ALLAIRE ELDER LAW - Key Persons
Amanda is responsible for assisting the client and their family through the complexities of applying for Title XIX benefits, and acts as an advocate for the family with the Department of Social Services. She also is responsible for preparing, submitting and following up on Title XIX (Medicaid) applications until they are granted. Amanda helps the family understand the plan Attorney Allaire has put in place, and provides support to ease the stress of both the client and family.
Amanda has been with the firm since April of 2013. She has a B.A. in Journalism and Public Relations from Rider University. She enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and her cat Buttercup.
Job Titles:
- Director of Elder Care Services
Charlotte joined the firm in January of 2000, and is the firm's Director of Elder Services. Her goal is to provide families and caregivers with guidance on care options and peace of mind, knowing that the team at Allaire Elder Law is here to help them find the best possible care for their loved one at home or in a facility. Charlotte meets with clients at the law office, at home, or in the institution to assess care needs, determine eligibility for federal and state programs, and offer guidance to help families access their elder care options. In addition, she attends care plan meetings and consults with staff at the institutions to discuss and resolve any care issues that the family or facility has. She works to improve the care that is being provided, counsels clients on questions they should be asking their care team, and helps them understand their care plan and what the facility can realistically provide. Charlotte provides emotional support to clients and their families as the elder moves along the long term care continuum.
Charlotte has been married for over 30 years to her husband Richard. They are proud parents of two daughters, Christina who is an A.P.R.N., she and her husband Matt are proud parents of twin boys. She loves being a Grandmother. Her other daughter, Elizabeth works in Boston at a large engineering firm as a Fire Protection Engineer. Charlotte enjoys golf, skiing, gardening, going to the gym, sewing and spending time with her family. She enjoys volunteering at her church where she teaches Confirmation as well as being a member for the Council at the Terryville Congregational church. She is on the Executive Board at BARC in Bristol as well as the Executive Board for the Life Care Planning Law Firm Association. Charlotte is a graduate of Boston College with a B.A.in Human Development.
Job Titles:
- Executive Committee, Elder Law Section
Daniela joined the firm in 2013 as an Elder Care Coordinator. She is a graduate from The University of Connecticut School of Social Work, and is a Licensed Master Social Worker.
Her role is to assist seniors and their families as they navigate through the maze of the elder care system. Often, when the elder person requires full-time care, the floodgates can open to potential crises requiring immediate action. Daniela serves as a professional advocate to help the family with long term decision making, accessing quality care at home or in a health care facility, and identifying all potential sources of payment for such care. Daniela's goal is to promote good health, safety, and well-being for elders in the least restrictive environment possible.
When not in the office, Daniela enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, gardening and photography. She enjoys taking vacations to the Outer Banks, Cape Cod, Colorado and Italy, where many of her family members live. One of her favorite pastimes is spending time with her nieces Giuliana and Gabriella.
Darlene has 20 years of experience at the firm, both as a Medicaid Paralegal and Medicaid Coordinator. She is responsible for reviewing the plan established by Attorney Allaire and works closely with the Life Care Coordinators to ensure the best possible outcome for the client, based on ever changing care needs. She is responsible for coordinating and assigning the files to the Medicaid Paralegals. In addition to providing support to the Medicaid staff, she also processes Medicaid applications. She collects state-required documentation, reviews and analyzes the information provided, and processes and files the Medicaid applications with the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services. She corresponds with the clients during the intake phase to obtain the necessary documentation, and supports them through the Medicaid application process. Darlene works directly with the State Eligibility Workers on processing requests for information from application through Medicaid approval.
Darlene has been married to her husband for 36 years and has four grown children along with their spouses. Her growing family is her greatest joy, and she is looking forward to becoming a grandmother very soon. She enjoys early morning walks, yoga, long walks on the beach, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, canoeing, reading, home decorating, gardening, cooking, and traveling. She and her husband have visited 38 National Parks and they hope to visit many more.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- Attorney at Law - View Bio
- Attorney at Law / Charlotte
Attorney Halley C. Allaire works with her father advising on elder law and elder care. She is a graduate of Miss Porter's School, Hamilton College, American University Washington College of Law, and the Naval War College.
She served nine years in the U.S. Navy as a JAG Officer, and completed her final tour in support of U.S. Fifth Fleet based out of Bahrain in 2021.
She is active with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Life Care Planning Law Firms Association. Halley also devotes volunteer hours to the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, which oversees the Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center and Indian Rock Nature Preserve, as well as the Main Street Community Foundation, assisting to provide grants to the many programs which benefit residents of the Central Connecticut region, and her high school as a class representative. In her free time, Halley enjoys spending time with her family.
Attorney Halley C. Allaire is a member of the following organizations:
CT NAELA Board Member, incoming Vice President
Main Street Community Foundation, Distribution Committee
CT Bar, Executive Committee, Elder Law Section
LCPLFA Board Member
Environmental Learning Centers of CT, Board Member
Class Representative, Miss Porter's School
Heather Kozikowski brings more than twenty years of experience working with the elderly and their families to the Allaire Elder Law team. Prior to joining the firm Heather worked as a care manager for The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders. During this time she provided needs assessments, coordination of care, and advocacy to Connecticut's "Greatest Generation." Additionally, Heather's experience as an in-home care coordinator has provided local families with guidance and support throughout the long term care continuum. As an Elder Care Coordinator, it is Heather's passion to ensure that our clients receive the best possible care in the least restrictive environment.
