Our response to Coronavirus - How we're supporting our community.       |       Learn more >

The 4 Step Process to Securing Your Legacy

1. Attend a
Workshop

Register Today! Held Weekly.
SELECT A DATE

2. Meet with
an Attorney

Get to Know Us, Before You Decide.
MEET OUR TEAM

3. Execute Your
New Estate Plan

Zero In on Your Security
SEE OUR PLANS

4. Enjoy a
Peace of Mind

Hear What Others Are Saying
READ REVIEWS

Step 2. Meet an Attorney

Britt Stouffer

Owner, Managing Partner

Britt Stouffer is a dynamic and energetic attorney who has dedicated her career to advancing the field of Estate Planning and Elder Law. She is a staunch advocate for the protection and privacy of her clients and has made great advances in Maryland with the Stouffer Legal NFA Trust and Family Gun Trusts. These wealth preservation and privacy strategies, previously only available to the wealthy and well connected, are now tailored to protect all firearm owners and their families. She has also pioneered the Maryland Asset Protection Trust designed for protection from the growing costs of nursing homes and unexpected predators, rather than the effectively non-existent estate tax. In addition to being licensed to practice law in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Britt has her Masters in Taxation (LLM) from the University of Maryland.

In less than a decade, Britt has grown Stouffer Legal to be the premier provider of Estate Planning and Elder Law services in Maryland. Her firm is built on a strong pillar of constant research and development in the field and has grown from her great compassion for the clients she serves. Stouffer Legal is an “education-first” firm with up front fixed fees and no cost consultations. This ensures that the client is comfortable and well educated before choosing their Attorney, and they are never billed for asking questions or raising concerns.

Apart from saving the world from sub-par estate plans, Britt loves to travel, design clothes, watch British Period Dramas, and meet other motivated individuals. Although her family is from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, she was born on base in Louisiana and raised in a Military family. Among other places, she has lived in Fort Meade and attended school at the University of Loyola and University of Baltimore School of Law.

Britt has been a guest speaker for the Maryland State Bar Association Estate and Trust Committee as well the Maryland Conference of Orphans Court Judges. Her extensive knowledge of firearms has made her an expert witness and supplemental counselor to cases involving firearms and other federally regulated personal property.

Wilson McManus

Principal Attorney

Wilson is an insightful attorney who has been the on the forefront of Modern Estate Planning Techniques and the use of Trusts for clients across Baltimore County since the early 1990s. He has been a practicing attorney in Towson, Maryland since 1986 and has made trusts accessible for more than just the wealthiest Baltimoreans. He believes that everyone should have a right to privacy and a peaceful transition in life to the next generation.

Wilson dedicates his time to the research and development of Estate Planning and Elder Law strategies and techniques to ensure that every client has all available options provided to them by the laws of Maryland and the United States in order to protect their families. He is also an engaging educator speaking multiple times a week to help families understand their options and how to accomplish their goals. Wilson has helped numerous families obtain judicial modifications and termination of trusts that were outdated or had not been kept current with the families’ desires, and he continues to innovate and improve core documents such as the Maryland’s Statutory Power of Attorney.

Recently, Wilson has given presentations teaching people how to transition from being a caregiver of a parent back to being their family member again. He lets everyone know that there is always a legal path to affording the Nursing Home Care their family needs.

Melissa Paddy

Partner

Melissa Paddy was born and raised in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She is a graduate of Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland and went on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Legal Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Melissa earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law and was admitted to the Maryland Bar.

Prior to joining Stouffer Legal, Melissa spent eight years working in the field of personal injury for firms in the Baltimore area. She juggled high volumes of personal injury claims on behalf of injured individuals. Melissa dedicated herself to zealously representing persons injured in automobile accidents, premises liability, workers’ compensation and social security disability matters to ensure that they received adequate compensation for the injuries caused by the negligence of others.

Her passionate defense of family rights then transitioned to the study of Estate Planning and Elder Law where she works to preemptively protect client privacy and assets before an issue arises. Melissa enjoys guiding clients and their families through the estate planning process to protect their wealth and legacy for future generations.

Melissa’s interest in and knowledge of Maryland and federal firearms laws translates drives her to support clients in the establishment of NFA and Family Gun Trusts, affording them the opportunity to protect and preserve treasured firearms for future generations. She also provides guidance to families in lawfully transferring firearms after a loved one’s passing.

Melissa is a member of Baltimore County Game & Fish Protective Association where she leads the committee tasked with planning their Annual Children’s Fish Rodeo.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys the outdoors and Crossfit training. She has three adorable dogs and is happy to show pictures of them upon request.

Alex Housley

Senior Attorney

Alex was born and raised in Anne Arundel County. He went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science at Towson University before earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and being admitted to the Maryland Bar.

Prior to joining Stouffer Legal, Alex worked at a firm handling civil litigation for real estate disputes and transactions. In his former role, Alex passionately advocated for, and negotiated on behalf of his clients both in and out of the courtroom. Alex’s knowledge and expertise in real estate makes him a great asset to the Stouffer Legal team.

