Debra K. Schuster
Top rated Elder Law attorney in Clayton, Missouri
Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C.
Practice areas: Elder Law, Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in Missouri since: 1991
Education: Saint Louis University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2025 Call today:
314-480-3492
Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C.
165 N Meramec AveSuite 110
Clayton, MO 63105 Visit website
Debra K. Schuster is a seasoned attorney focusing on elder law and estate planning at Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C., located in Clayton, Missouri. Her legal prowess extends across Missouri (St. Louis), where she skillfully navigates the complexities of Medicare and Medicaid claims, guardianships, conservatorships and long-term disability appeals. With a career spanning over three decades, she has become synonymous with compassionate and adept legal guidance, especially in the nuanced areas of elder and special needs law.
Educationally, Ms. Schuster’s credentials are impressive. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in physical anthropology from The State University of New York, a master's in health administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. Her deep personal connections to elder care – forged through family experiences with dementia – have profoundly shaped her career, infusing her professional journey with empathy and dedication. This personal journey has not only enhanced her legal acumen but also led her to become an elder and adult mediator, further enriching the support she offers to families navigating similar challenges.
Ms. Schuster's reputation as a compassionate advocate is echoed in the heartfelt testimonials of her clients and peers. Her commitment to her practice is paralleled by her dedication to educating others, often speaking at seminars and contributing scholarly articles that explore ethical issues and practical strategies in elder law. Her unique blend of personal insight and professional proficiency ensures that her clients are not just well-represented, but truly understood and supported.
Beyond the courtroom and client consultations, Ms. Schuster is highly active in the legal community. She holds key positions in prominent legal associations, including ElderLawNet, Inc., and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Her recognition as the “Face of Elder Law” by St. Louis Magazine in 2017 is a testament to her professional excellence and dedicated service. In every facet of her work, she embodies the synergy of judicious legal representation and genuine, impactful advocacy.
Practice areas
Elder Law, Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Wills
- 60% Elder Law
- 40% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 1991, Missouri
Professional Webpage: https://www.pcblawfirm.com/attorneys/debra-k-schuster/
Bar / Professional Activity
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys national and Missouri chapters
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys national and Missouri chapters
- Illinois 1992
- Missouri, 1991
- Missouri End-of-Life Coalition
- State chairperson of Elder Law Answers
- The Life Care Planning Law Firm Association
- The Association of Attorney Mediators
Pro bono / Community Service
- Member of the Planning Committee, Memory Care Home Solutions
- Volunteer lawyer, County Older Residents’ Program
- Providing micro-loans to members of the Beyond Housing community
- Volunteer lawyer, County Older Residents’ Program
- The National Council for Jewish Women’s Healing Hearts Bank
- Member of the Strategic Planning Committee, Covenant Place
- Board Member, St. Louis Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society
- Member of the Patient Services Committee
- Secretary of the Board, VNA of Greater St. Louis
Educational Background
- Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, Master in Health Administration, 1987
- State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, B.A., Physical Anthropology, 1985
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Author of a variety of articles pertaining to incapacity planning, ethical issues when representing elderly clients, eligibility for Medicaid nursing home benefits, long-term care insurance claims and appeals, Life Care Planning and Elder Mediation, including “Mediation- A Holistic, Client-Centered Alternative Approach to End-of-Life Treatment Disputes”, (with co-author, Kim Kirn) Life Care Planning Law Firm Association Newsletter, Spring, 2010
- Frequent speaker at: the Annual St. Louis University Geriatric Symposium, for St. Louis ARC, Maryville; University Masters in Geriatrics Program; UMSL Masters in Geriatric program; Brown School of Social Work at Washington University; Alzheimer’s Association; MS Society
- Adjunct Professor, St. Louis University School of Law, Fall, 2009, Administrative Aspects of Elder Law
- “Long-term Care Insurance: How to Interpret Policies and File Claims and Appeals”, The Elder Law Report, Spring, 2016
- “The Evolving Practice of Elder Law… Life Care Planning” (with co-author, Wesley Coulson), St. Louis Bar Journal, Vol. 56, No. 4, Spring 2010.
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Ms. Schuster is a Partner Member of ElderCareMatters.com, a member of the Life Care Planning Law Firm Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition, the Missouri Association of Attorney Mediators, the Association for Conflict Resolution, and is a Board Member of The Huntington Disease Society of America, St. Louis Chapter and the VNA of Greater St. Louis. She is a Past President of the Breakthrough Coalition, a multi-disciplinary group of senior care providers in the greater St. Louis region. She is the State Coordinator of www.ElderCareMatters.com, Missouri chapter; a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; and the Missouri and Illinois Bar Associations. Ms. Schuster is licensed and practices in Missouri and Illinois. Ms. Schuster’s passion and confidence in Life Care Planning are borne from her family experiences. Her very personal connection to her work and dedication to seniors stems from caring for her grandfather. Additionally, she has experienced many of the challenges faced by her clients in being a caregiver and Attorney-in-Fact for her mother. Ms. Schuster is a volunteer speaker for the Alzheimer’s Association, the St. Louis Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill., The MS Society and various other groups. She has been a Board member for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Past Co-Chair of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’s Elder Law Committee and is a past Board Vice President of Operations for Memory Care Home Solutions. She is a frequent, enthusiastic speaker who provides her time free of charge to a variety of professional and public groups, in that she believes in educating and assisting individuals to self-advocate for their needs.
Honors
- St. Louis Magazine, Finalist, Lawyer of the Year, 2016
Office location for Debra K. Schuster
165 N Meramec Ave
Suite 110
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: 314-480-3492
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2025
