M. Brigid Fernandez
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Elder Law Attorney in St. Louis, MO
Selected to Rising Stars: 2015 - 2016
- Virtual Appointments
M. Brigid Fernandez is both an attorney and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Practicing through her firm, Fernandez Elder Law LLC, based in St. Louis, Missouri, she focuses on cases involving elder law, estate planning, probate and trust administration, special needs planning, guardianships, and long-term care for clients of all ages throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Before earning her law degree, Brigid obtained a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree of Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she maintains those credentials because she realizes long-term care planning requires more than just a knowledge of the law. It is her unique combination of education and experience that makes her a strong and effective advocate for her clients.
Brigid worked in the areas of home health care, adult day services and worked for nearly twenty years at a major medical center in St. Louis. Her social work experiences compelled her to pursue a law degree to continue her advocacy with older adults and persons with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Her knowledge of the area healthcare systems is invaluable in helping clients and their families navigate the healthcare and long-term care mazes.
Ms. Fernandez is admitted to practice law in Missouri and is qualified as a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She has also been accredited as an attorney by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A past president of both the VOYCE Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Missouri chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, she has also served as a board member for the St. Louis chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America and the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association. In addition, she maintains memberships in a variety of other professional organizations, including The Missouri Bar, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the National Association of Social Workers, and Social Work Leaders in Health Care of Metro St. Louis, Inc. Highly regarded by her fellow professionals, Ms. Fernandez has received a 10.0 "Superb" peer review rating through Avvo.
- 50%Elder Law
- 50%Estate Planning & Probate
Guardianships & Conservatorships, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Wills
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2021
- Rising Stars: 2015 - 2016
Certificates and Credentials
Additional Sources of Information About M. Brigid Fernandez
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About M. Brigid Fernandez
First Admitted: 2006, Missouri
Professional Webpage: http://www.fernandezelderlaw.com/brigid-fernandez.html
Educational Background
- M.S.W. - University of Missouri - Columbia, 1986
- B.S.W. University of Missouri - Columbia, 1985
- Juris Doctor, Saint Louis University School of Law, 2006
Other Outstanding Achievements
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys - Missouri Chapter, Outstanding Member, 2014
- Avvo Rating 10.0 - Top Attorney Elder Law
- Mission Champion - Memory Care Home Solutions , 2019
Pro bono/Community Service
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2015
- Provided educational webinars for Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH), 2020
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2010
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2012
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2013
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2018
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2011
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2017
- Organized local attorneys in Greater St. Louis area for National Healthcare Decisions Day - pro bono, 2016
- Coordinated area attorneys in the Greater St. Louis Area to volunteer for National Healthcare Decisions Day, 2014
Honors/Awards
- Memory Care Home Solutions is a St. Louis non- profit organization with a mission to extend and improve quality time at home for families supporting and caring for loved ones with memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. , Mission Champion, Memory Care Home Solutions, St. Louis, Missouri, 2019
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2015
- Named Super Lawyer in Elder Law, Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2019
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016
- Academic Excellence in Legal Ethics, Academic Excellence Award, Saint Louis University School of Law, 2016
- One of the Top Estate Planning Attorneys for 2018. Named by St. Louis Small Business Monthly as an attorney who has proven her dedication to the success of small businesses in St. Louis., Top Estate Planning Attorney, St. Louis Small Business Monthly, 2018
- Recognition for her community service., David Grant Student Attorney Award, Saint Louis University School of Law, 2006
Special Licenses/Certifications
- Recertification - Certified Elder Law Attorney* *As certified by the National Elder Law Foundation, 2019
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of Missouri, 1991
- Certified Civil Mediator, 2006
- Veterans Administration Accredited Attorney, 2009
- CELA - Certified Elder Law Attorney, 2014
Bar/Professional Activity
- Member, The Missouri Bar COVID 19 Task Force, 2021
- Member, The Missouri Bar COVID 19 Task Force, 2020
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2021
- The Missouri Bar Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2021
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Missouri Chapter, 2021
- Member, National Elder Law Foundation, 2021
- Member, The Missouri Bar, 2021
- Member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), 2021
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, Missouri Chapter, 2021
- Member, Social Work Leaders in Health Care in Metro St. Louis, 2021
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, 2020
- Member, Social Work Leaders in Healthcare of Metro St. Louis, 2020
- Member, The Missouri Bar Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2020
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, Missouri Chapter, 2021
- Member, The Missouri Bar, 2020
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directives, 2018
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, 2021
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directives, 2019
- Co-Chairperson, Legislative Committee, Society for Social Work Leaders of Metro St. Louis, 2019
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Missouri Chapter, 2020
- Co-chairperson, Legislative Committee, Society for Social Work Leaders in Healthcare of Metro St. Louis, 2018
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directive Subcommittee, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2017
- Member, Social Work Leaders in Healthcare of Metro St. Louis, 2019
- Member, National Elder Law Foundation, 2019
- Member, The Missouri Bar, 2019
- Member, The Missouri Bar, Probate, Trust and Elder Law Committee, 2019
- Member, National Association of Social Workers - Missouri Chapter, 2019
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, 2019
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, Missouri Chapter, 2017
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, Missouri Chapter, 2018
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directive Subcommittee, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2018
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directive Subcommittee, University of Missouri, Columbia , 2016
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directive Subcommittee, university of Missouri, Columbia, 2013-present, 2015
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directive Subcommittee, university of Missouri, Columbia, 2013-present, 2014
- Member, Missouri Quality Improvement multidisciplinary Committee, Advance Directive Subcommittee, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2013
- Co-Chairperson, Legislative Committee, Society for Social Work Leaders in Healthcare , 2017
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, 2017
- Chairperson - Life Care Planning Law Firms Association - Annual Conference, 2014
- Board Member, Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, 2014
- Member, Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, 2013
- Member, Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, 2015
- Member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 2018
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2015
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Elder Law Committee, 2013
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Probate & Trust Committee, 2013
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2014
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2016
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2017
- Member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 2017
- Outstanding Chapter Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Missouri Chapter, 2014
- President, Board of Directors, Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (VOYCE), 2012
- Member, The Missouri Bar - Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2018
- Member, The Missouri Bar, Elder Law Committee Member, The Missouri Bar, Probate, Trust & Elder Law Committee, 2006
- Board Member, Huntington's Disease Society - St. Louis Chapter, 2012
- Former Board Member, Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, 2016
- Member, Social Work Leaders in Healthcare in Metro St. Louis, 2017
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2009
- Past President, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Missouri Chapter, 2015
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, 2018
Last Updated: 5/15/2022