North Shore Elder Law & Estate Planning Announces Stankavish Named to Boston Magazine Top Lawyers List

North Shore Elder Law & Estate Planning announced that its elder law attorney, Michael A. Stankavish, has been named to Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list for 2025 in the Elder Law specialty category. The recognition is based on a peer-nomination process in which lawyers throughout the region recommend colleagues for inclusion, with submissions reviewed by an advisory board.

The designation comes as more Massachusetts families seek guidance navigating long-term care decisions, Medicaid and MassHealth planning, guardianship matters, and the broader complexities of aging-related legal issues. As the population in the state continues to age, elder law attorneys are increasingly called upon to help families plan for incapacity, protection of assets, and to avoid common pitfalls that can arise without proper documentation in place.

Stankavish has practiced elder law and estate planning since 2006, focusing his work on helping clients address issues that often arise during difficult or unexpected life transitions. The firm’s approach centers on guiding clients through legal planning that accounts for both immediate needs and long-term family circumstances, an approach the firm states is reflected in the kind of peer recognition reserved for attorneys with sustained, specialized focus in a single practice area.

Elder law as a practice area has grown more complex in recent years, as families increasingly contend with overlapping legal, medical, and financial considerations. Issues such as long-term care costs, eligibility requirements for public benefits programs, and the legal mechanisms needed to protect a loved one experiencing cognitive decline often require coordination across multiple disciplines.

“Being included on this list reflects the trust placed in our firm by the families we have worked with over the years,” said Michael A. Stankavish, Counsel at North Shore Elder Law & Estate Planning. “Elder law often touches families during some of their most challenging moments, and recognition like this affirms the importance of approaching that work with both legal precision and genuine care.“

The firm noted that demand for elder law attorneys in Massachusetts services has grown alongside the state’s aging demographic trends, with families increasingly seeking proactive planning rather than reactive crisis management. Estate planning, guardianship, and long-term care planning remain among the most commonly requested services, according to the firm, as families look to avoid the legal and financial complications that can follow a sudden health event or cognitive decline.

This shift toward proactive planning has been driven in part by growing public awareness of what can happen when families delay these conversations. Without documents such as healthcare proxies, powers of attorney, or properly structured estate plans in place, families can face court intervention or unintended financial consequences during already difficult circumstances. Elder law attorneys often work to put structures in place well before a crisis occurs, allowing families to make decisions calmly rather than under pressure.

North Shore Elder Law & Estate Planning has built its practice around the philosophy that legal guidance should serve as a source of stability during periods of uncertainty. The firm’s stated mission emphasizes treating each client’s situation individually, recognizing that elder law matters frequently intersect with family dynamics, financial planning, and healthcare decisions simultaneously.

Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list is compiled annually and recognizes attorneys across a range of legal specialties throughout the Greater Boston area. Inclusion on the list is determined through peer nomination rather than self-application, a distinction that the publication notes is intended to reflect reputation within the legal community itself.

North Shore Elder Law & Estate Planning is a Melrose, Massachusetts-based law firm focused on elder law, estate planning, guardianship, and probate matters. The firm works with families throughout the North Shore region on legal planning related to aging, incapacity, and long-term care.

Contact Information:

North Shore Elder Law and Estate Planning

610-A Main St
Melrose, MA 02176
United States

Michae Stankavish
https://nselep.com/