Samuel V. Butcher, Esq., RPh, CELA

Samuel V. Butcher is a Certified Elder Law Attorney serving Northeast Ohio. Having grown up in the area, Sam is familiar with the needs of the community. Sam started his lifelong service to the public through his work as a registered pharmacist. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University and continues to keep his pharmacy credential active with the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. He has extensive knowledge of medical illnesses, conditions, and diseases, as well as, prescription and non-prescription medications. Sam, while practicing pharmacy, was further motivated to study law at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law of Cleveland State University, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. He was subsequently admitted to the bar in Ohio, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Sam began his legal career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He further developed his legal skills as a staff attorney with the house counsel office of the Allstate Insurance Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Stewart and DeChant Co., L.P.A. then sought Sam's medical and legal expertise in a civil litigation practice focused on medical negligence, wrongful death, and personal injury. During his tenure with Stewart and DeChant, first as an associate and then as a partner and shareholder, Sam became intimately familiar with the needs and concerns of the firm's many clients. Those concerns included, most notably, the effect on families touched by the injury, disability, or decline in health of a loved one. He saw firsthand that people were concerned and anxious about what would happen to their life savings as the result of a medical event. Sam saw a need and began to expand his practice to include elder and disability law. Ultimately, he found this work to be so rewarding that in September of 2011 he made the decision to completely devote himself to the exclusive practice of elder and special needs law and estate planning and founded Butcher Elder Law.

Sam's experience, professionalism and expertise led him to become a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the Nation Elder Law Foundation, which is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to certify practitioners of elder and special needs law.

Sam also has a personal connection to this area of the law. Sam's mother suffered a decline in health from Alzheimer's dementia over several years prior to her death. Thus, Sam is acutely aware of the role of the caregiver and the responsibilities that accompany the role. He understands what your family is experiencing.

Sam's passion for elder law, special needs, and estate planning is further demonstrated by his commitment to further study that enables him to remain current with the law in this specialty area. He stays well informed through a number of professional organizations of which he is a member including, most notably, Lawyers with Purpose, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association for Justice, and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Sam often attends various seminars, workshops, and practice enhancement retreats on a local and national level to maintain his legal education. He is often asked to write articles and speak to professionals, as well as community groups on various topics within the specialty areas of elder law, estate planning, and special needs.

Sam's area of practice includes comprehensive estate planning, trusts, wills, asset protection, Medicaid pre-planning and crisis planning for long-term care, Medicaid qualification and applications , planning for Veterans benefits, special needs planning, business succession planning, guardianships, probate, and trust administration. Sam is certified by the Veterans Administration to assist clients in obtaining Veterans Pension benefits including the VA Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance. This benefit can help wartime veterans and the spouses of deceased wartime veterans pay for caregivers in their own homes and, when necessary, contribute towards the high cost of long-term care.

The distinguishing feature of Sam's practice is an education process that simplifies the complexity of these areas and enables clients to make informed estate planning choices based on their values. The professionals at Butcher Elder Law guide clients through the creation and design of estate plans by providing recommendations in a non-intimidating fashion. Each client is engaged in the process and is always the final decision-maker.

Sam Butcher is an experienced elder law attorney with his own growing and expanding law firm. He is understanding and compassionate. He takes time with his clients to ensure they feel comfortable and understand this complex area of law.