Heather is a Bristol resident and has been married for fifteen years to her husband, Ben. Together they have two children, Benjamin and Maggie. Benjamin and Maggie are the light of her life. They keep her on her toes and off and running to various sporting events. During her down time she enjoys spending time with her dogs, Muffin and Baxter. Her most treasured past time is spending time with her extended family at their lakeside cottage in The Berkshires. A blessing provided by her beloved grandparents.
Heather holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Irene is responsible for assisting the client and their family through the complexities of applying for Title XIX benefits, and acts as an advocate for the family with the Department of Social Services. Irene helps the family understand the plan Attorney Allaire has put in place, and provides support to ease the stress of both the client and family.
Irene is the proud parent of two grown daughters. She has two grandchildren, two great grandsons, and a dog, Olivia. Irene enjoys wood carving, gardening, reading, knitting, scrapbooking, cross stitch and baking. She is a member of Saint Stanislaus church, and their Golden Agers group, Aetna 39ers, Tunxis Senior Citizens Association, Farmington Senior Center, the Manchester Red Hat Chapter (The Tea Bags), and the Bristol Lions Club. Irene is an active volunteer at the Bristol Hospital and at the Atria in Farmington.
Irene attended the University of Bridgeport, and Tunxis Community College
Jessica has been with the firm part time since 2011 and joined us full time in 2015. Jessica helps the family understand the plan Attorney Allaire has put in place, and provides support to ease the stress to both the client and family. Jessica assists the client and their family through the complexities of applying for Medicaid benefits, and acts as an advocate for the family with the Department of Social Services by preparing, submitting and seeing the Medicaid application through to granting.
Jessica has been married to her husband, Paul, for 10 years. They have a small dog named Henry. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling with her husband, going to the beach, hockey games, reading, cooking, and camping at their camper in Stafford Springs.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Webmaster for the Town of Bethlehem
Linda is responsible for preparing, submitting and following up on VA Pension with Aid and Attendance applications. She works with clients and their families to obtain the necessary documentation and acts as liaison with the VA, handling all communication for the family. She also coordinates with nursing homes, other care facilities and companies, and physicians to obtain documents required by the VA.
Linda has an M.S.in Communication Arts from Western Connecticut State University, and a B.S. in Music Education from the University of Bridgeport. She is a retired teacher, having taught music, math and computer science over the course of 29 years. She also served as Music Director, organist, and cantor at The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, CT for 27 years. Her husband Gary, another retired teacher, had his own piano tuning and repair business for over 30 years, and served as Music Director at several area churches. He is currently the Music Director at Christ Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, CT. They have two children: a son Matthew who teaches AP Calculus, other AP and college prep math classes, and AP Computer Science at Torrington High school; and a daughter, Jessie, who is CEO of her own software development firm, Platy IT. Linda and Gary also have three grandchildren.
Linda has been the volunteer Webmaster for the Town of Bethlehem, CT since 2005. In her free time she enjoys music, reading, researching her ancestry, and visits with her family.
Lisa joined the Trust Department in December of 2022. Her responsibilities include communicating with clients, banks, and brokerage firms to collect asset information and assist with transfers into the Trusts. She coordinates setting up new bank accounts, maintains financial records, reconciles the Trusts' checking and brokerage accounts, processes checks for our client's bills and distributions to beneficiaries, and produces final accountings for our Trust close-outs.
Lisa is a licensed real estate broker with an extensive background in real estate, property management, insurance, and legal fields. She and her husband Bob have been living life to the fullest for over 25 years. They have four grown children and one grandchild. Lisa enjoys gardening, cooking, and camping with her three dogs, Yogi, BooBoo & Charlie. She has a special interest in antique trucks and is currently, with the help of her husband, restoring her 1940 Plymouth pick-up.
Becca assists the client and family with applying for Medicaid benefits, provides support, and acts as an advocate for the family with the Department of Social Services. She is responsible for preparing, submitting, and following up on Title XIX (Medicaid) applications until they are granted. Becca also helps the family understand the plan Attorney Allaire has put in place.
When not in the office, Becca spends her time with family, cooking, gardening, reading, and camping. In the summer Becca travels to Maine and Massachusetts to enjoy the states' nature trails and to attend renaissance fairs with her friends.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- of Counsel
Attorney Stephen O. Allaire Of Counsel of Allaire Elder Law, LLC, is part of a team of Connecticut lawyers advising on elder law and elder care. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Georgetown University Law Center. He is past co-chairman of the Connecticut Bar Association Elder Law Section's subcommittee on Medicaid, and past Treasurer of the Section. His practice is elder law and elder care, dealing with Medicaid law, Veterans benefits, trust and estate planning and administration, home and asset protection, Medicaid applications and appeals and special needs trusts for those with disabilities.
