Meet our attorneys & staff
The Attorneys
Barbara W. Reynolds, Esq.
Certified Elder Law Attorney
Elder Law Attorney Barbara W. Reynolds assists clients in achieving financial and family goals while minimizing taxes and/or qualifying for Medicaid assistance. Attorney Reynolds, the founder of the Elder Law and Estate Planning firm Barbara W. Reynolds, LLC, located at 15 South Main Street, New Milford, Connecticut, has been selected as a Connecticut Super Lawyer as featured in Connecticut Magazine since 2007.
Attorney Reynolds is the only Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) in Litchfield County, a certification awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation, the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer certification in Elder Law (but not yet recognized by the Rules Committee of the Connecticut Superior Court). To become a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), an attorney must have been in practice at least five years and, in the three years prior to application, had to have spent at least 16 hours per week practicing elder law. The initial application requires at least 45 hours of continuing legal education in elder law. A rigorous written examination covering more than 25 areas of law —which only 60 percent of lawyers pass—is administered. Furthermore, she must be in good standing with her State Bar Association, be recommended by her peers and demonstrate significant prior experience in successfully handling a number of Elder Law sub-specialty issues. A Certified Elder Law Attorney must re-certify every five years.
Attorney Reynolds is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Elder Law and Estate and Probate sections of the Connecticut Bar Association, as well as the New Milford and Litchfield County Bar Associations. Having published many articles in state and local publications on Elder Law and estate planning, Attorney Reynolds is a frequent guest speaker for various professional and senior groups throughout the state.
Formerly an English teacher in the New Milford and Newtown schools, Attorney Reynolds received a Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1993, where she won the American Jurisprudence Awards for excellence in Constitutional Law and Trial Practice. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio and her Master of Arts degree from New York University in English. She also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in educational administration from Fairfield University.
Barbara lives in Warren, Connecticut with her husband, Craig, golden retriever, Freddy, and cat, Cairo. She currently serves as a Justice of the Peace and formerly chaired the Board of Tax Review. Her daughter Katherine and grandson Jake live in Fairfax, Virginia and her son Parker lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Email: bwr@barbarareynoldslaw.com
Maria Scotti-Laifer
Associate Attorney
Maria Scotti-Laifer is the newest member of our firm. Prior to returning to Connecticut, Maria worked as a Law Guardian in the State of New York. She received a Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1993. She obtained her Master in Science degree in Biobehavioral Sciences from the University of Connecticut at Storrs and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Trinity College in Hartford.
Maria lives with her family in New Preston, Connecticut.
Email: maria@barbarareynoldslaw.com
Our Support
We feel we are blessed with an incredible staff who have years of experience and expertise, together with cordial, helpful demeanors. A key part of the success of our law firm is attributed to these talented individuals.
Sue Fredlund
Sue is our business and office manager who manages the accounting and finances of our firm including general ledger, billing, accounts payable, receivables, marketing, and advertising. Additionally she ensures that all the necessary equipment and support is in place to allow the office to function smoothly and efficiently. An experienced corporate/commercial and real estate paralegal, Sue also oversees real estate transactions.
Sue earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree magna cum laude in Finance from Western Connecticut State University and holds a comprehensive certificate in paralegal studies from Fairfield University. Horse racing, cooking, skiing, photography, and motorcycling are among her many interests.
Email: bsf@barbarareynoldslaw.com
Debbie Chianese
Debbie Chianese is our legal assistant who prepares all Medicaid applications and works closely with family members, guiding them through the intricacies of the Medicaid application process and ensuring that all State deadlines are met. Debbie previously worked for the Department of Social Services for many years, and has excellent knowledge of the State of Connecticut Title 19 regulations.
Debbie earned her B.A. in Psychology from Merrimack College. She is the proud mother of two sons, Anthony, Jr., who recently received his doctorate in chemistry from Yale University, and James, a recent graduate from SCSU. Debbie enjoys reading and taking camping trips with her husband Tony and their two golden retrievers, Otis and Elwood.
Email: dc@barbarareynoldslaw.com
Marlene Kirchner
Marlene is our Probate and Real Estate paralegal responsible for ensuring Probate and Real Estate matters are executed in a professional, timely and efficient manner. Marlene has many years of experience working in the legal field and is highly skilled in handling all aspects of Estate settlement and Probate matters, as well as Real Estate sales, purchases and refinances. Marlene enjoys the direct client contact her position entails; she is also a Notary Public.
Marlene attended Central Connecticut State University and has a Paralegal Certificate from Branford Hall Career Institute. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, hiking, cooking and spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Email: mk@barbarareynoldslaw.com
Linda D. O'Connell
Linda is a legal assistant who greets everyone, schedules appointments, prepares documents and acts as a witness when documents are signed, and answers general questions. Linda prepares correspondence, files documents, keeps track of all staff members' whereabouts and maintains the calendar.
Linda holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, with minors in Psychology and English Literature. Previously she taught the 4th –8th grade program for the Gifted and Talented at Sharon Center School, and also ran the office for her family-owned swimming pool business. Linda has a daughter Jaclyn, who is a trained special education teacher and the mother of twin daughters, and a son Daniel, who is an engineer for DeWalt in Maryland. In her free time, Linda enjoys decorating and gardening.
Email: ldo@barbarareynoldslaw.com
Beth Kennedy
Beth offers assistance and support to everyone in our office. She maintains Power of Attorney files, assists with Conservatorships and Medicaid applications and Newsletter mailings. She reviews documents and supports the staff with photocopying, filing, witnessing, notarizing and answering the phone.
Beth has a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from Mercer Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. She retired from pharmacy to raise her three children. Her daughter, Jennifer is now married and a practicing Physician Assistant. Her son, Christopher graduated from West Point in 2006 and will pursue his MBA at Yale in the fall of 2011. Her youngest son, Sean is pursuing a degree in nursing.
Beth and her husband, Jim enjoy family get-togethers, traveling, movies, long walks, cooking and family pets.
Email: bak@barbarareynoldslaw.com