Process & Preview of the 2011 Probate Changes, June 17, 2010

Seminar: Pet Estate Planning, February 4, 2010

Seminar: Demystifying the Emerging Treatment & Law of Eldercare, December 9, 2009

Seminar: Staying in Control: Understanding Massachusetts’ New Guardianship Laws, November 16, 2009

Seminar: When It’s All Going to the Dogs: A Primer on the Emerging Trend of Pet Trusts and Estate Planning, November 15, 2009

Seminar: Drafting the Simple Will, November 10, 2009

Contributer: Estate Planning Bits

Quoted: And to My Dear Woofy... Estate Planning, Bank Investment Consultant , July 2008

Guest on NPR discussing Leona Helmsley's $12M bequest to her dog, August 29, 2007

Speaker: Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy, Central High School, May 2007

Lecturer: The A-Z’s Of Real Property Issues, Suffolk University Law School, March 2007

Guest: WWLP TV Senior Showcase, 11/03

Court-Certified GAL Training for Category D Matters, MCLE, November 2002

Author: ‘Tis the Season...To Review Your Estate Plan, Prime Times, March 2002

Author: Homestead Exemption Update: WP Channels, August 2001

Author: United States v. Kirby: The Case for Appellate Review of Grants of Bail by District Court Judges in International Extradition Cases, 21 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 565 (1999)