Please allow me to introduce myself and our law firm. My name is Carl Zacharia and I am the founding partner of Zacharia Brown.
I have been a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania and Florida since 1994. I was born and raised in McKeesport, PA, a small steel mill city just outside of Pittsburgh. When I first became a lawyer in 1994, I was living in Sunny Isles in northern Dade County. Not long after settling in, my mother received a grave diagnosis and so my wife and I moved back home to take care of both sets of our parents. In 1995, I opened Zacharia Law Office in McKeesport and began my practice. While I was already experienced in some sophisticated estate planning techniques, I also started to receive calls from people who were scared to lose their home and life savings because a loved one needed nursing care.
Other attorneys in the area did not know what to tell these people, so I decided to do some research. As it turned out, there were many planning strategies that could help. In addition to my complex estate planning clients, I began taking on new clients who needed this help. In hindsight, I believe that I was one of the first few attorneys in western Pennsylvania to practice in the Elder Law area. A few years later, I connected with my cousin, Christine Brown, who was 17 years my junior and had just passed the PA Bar. She did not find her area of practice to be rewarding and wanted to help people in need. Shortly thereafter, she joined my practice and found her calling. In my opinion, she is now one of the best elder law attorneys that I have ever known! Our partnership at Zacharia Brown began and we have been together for over 20 years.
Zacharia Brown now has 4 offices in the Pittsburgh area and 3 offices in Florida. We have been in Lakewood Ranch for over 10 years, opened an office in Pompano Beach about 3 years ago, and this past fall, we opened our main Florida location in Bonita Springs at the Promenade Shops. We concentrate our practice in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Estate Administration, as well as VA Planning and Guardianships.
After practicing in this area of law for many years, our goal is to help people avoid common misconceptions that can result in costly mistakes. One such mistake is that individuals are often looking for a product (“I need a Will” or “I need a Trust”), often because someone they know has recently passed away and they feel unprepared. However, the value in quality estate planning is not only about preparing quality documents. The true value is found in our planning consultations. You should not approach Estate Planning with the idea that you need a specific “product.” What you need is a plan. Our in-depth consultations give us the opportunity to explore your specific needs and family dynamics. We are familiar with all the available options and can recommend a personalized plan based upon our knowledge and experience.
Another misunderstood area is Medicaid and Long-Term Care. Most people do not fully comprehend the different types of long-term care and are unaware of the benefits that may be available. Additionally, individuals develop preconceived notions from talking to others about their experiences. At a recent meeting, a client said that she never thought her husband would be eligible for Medicaid because they had too much money. Once we explained how the system works, we were able to help her husband to get the care he needs and also take care of her.
We invite you to come to our events and contact us. Knowing your options is key. At Zacharia Brown, we know the available options and we just need to learn more about you to create a personalized plan.
Bonita Springs
26811 South Bay Drive, Suite 260
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
(239) 345-4545
Lakewood Ranch
8470 Enterprise Circle, Suite 300
Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
(239) 345-4545
March 2024 EVENTS
Thursday, March 7th- 5 Essential Documents
To Protect Your Wealth
10:00am-11:30am
First Congregational Church of Naples, 6630 Immokalee Road, Naples FL
Tuesday, March 12th – Ask The Experts:
Elder Law Planning & Home Care Options
10:00am-11:30am
Hodges Life Celebration Center – 26051 S
Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Presenter: Ehren Frey, Esquire
RSVP to 952-457-0493 or
Kelsy@ZacBrownLaw.com
Wednesday, March 13th – Legal Tune Up – Essential Documents and Recent Law Changes
11:30am-1:00pm
Avow Ispiri Center – 1205 Whippoorwill Ln, Naples, FL 34105
Presenter: Ehren Frey, Esquire
Thursday, March 14th – Ask The Experts:
Estate Planning & Elder Law 101
12:00am-1:30pm
Terrcina Grand – 6825 Davis Blvd,
Naples, FL 34104
Presenter: Ehren Frey, Esquire
Monday, March 18th – Bonita Springs
Senior Center Expo
8:00am-1:00pm
Bonita Springs YMCA – 27200 Kent Rd,
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Wednesday, March 20th – Maximize Your Wealth and Minimize Your Tax Burden
3:00pm-5:00pm
The Terraces at Bonita Springs – 26455 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Presenter: Carl Zacharia, Partner/Esquire
RSVP: Call 239-977-5422 or visit
TheTerracesAtBonitaSprings.com/Calendar
STAY INFORMED AND UP-TO-DATE VISIT US ONLINE AT:
www.zacbrownlaw.com