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THE TEAMThe Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C.Ruthann P. Lacey
Ruthann holds the distinction of being one of 7 Certified Elder Law Attorneys in the State of Georgia. Her certification is by the National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association. She currently holds the office of Secretary for the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a charter member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners. There are only 2 attorneys in Georgia that are members of the Council of Advance Practioners and Ruthann is the only one in private practice. In 2006, she became the first Elder Law Attorney in Georgia to be designated a Super Lawyer and she has remained a Super Lawyer every year since that time. Ruthann received an AV® rating through Martindale-Hubbell the authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. An AV® Peer Review Rating is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank her at the highest level of professional excellence.
Ruthann P. Lacey has received an AV® certification mark through Martindale Hubbell, authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. Ruthann is a member of the Special Needs Alliance, a member of the Elder Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and formerly served as chair of the Elder Law Section of the Georgia Bar Association. Ruthann belongs to the DeKalb Estate Planning Council and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and is a member of the NAELA Program and Education Committee. She serves as a Trustee on the board of The Georgia Community Trust and is a member of the Brain Injury Association of Georgia, and the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta. She is also a member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and the American Parkinson's Disease Association. Ruthann has drafted Elder Law legislation for submission to the Georgia General Assembly, and is an editor and published writer. She is an active speaker on the local, state and national level, both to professional and public groups and organizations. She also conducts staff training programs for nursing homes and hospitals, and has been an Instructor of Estates, Trusts and Wills and Legal Research at the National Center for Paralegal Training. Ruthann is devoted to her practice and to her family. She serves with a missions outreach team teaching business classes to small business owners and managers in Chernihiv, Ukraine. She is also is classically trained on the piano, and enjoys music, reading, photography and traveling. Heather Nadler
Heather earned a B.S. in International Business with concentrations in Spanish and Management Information Systems from Auburn University and graduated with honors, Cum Laude. She received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law where she was on the editorial board of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. While in law school she also clerked at the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia for the Honorable Justice Hugh P. Thompson. In 2009, Heather was selected by her peers and Atlanta Magazine as a “Rising Star” in the field of Elder Law. Articles authored by Heather on the topics of Elder Law and Special Needs Law have been published in the Georgia Bar Journal and Atlanta Lawyer Magazine. She is a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and the Atlanta Bar Association. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and before the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia. She is currently on the Board of Directors and is Past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. Heather also served as Secretary of the Georgia Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, was on their steering committee and was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Georgia Chapter. In addition, she serves on the Editorial Board of The Mortmain, the newsletter of the Estate Planning Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. She is a frequent speaker and lecturer to professional and community groups on the topics of Elder Law, Special Needs Law and Estate Planning. She has also served as an instructor for the Emory University Academy for Retired Professionals, the Emory University Center for Lifelong Learning, and as a guest lecturer to law students at John Marshall Law School. Heather is devoted to her practice and to her family. She enjoys spending her personal time at home or traveling with her husband and their two small children. She is also in an ALTA tennis league and enjoys playing on a competitive level. William McCormick
William received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Shorter College and is at the dissertation phase for an MBA/PhD in Philosophy of Management. William's interest in law developed early in life. He lived across the street from the Judge of the Probate Court, and he spent many afternoons at the courthouse watching proceedings and studying Latin with the Judge. Through the years his interest in law endured and prior to joining the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. he was Senior Paralegal and Manager for the Law Firm of William H. Overman, P.C. He has more than 20 year's Paralegal experience. He also has continually managed Elder and Special Needs law firms for over 24 years which makes him one of the few individuals to have ever achieved this distinction. William served in the United States Naval Reserve and was a Petty Office Second Class. He was the Career Counselor and Hospital Corpsman assigned to the 4th MAW MED MAG 41 Air Wing Unit of the United States Marine Corps. He served six years with a full range of duties and received an Honorable Discharge. William is a Georgia native. He enjoys people of all ages, gardening and the beauty of nature. When he isn't at work, you'll find him with his family and loving life on his farm which is designated as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and is located on Georgia's Northern Crescent Bike Route. Marisa Costner
Marisa was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and is a lifelong resident of Tucker. She attended St. Pius X Catholic High School and earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University, which certified her to teach Pre-K through fifth grade. She has also pursued course work towards her Master's in Education. After four years of teaching first grade, Marisa decided to pursue her interest in a career in the legal field which first developed in college when she took an introduction to Criminal Justice class. She was attracted to the legal field by her interest in the way that the law applied to different situations. She researched Paralegal schools and attended Emory University's Paralegal Program and received her Paralegal Certification in 2009. She chose Emory's Paralegal program because it required a Bachelor's Degree to begin the program. Marisa has experienced care-giving in work she has done with elderly people with Parkinson's disease. While student teaching she also worked with students having special needs. Marisa received her certification as a life guard at 17 years old and she still enjoys time at the pool and swimming laps for pleasure. Her competitive nature surfaces while playing trivia games with friends and family and hanging out at Starbucks with friends. Marisa is an accomplished baker and enjoys creating delicious treats. She continues to enjoy bonding time through shopping with her mom which is a tradition first enjoyed with her mom and grandmother. Marisa is devoted to her family and happiest just spending personal time with them. Kevin Lacey
Kevin assists clients and firm members by preparing for client appointments and maintaining accurate records of all paper and electronic system files, as well as managing incoming correspondence for client matters. He aids as a witness in signing appointments and is heavily involved in form design modernization and implementation, thereby supporting the firm's Vision and Mission. Kevin is a sophomore at Georgia Tech, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Minor in Computer Science. He is a National Merit Scholar and is involved in extracurricular activities including Hall Council, Outdoor Recreation, and mobile device application development. Kevin does relax occasionally and then enjoys reading, interactive media, puzzling, skiing, and the company of friends. We appreciate Kevin's recurrent contributions to the firm. |
Ruthann Lacey is licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of Trinity College and Emory University School of Law. 
Heather Nadler is one of 7 attorneys in the State of Georgia to be Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as accredited by the American Bar Association. She has practiced law for 10 years and is Senior Associate Attorney with the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of Special Needs Law, Elder Law and Estate Planning.
William McCormick is the Practice Manager for the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. Together with the firm's attorneys and staff, William is charged with advancing the firm's “Vision and Mission” in providing superior legal services to our clients. His duties as Practice Manager include: oversight and management of essential systems, such as information systems; corporate and client records; accounting and bookkeeping; policies and procedures; career development for attorneys and staff; marketing; general financial; staffing; and general client matter oversight.
Marisa Costner is the Paralegal for Heather Nadler in the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. where she is responsible for: drafting legal documents including, Powers of Attorney, Last Will and Testament, Deed, Trust, Guardianship and Conservatorship petitions; drafting documents for Probate and Estate administration and assisting clients appointed as executor, administrator, or trustee; drafting and processing notices and client and court letters; filing paperwork with the court and following-up with client and courts; meeting with clients and other professionals; and recording deeds and memos of trust and following up with the court and client to ensure that documents are properly recorded and originals returned to client. She performs her duties while maintaining complete confidentially for all client matters and supporting the firm's “Vision and Mission.”
Kevin Lacey has the primary responsibility for the digitization of all office documents, maintaining complete confidentiality of all client matters while interacting with the client files archive and performing electronic processing.