team-member

Martha Brown

Webster Groves, MO

Licensed for 23 years

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Estate Planning

Language

English

About

Alicia Albus has been practicing law for over 13 years.  In addition to her law degree, she holds a degree in accounting and has worked as a tax consultant in a Big Five Accounting Firm.  The allure of working with individuals rather than corporations drew her to Elder Law. Alicia is devoted to helping the families that turn to the firm for assistantce in their hour of need.  She has become proficient and knowledgeable in nursing home care issues.  She is very well known throughout the senior services community and speaks frequently for the Alzheimer's Association.  Recently, Alicia has had several victories in court reversing Medicaid decisions. 

Practices Areas

Estate Planning

Elder Law

Language

English

Contact

Martha C. Brown & Associates220 W. Lockwood, Ste. 203Webster Groves, MO, 63119-2353220 W. Lockwood, Ste. 203Webster Groves, MO, 63119-2353

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

anonymous
April 13, 2015

I was disappointed with their guidance, communication, and knowledge of practices of the Court. They failed to set realistic client expectations and provide timely responses regarding typical outcomes and next steps when interacting with the Court. Specifically they failed to foresee and communicate implications to client in advance of: • Court not allowing Guardianship with existing POA. ( Court terminated POA and required Conservatorship be established. We learned from the Court appointed attorney for the Ward that the Court almost never allows Guardianship without Conservatorship. This caused a 3 month delay in the Real Estate Auction, required obtaining a Surety Bond, and led to a fivefold increase in fees paid to Martha’s office over what was originally expected for Guardianship only.) • Court requiring Appraisal before Real Estate could be auctioned. (Resulting in needing the appraisal within 24 hours at additional costs) • Additional Surety Bond required after sale of Real Estate. (additional costs.) • Option to pursue direct disbursement to heirs by Conservator. (Instead of their office suggesting this quicker more cost effective approach, we had to bring it up to them after a third party recommended it.) All in all they may be strong at drawing up Trusts agreements and the many aspects of Estate planning, but we found them weak at interacting with the Court and communicating with the client. I would not recommend this firm.

anonymous
April 13, 2015

I was disappointed with their guidance, communication, and knowledge of practices of the Court. They failed to set realistic client expectations and provide timely responses regarding typical outcomes and next steps when interacting with the Court. Specifically they failed to foresee and communicate implications to client in advance of: • Court not allowing Guardianship with existing POA. ( Court terminated POA and required Conservatorship be established. We learned from the Court appointed attorney for the Ward that the Court almost never allows Guardianship without Conservatorship. This caused a 3 month delay in the Real Estate Auction, required obtaining a Surety Bond, and led to a fivefold increase in fees paid to Martha’s office over what was originally expected for Guardianship only.) • Court requiring Appraisal before Real Estate could be auctioned. (Resulting in needing the appraisal within 24 hours at additional costs) • Additional Surety Bond required after sale of Real Estate. (additional costs.) • Option to pursue direct disbursement to heirs by Conservator. (Instead of their office suggesting this quicker more cost effective approach, we had to bring it up to them after a third party recommended it.) All in all they may be strong at drawing up Trusts agreements and the many aspects of Estate planning, but we found them weak at interacting with the Court and communicating with the client. I would not recommend this firm.

anonymous
April 13, 2015

I was disappointed with their guidance, communication, and knowledge of practices of the Court. They failed to set realistic client expectations and provide timely responses regarding typical outcomes and next steps when interacting with the Court. Specifically they failed to foresee and communicate implications to client in advance of: • Court not allowing Guardianship with existing POA. ( Court terminated POA and required Conservatorship be established. We learned from the Court appointed attorney for the Ward that the Court almost never allows Guardianship without Conservatorship. This caused a 3 month delay in the Real Estate Auction, required obtaining a Surety Bond, and led to a fivefold increase in fees paid to Martha’s office over what was originally expected for Guardianship only.) • Court requiring Appraisal before Real Estate could be auctioned. (Resulting in needing the appraisal within 24 hours at additional costs) • Additional Surety Bond required after sale of Real Estate. (additional costs.) • Option to pursue direct disbursement to heirs by Conservator. (Instead of their office suggesting this quicker more cost effective approach, we had to bring it up to them after a third party recommended it.) All in all they may be strong at drawing up Trusts agreements and the many aspects of Estate planning, but we found them weak at interacting with the Court and communicating with the client. I would not recommend this firm.