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Letha Sgritta McDowell

Letha Sgritta McDowell

Specializing in estate planning, asset protection, elder law, and special needs
  • Elder Law, Estate Planning, Tax Law
  • North Carolina, Virginia
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Legal Knowledge
5.0/5.0
Legal Analysis
5.0/5.0
Communication Skills
5.0/5.0
Ethics and Professionalism
5.0/5.0
Gilbert L. Carey
Gilbert L. Carey June 21, 2024
Rating: 10 Lawyer Rating - 10 out of 10
Letha is more than a competent attorney. Letha is a leader in the legal industry. Her leadership is evident through diligent client representation; as a speaker and teacher in her core competencies; and in her involvement in prestigious legal organizations.
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Biography

Letha Sgritta McDowell is a highly accomplished attorney and shareholder at McDowell Law Group, specializing in various areas of elder law, including estate planning, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, long-term care planning, personal injury settlement consulting, guardianships & conservatorships, and tax law. Her expertise ranges from assisting clients with complex estate planning for high-net-worth individuals with assets over $75 million to developing simple plans for families with limited assets.

Ms. McDowell has a distinguished professional background. She served as the President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a notable position within the field. In recognition of her exceptional knowledge and experience, she was appointed as a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Council in 2020. Additionally, McDowell holds certifications as an elder law attorney from the National Elder Law Foundation and as one of only twenty-three Board Certified Specialists in Elder Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Her expertise also extends to preparing and prosecuting claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs, as she is accredited for this purpose.

In 2023, McDowell was appointed as a Fellow of NAELA, further attesting to her esteemed reputation in the legal community. Her accomplishments in the field are remarkable, as evidenced by the fact that only three attorneys in North Carolina and six in Virginia hold this distinction.

She earned her JD from the University of Maine and a BA degree from Purdue University.

Letha Sgritta McDowell's extensive experience, professional affiliations, and noteworthy accolades make her an exceptional attorney in her areas of elder law specialization.

Practice Areas
Elder Law
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Tax Law
Estate Tax Planning
Additional Practice Areas
  • Asset Protection Planning
  • Long-Term Care Planning
  • Life Care Planning
  • Estate and Trust Administration
Video Conferencing
  • Google Meet
  • Zoom
  • GoToMeeting
  • Microsoft Teams
Fees
  • Free Consultation
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
North Carolina
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Virginia
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Attorney, Member
McDowell Law Group, PLLC
- Current
Specializing in estate planning, elder law, estate and trust administration and special needs planning, including related tax advice and compliance for both North Carolina and Virginia residents.
Subject Matter Expert and Consultant
InterActive Legal
- Current
Act as a subject matter expert to provide guidance to software publisher supporting estate planning and elder law attorneys
Attorney, Shareholder
Hook Law
-
Attorney at Law
Oast & Taylor PLC
-
Partner
Oast & Hook
-
Education
University of Maine - School of Law
J.D. (2004)
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Purdue University - Purdue University
B.A. (2001)
Purdue University - Purdue University Logo
Wake Forest University
-
Visitng student to increase exposure to tax law
Wake Forest University Logo
Professional Associations
North Carolina Chapter of NAELA
Board Member
Current
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VAELA
member
Current
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American College of Trusts and Estates Council
- Current
Activities: Fiduciary income tax committee and elder law committee
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North Carolina Bar Association
Elder Law Council
- Current
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Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council
Member
- Current
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National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Past President
- Current
Activities: Past board member and member of the executive committee, including acting as NAELA President.
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Virginia Bar Association
Elder Law Council
-
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Norfolk SPCA
Board Member
-
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Elder Law Report
Wolters Kluwer
Special Needs Trust Handbook
Wolters Kluwer
Life Estates Revisited
Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal
Dead Celebrity Podcast – Marlon Brando: Loss of Capacity
Wealthmanagment.com
Protecting The Spouse of a Client Needing Long-Term Care
Wealthmanagment.com
Will Individuals with Disabilities Be Forced into Nursing Homes?
Wealthmanagment.com
Guns & Dementia
Wealthmanagment.com
Ten Signs Your Client Has Dementia
Trusts & Estates Magazine
Asset Protection and Long-Term Care Planning for The Unmarried Couple
Trusts & Estates Magazine
Challenges To Eligibility for Health Coverage
Trusts & Estates Magazine
Asset Protection Planning for Blended Families
NAELA Journal
Recent Developments and Trends in Elder Law
Trusts & Estates Magazine
IRS Confirms Safety of Qtip and Portability Elections
WG&L Estate Planning Journal
Speaking Engagements
2024 NAELA Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
The Language of Community Property in Estate Planning
Planning Ahead, Preparing for the Expected and the Unexpected, Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging, Hertford, North Carolina
Certifications
Fellow
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
ACTEC Fellow
American College of Trusts and Estates Council
Certified Elder Law Attorney
National Elder Law Foundation
Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law
North Carolina State Bar
Websites & Blogs
Website
McDowell Law Group
Contact & Map
McDowell Law Group
8 Juniper Trail
Southern Shores, NC 27949
Telephone: (252) 390-4690
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5 AM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed (Today)
McDowell Law Group
4445 Corporation Lane, Suite 200
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Telephone: (757) 863-4890
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed (Today)
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