Experienced Guidance
When Life Gets Legal SM
Gina M. Barry
- Shareholder
"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 partner and a member of the estate planning and elder law department, whose practice includes sophisticated estate planning issues. Gina also has extensive experience in matters of guardianship, conservatorship, long-term care planning, estate/probate administration, and residential real estate.
Locations
Education
- Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts
- J.D. - 1999
- Honors: cum laude
- Westfield State College, Westfield, Massachusetts
- B.A. - 1996
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Holyoke Community College
- A.A. - 1994
- Honors: With High Honors
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1999
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
Classes & Seminars
- Seminar: The Probate Process From Start to Finish, October 28, 2013
- Seminar: Estate planning questions and answers, October 21, 2013
- Seminar: Taking Control of Your Future: A Legal Checkup, May 18, 2011
- Seminar: The Importance of Designating a Health Care Proxy Before You Need it, May 4, 2011
- 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
- Contributor: 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
Pro-Bono Activities
- President and Founder, The Joy of Jasper Horse Sanctuary
Honors
- Designated as "Super Lawyer" 2013 in Boston Magazine
- Distinguished: Top Woman Attorney in MA by Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2012
- Recipient: Super Lawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2012
- Recipient: Super Lawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2011
- Recipient: Chapter Member of the Year, BNI Holyoke North, MA, 10/13/2011
- Designated as "Super Lawyer Rising Star" 2010 in Boston Magazine
- Recipient: Top Five Business Women in Western Mass, Western MA Women's Magazine, 2010
- Recipient: SuperLawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine
- 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
- Catherine Bean Street Scholarship, Recipient
- CALI Award for Excellence in Torts
- CALI Award for Excellence in Critical Race Theory
- "Lawyer of the Year” for Springfield Elder Law, Best Lawyers, 2019
- Designated as 2015’s Woman of Influence by Women Business Owners Alliance
- Distinguished Alumni for 2015, Holyoke Community College
- Recipient, First Annual Visionary Achievement Award from Western Mass Women's Magazine, 2014
- Recipient, SuperLawyers Massachusetts and New England Award, 2013-2019
- Recipient, SuperLawyers Massachusetts and New England Rising Star Award, 2006-2008, 2010-2012
- Designated as one of the Top Five Business Women in Western Mass, Western Mass Women's Magazine, 2010
- Recipient, 40 Under Forty award, BusinessWest, 2009
Past Positions
- Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court, Law Clerk, 1999 to 2000
Fraternities or Sororities
- Pi Sigma Alpha
- Alpha Chi
Professional Associations
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Hampden County Bar Association
- Estate Planning Council of Hampden County
- Connecticut Bar Association
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Hampden County Bar Association, New Lawyer's Section, Chair, 2003 to 2004
- Hampden County Bar Association, New Lawyer's Section, Probate Court Bench Bar Liaison, 2003 to 2004
- Holyoke North Business Network International, Membership Committee
- Women's Partnership Communications Committee, Co-Chair
- Women's Partnership Board of Directors, 2003 to 2005
- Joy of Jasper Horse Sanctuary, Founder, 2007-Present
- Greater Springfield Business & Professional Women's Club, First Vice President, 2005-2006
- Greater Springfield Business & Professional Women's Club, Second Vice President, 2004-2005
- Western Massachusetts Elder Care Professionals, Member, Steering Committee
- Meadows Homes Human Rights Committee, Member
- Women's Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley, Inc., Cheryl Reed Memorial Loan Fund Chair
- National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Director, 2018 to Present
- Western Massachusetts Elder Care Professionals Steering Committee, Member
Published Works
- Staying at home: Considerations for elders and their caregivers
Prime, April, 2022 - Just two documents: These tools help smooth crucial decisions
Prime, May, 2021 - The IDIOT Trust: A tool to protect assets from nursing home costs
Prime, April, 2021 - Collector’s Primer: planning for the continuation of your cache
Prime, March, 2021 - The family business: Ensuring a smooth transition when it’s time
Prime, February, 2021 - Reviewing your estate plan: It’s a New Year’s resolution that’s easy to keep
Prime, January, 2021 - Year-end tax planning: COVID-19 has tweaked some approaches
Prime, December, 2020 - The special needs trust: Why it’s important to plan ahead
Prime, November, 2020 - Charitable giving: You can still do good in a time of uncertainty
Prime, October, 2020 - Will vs. Trust: Deciding which is right for your estate
Prime, September, 2020 - Good grief: Plan now to lessen the burden on loved ones
Prime, August, 2020 - Caregiver stress: Could this become the next epidemic?
Prime, June, 2020 - A Pandemic Estate Plan
BusinessWest, April 13, 2020 - For the love of your partner include these documents in your estate
Prime, February 1, 2020 - Your estate plan: January’s a great time for an annual review
Prime, January 1, 2020 - Holiday season tax planning: Make the time to consider your options
Prime, December 1, 2019 - Long term care: Strategies to plan for the costs
Prime, November 1, 2019 - Givers Gain: Use charitable giving to your advantage
Prime, October, 2019 - Estate planning myths: know the facts to avoid these pitfalls
Prime, September, 2019 - Are you a collector? Make a plan now to provide for its future
Prime, August, 2019 - The Homestead Declaration: Simple protection for your most valuable asset
Prime, July, 2019 - Keeping the Court Out of Your Decisions
Prime, June 1, 2019 - Creating an estate plan for a beloved pet
Prime, May 1, 2019 - Women—plan for financial independence
Prime, April 1, 2019 - Ethical wills—bequeathing life’s lessons
Prime, March 1, 2019 - The reverse mortgage—is it for you?
Prime, February 1, 2019 - Resolve to review your estate plan
Prime, January 1, 2019 - It’s Not Too Late to Make a Tax Plan
Prime, December 1, 2018 - Your Estate: Do You Need A Trust?
Prime, November 1, 2018 - Digital Assets and Your Estate Plan
Prime, October 1, 2018 - When Your Child is Also Your Caregiver
Prime, September 1, 2018 - Helping the Grandkids with College Costs
Prime, August 1, 2018 - Put Estate Planning on Your Travel Checklist
Prime, July 1, 2018 - Caregiver Stress—the Next Epidemic?
Prime, June 1, 2018 - Giving Them the Business? Make a Plan
Prime, May 1, 2018 - Special Needs Require Special Planning
Prime, April 1, 2018 - Caring long distance—a practical checklist
Prime, March 1, 2018 - For the love of your partner, plan now
Prime, February 1, 2018 - Resolve to review your estate plan
Prime, January 1, 2018 - It’s not too late to slash your tax bill
Prime, December 1, 2017 - Givers gain – charity and your taxes
Prime, November 1, 2017 - The Life Estate Deed – one home protection option
Prime, October 1, 2017 - The truth about the ‘gift tax’
Prime, September 1, 2017 - Four steps to choosing an attorney
Prime, August 1, 2017 - Estate plans—don’t leave home without one
Prime, July 1, 2017 - Don’t Let Care Costs Deplete Your Estate
Prime, June 1, 2017 - Make “Good Grief” Your Final Gift to Family, Friends
Prime, May 1, 2017 - Elder Abuse—Could you spot the signs?
Prime, April 1, 2017 - Estate Planning Myths Explained
Prime, March 1, 2017 - Wills vs. Trusts—which is right for you?
Prime, February 1, 2017 - You’re Just Four Documents From an Estate Plan
Prime, January 1, 2017