Attorney Allaire has addressed professional and civic groups on homecare options for families, Medicaid eligibility, and trust and estate planning for the elderly and the disabled. His lectures have been to attorneys, CPAs, social workers, hospital and nursing home discharge planners, homecare providers, and senior organizations, senior fairs, church groups and veterans organizations. Attorney Allaire is a lawyer who believes that a compassionate, comprehensive and creative approach to the needs of elders and their families can result in a life care plan that will enable your loved ones to stay at home as long as possible, receive available government benefits, including Medicaid and Veterans benefits, and protect the home and assets while relieving the stress and anxiety on the family. Attorney Allaire takes pride in developing plans for care that coordinate the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, Medicaid Title 19, and Veterans Administration Benefits.
He is also the proud father of two daughters. Daughter Maura was a Fulbright Scholar from Tufts University who did research for a year in Ghana on sub-Saharan water supply, and who subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Development Economics while advising international banks and governmental organizations on the economics of water security. Daughter Halley majored in English and Social Science at Hamilton College and followed in her father's footsteps by earning a Juris Doctor degree from American University in Washington, DC. She serves as a Navy JAG lawyer, joining the reserves after 5 years active duty. His wife, Mary Connolly, was a special education reading consultant in Plymouth, CT, and for many years served as Chairman of the Bristol, Connecticut Board of Education. She currently devotes volunteer time to the Wheeler Clinic.
He and his family have learned history, culture, and geography by exploring some of planet Earth's most interesting places, such as the Pyramids, Jerusalem, Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Petra in Jordan, Marrakech, Kathmandu, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, the Mayan Temples, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, and the Galapagos Islands. In addition, he and his family have hiked, kayaked, or rafted in many of the major U.S. National Parks from Florida to Alaska. He is an avid golfer.
Tanya started with the Firm in August 2019, in the Trust and Estate Department. She works closely with clients to assist with the probate process from start to finish gathering asset information, preparing documents to be filed with the court, transferring/ selling assets and answering any question pertaining to the estate processes that the client may have. Prior to this, Tanya worked for the Connecticut Probate Courts from 2008 until she joined the Allaire team.
Tanya resides in Terryville with her husband Dan and their two children Dylan and Anna. She also has a fur baby named Nacho. She enjoys exercising, crafting, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys visiting New Hampshire where she has family. She attended Tunxis Community College and is also a licensed cosmetologist.
Teri joined the firm in 2022. She works in the Trust & Probate Department. Teri helps probate clients gather asset information, determines date of death values for these assets, and prepares the probate documents required to complete the estate. She works closely with clients to guide them through the probate process and assist them with the transfer of assets into the estate and the distribution to beneficiaries. She is available to clients for any questions regarding the estate and to support them following the loss of a loved one.
Teri lives in Burlington with her husband Mike and has two adult daughters, Gabrielle and Mia. She has three fur babies; Ollie, Mo, and Murray. She enjoys reading, hiking, spinning, and spending time with her family and fur babies. Teri graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management.
Valerie joined the firm in 2008, with extensive prior experience in real estate, probate, estate planning, and other areas of a general law practice. As our Trust & Estate Coordinator, Valerie manages the firm's probate and trust files from start to finish, assisted by the team of Trust & Estate paralegals. She helps probate clients gather asset information from banks and other financial institutions, analyzes the assets for date of death values, and prepares the probate documents required to complete the estate. Valerie works closely with the executors of estates to assist them with the transfer of assets into the estate and the distribution to beneficiaries. She is available to clients for any questions regarding the estate and to support them following the loss of a loved one. For trust clients Valerie works with Attorney Allaire to determine which assets should be transferred into the trust, and assists the client and the financial institution to facilitate the transfer. Once the trust is in place she tracks income and expenses as well as distributions of the trust. Valerie is responsible for gathering required documents for trust and estate tax returns and coordinates with accountants to ensure that taxes are filed in a timely fashion.
Valerie lives in Bristol with her husband James and their three boys: Joshua, Jonathan and Joey, and their dogs, Rosie and Yoshi. Valerie loves having a house filled with loudness and laughter, and all the chaos and silliness that comes with having three young boys. She enjoys bike rides with her family, going to baseball and hockey games, camping at their camper in Stafford Springs.
Vivian Englund is a Trust and Estates Paralegal with a wealth of experience in Estate Administration, Estate Planning, and various other areas of law. She has been providing her expertise to Allaire since 2023, ensuring that all clients are up-to-date and understand the probate process. As a paralegal, Vivian is responsible for the preparation of documents for the entire Estate Administration process, ensuring that they are crafted with precision, clarity and accuracy. She brings a creative approach in problem- solving and is dedicated to providing excellent legal services that meet standards of professionalism and integrity.
Vivian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Professional Writing from Southern Connecticut State University, and she also earned her Paralegal Certificate from Post University. When she is not working, Vivian enjoys spending her free time hiking the many mountains the Northeast has to offer, reading, relaxing at the beach in Rhode Island or taking yoga classes.