Attorneys

Blackburn Law Firm PLLC

About Catherine E. Blackburn

Catherine E. Blackburn graduated with High Distinction from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 1978 and practiced pharmacy before entering law school.  She graduated with Honors from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1982 and practiced in Columbus, Ohio before joining the faculty of the University of Louisville College of Law in 1987.  While a law professor, Ms. Blackburn taught courses in basic legal skills, evidence, remedies, and coached the mock trial teams.  In 1992, she moved to the Tampa Bay area and practiced catastrophic personal injury law until 2011.

After decades of litigation practice, Ms. Blackburn turned her attention to legal life planning with a focus on ensuring that singles, couples, and persons with specific concerns, such as seniors needing long term and nursing home care and LGBT persons, receive legal advice and services directed to their needs and circumstances.  For the past 20 years, Ms. Blackburn has worked to coordinate health care and health care reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, VA, insurance, and private pay.

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Life and Estate Planning

We believe your life is constantly changing, and it is critical that your estate plan change along with it.

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Small Business

If you work for yourself or employ others, proper business structure is important.

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LGBT Planning

LGBT people face challenges that heterosexual people, especially married heterosexual people, do not face. And, this requires using the same planning documents in different ways.

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Elder Law

At Blackburn Law Firm, Cathy focuses on assisting clients to live life fully especially as we grow older.

Need Legal Help? Get in Touch with Our Friendly Team!

At the offices of Blackburn Law Firm, PLLC – LifePlanLaw.com, Cathy and her legal assistants believe it is our privilege to serve our clients, and we strive to provide exceptional legal services at an affordable cost.
The firm provides legal counsel to client throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. Our approach is highly personalized and thorough. We believe it is important to understand our clients, including their legal concerns, needs, and goals for the future. Cathy will create a customized plan to address your needs and help you achieve your goals for you, your family, and your business.
what we are expert at

Why Clients Choose Us?

WHY CHOOSE US?

 

Law Degree

Lawyers are required to have a college degree and a law degree; non-lawyers have no legal or other educational requirements.

Pharmacy Degree

With a degree in Pharmacy and years of experience with medical  legal issues, Cathy understands the importance of legal documents to handle expected and unexpected life events.

Exam

Lawyers are required to pass a stringent admittance examination to attest to their competency of the law and a thorough character and fitness investigation before being admitted to practice law; non-lawyers have no such requirements.

Continuing Education Requirements

Lawyers are required to maintain current legal education and take ethics courses periodically; non-lawyers have no continuing education requirement.

Ethical Standards

Lawyers are subject to comprehensive and stringent ethical rules; non-lawyers have no written ethical standards.

License

Lawyers accused of ethical misbehavior are investigated by The Florida Bar which can lead to losing their license to practice law; non-lawyers are not professionally accountable to any authority although they can be investigated and prosecuted for engaging in the unlicensed practice of law.

Client Confidentiality

Lawyers are required to maintain client confidences; communications of confidential information with non-lawyers are not protected by attorney-client confidentiality.

Insurance

Many lawyers maintain professional liability insurance which is available to pay potential claims made against an attorney; many non-lawyers cannot obtain professional insurance as they may not be considered to be a “professional” and therefore, it could be difficult to get your money back if they do not provide the services they promised.

HOW WE CAN HELP!

 

Cathy understands that legal planning can be an emotional undertaking for you and your family and that professional legal advice, prompt attention, and public benefits qualification are of primary importance to families facing these issues. To that end, our law office can provide the following services:

Consultation

In depth discussion of your goals and options to potentially achieve your goals including the pros and cons of the various choices;

Asset Review

Thorough examination of assets for public benefits qualification and/or estate planing purposes;

LGBT Life Planning

In the area of life planning, nothing and everything is different for LGBT people. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people use the same planning documents as anyone. In that sense, nothing is different about Life Planning for LGBT people. However, LGBT people face challenges that heterosexual people, especially married heterosexual people, do not face. And, this requires using the same planning documents in different ways.

Detailed Explanation of Options for Estate Planning

Thorough explanation of the available estate planning options available for your specific situation, whether you desire to avoid probate, to protect special needs beneficiaries, or to protect assets;

Full-Service Qualifications for Medicaid Nursing Home Benefits

Comprehensive assessment to qualify for Medicaid nursing home or VA benefits, preparation of associated legal documents, and filing the Medicaid application.

Completion of the Medicaid Application Process

Including preparation of forms and follow-through. My office will deal directly with Medicaid on your behalf throughout the completion of the application process;

Small Business

Set up or modify your sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, or S corporation and ensure that the business continues if you are disabled or die.

Are you looking for someone to help?

Let us help you! Call Now : (727) 826-0923

info@LifePlanLaw.com
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