Alex has seen firsthand the impact that poor estate planning can have on families and has made it his mission to ensure that clients and their families can learn from his experiences. Since joining Stouffer Legal, Alex has concentrated his efforts on helping families protect their assets, and establishing comprehensive estate plans.

In his free time, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids and cheering on the Ravens and Orioles.

Jake Polivka

Associate Attorney

Jake is a hardworking attorney who enjoys problem solving and helping clients ensure that their estate is set up exactly as intended. He was raised in Owings Mills, MD before attending the University of Maryland College Park for his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in French. After taking a year as a ski instructor in the Rocky Mountains, he came back to Baltimore to get his Juris Doctor at the University of Maryland School of Law. He became licensed to practice law in 2018.

Before Stouffer Legal, Jake practiced in the mass tort and personal injury fields where he assisted hundreds of clients in obtaining awards from injuries caused by harmful medical devices and drugs. He has always been client-focused, and those interactions are his favorite part of his job. Though he began his career elsewhere, he has wanted to practice Estates and Trusts since law school, so he could not be more excited to be a part of Stouffer Legal’s dynamic team.

In his free time, Jake likes to play music and crush in pub trivia. See if you can stump him with a movie question!

Victor Lembo

Attorney

Victor became interested in estates and trusts while helping his grandparents plan for their medical and financial needs. He graduated summa cum laude from Towson University with his Bachelor of Science degree and received his Juris Doctor with a Concentration in Estate Planning from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He is admitted to the Court of Appeals of Maryland and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

After graduating law school, Victor worked as a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and at a large Baltimore law firm where he served as a Managing Attorney supervising the daily operations of a legal services program. Prior to joining Stouffer Legal, Victor worked in Annapolis to provide families with peace of mind after a loved one passed away as he settled hundreds of estates. Currently, he focuses his practice on estate planning, trust administration, probate and elder law. Victor manages the Estate Administration Department and is committed to delivering exceptional legal service that is comprehensive and compassionate. He enjoys getting to know his clients, explaining matters in easy-to-understand terms, and working together to assemble the estate puzzle.

Victor was born in Washington, D.C. and currently lives in Millersville with his wife, daughter and son. In his free time, Victor enjoys spending time with his family, relaxing at the Outer Banks, and cheering for the Ravens and Capitals.

Holly Leasure

Associate Attorney

Holly was born and raised in the Baltimore area. Currently, she resides in Eastern Baltimore County.  In 2008, Holly graduated from Stevenson University with a bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies. She served as a litigation paralegal prior to attending University of Maryland School of Law where she earned her law degree in 2016.

Prior to joining Stouffer Legal, Holly represented clients in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation.  Holly’s experience in the adversarial process of litigation, in addition to experiencing turmoil in her own family that resulted from the failure to create an estate plan led her to dedicate her practice to educating and assisting clients to develop estate plans to meet their needs, preserve their wealth and prevent fighting within their families.

Holly also enjoys baking, cooking, running, spending time with her pets (an Alaskan Malamute named Kira and a cat named Luna) and traveling.

Colin Dolan

Associate Attorney

Colin is originally from Westchester, New York, and is only child to two parents in the legal field. Instilled with a passion for law, he wanted to be an attorney for as long as he can remember. Colin made the move from New York to Baltimore to attend Towson University in 2012. After graduating from Towson University with a major in Criminal Justice, Colin joined Stouffer Legal in 2016 as a legal assistant. After two years with the firm, he decided to pursue his legal career at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Colin was admitted to practice law in the state of Maryland in November of 2022.

Colin enjoys his life as an attorney when he’s helping clients through Probate and the Trust Administration process. Colin recognizes the importance of planning, as it gives individuals and their family members peace of mind. He also enjoys working with his knowledge of Firearms Law, which includes Concealed Carry Permits and Gun Trusts.

When he’s not working hard in the office, Colin is working hard to improve his golf game. You can also find him in the kitchen cooking up some of his favorite dishes, including a delicious Osso Buco.

Kaitlyn Tauber

Associate Attorney

Kaitlyn Tauber joined Stouffer Legal in 2022, coming from a background focused in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law.

When her grandfather suffered from a severe stroke that caused him to develop dementia, Kaitlyn Tauber learned firsthand about the challenges families face with their failing loved ones in the areas of personal care, medical needs, the cost of nursing homes, financial protection, and the overall importance of proper estate planning.

“Estate planning is one of the most professionally satisfying areas of law,” says Tauber. “When done properly, it can give clients an enormous sense of peace of mind that allows them to sleep well at night knowing that they and their loved ones are taken care of.”

As an Estate Planning attorney, Kaitlyn has a wealth of experience assisting families of all types with a variety of legal issues, such as counseling clients on Medicaid and the asset protection planning process.

Kaitlyn is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is an accomplished attorney who is licensed in Maryland state and federal courts.

We can't wait to see you!
Today is the right day to take your first step. Click below to register for our next free workshop and learn what everyone is talking about.

Attending our next free Workshops is the best way to
Get Started on your New Estate Plan!
REGISTER FOR a WORKSHOP