Estate Planning

It has always been my dream to be an attorney and help families. Graduating in the top ten of my high school class, I studied my first two years at Quinebaug Valley Community College. Then I earned a Bachelors degree from Eastern Connecticut State University with a dual major in Psychology and Political Science. After spending a few years in the real world, I attended Roger Williams School of Law in Bristol Rhode Island. In my first year of law school, I married my “hometown-hunnie” Josh, who was incredibly supportive of my dreams, and crazy study schedule. My law school internships included the Department of Labor and Training Legal Department, the Rhode Island Mediation Department, a small Connecticut law firm, and a Providence firm focusing on Wills. I also spent two years on the Moot Court, served on the Executive Moot Court Board, scored highly in a competition in New Orleans. I am a successful mediator, licensed attorney in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and member of the Windham Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association and Rhode Island Bar Association. Now it is time to take all that I have learned over the last decade and hang my own shingle. While focusing on estate planning, wills, probate, divorces, and family modifications, it is my goal to grow to a firm that can help you with all the needs of your family.

What makes Dustin and his firm different is the deep emotional connection he builds with each client and the time he takes to get to know their trials, troubles, and tribulations. Dustin L. Compton, Founder and Managing Partner, has obtained Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating of AV® Preeminent™, an indication that his peers and judges rank him at the highest levels of professional excellence. Dustin has handled major litigation cases involving serious injuries, death, class actions, insurance disputes, estate litigation, serious crimes, serious divorce and custody disputes, complex criminal defense matters, and injured children. Dustin has received AVVO's "Client's Choice" honor and Martindale-Hubbell's Client Distinction Award. Dustin has taken on and won against the largest corporations and insurance companies in the United States. Most of Dustin's clients actually become life-long friends because he gives each client specific attention and believes that a key to his success is placing himself in his client's shoes by learning and understanding their unique and specific situation. Read some of their testimonials here. This standard also allows Compton Law to better understand your business and personal life so that we can help to come up with the best solutions for your goals. Dustin has had the opportunity to work for and with some of the finest and most respected attorneys in the United States, he has previously worked with others on some of the largest class action cases. He has tried multiple cases to a Jury verdicts, guided and counseled many small businesses, and focuses on building valuable, long-term relationships. The play-maker you need: Aggressive, motivated, and driven. I am very fortunate to be working a career that I love every day. I love the ability to help people succeed and what truly drives me is the ability to make a significant and positive impact in people's lives. I'm different in that I go out of my way to understand you, your current situation, your troubles, and tribulations. I want to get to know and understand your pain and pressure points so best help. Dustin's results speak for his hard work and the time he takes on each case. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (winning or settling a case for $1,000,000 or more) Super lawyer rising star 2013-2019, National Trial Lawyer Top 40 under 40, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 National Trial Lawyer Top 100, and has achieved other case results seen here. When Dustin is not working hard for his clients he enjoys spending time with his wife, Carrie, and ten-year-old daughter, Addysen.

Solution-focused Attorney and Accountant with a comprehensive background in Tax, Real Estate, Negligence, General Civil, Criminal and Strategic Planning. Ability to manage multiple projects while working under pressure in fast-paced environments. Effectively defines and implements targeted action and litigation plans to maximize outcome. Highly versatile; adept quickly to mastering new roles and responsibilities. Reputation for perseverance and tenacious work ethic. Pursues opportunities to learn and take on challenges for further professional development and growth.

John K. Carter has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, which includes working for a law firm (Skadden Arps), a federal regulator (SEC), and leading companies (Franklin Templeton, Citigroup, and Transamerica). With this wealth of experience, John helps clients, big or small, to resolve their legal issues. John provides consulting to companies on a host of issues, including acquisitions, outsourcing, vendor selection, systems integration, governance issues, industry trends, and product development. John also serves as an independent director of a growing mutual fund complex. Previously, John served as Chairman, President, and CEO of a $50 billion asset management company consisting of approximately 120 funds and 35 investment sub-advisers. John served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer prior to being promoted to the helm of the asset management company. John graduated with a B.S. in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce of the University of Virginia, where he concentrated in Finance. He received a law degree from the University Of Virginia School Of Law, where he was a member of the Managing Board of the Virginia Tax Review. He is currently a member of the Florida Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Virginia State Bar. John currently is obtaining a Master of Theology from Saint Leo University, Dade City, Florida.

Christopher E. Sawin is Founder and Principle Attorney of Sawin Law, P.C., where he concentrates his practice in family law, probate, estate planning, and veterans’ law. His practice includes the representation of individuals in some of the most difficult of life’s transitions, including divorce, paternity actions, modification of agreement and judgements, custody disputes, prenuptial agreements, enforcement proceedings, restraining orders, estate disputes, discharge upgrades, and military disability appeals. To serve clients with the upmost quality representation, Mr. Sawin draws upon his experience, training, and education to reach the best possible result for every client. His analytical approach and hard-earned reputation for integrity and discretion ensures quality results, keeping the client’s best interest at the forefront of his practice. Mr. Sawin believes that zealous advocacy combines an understanding of the law with a creative use of intellect, negotiation, reasoned decision-making, and effective implementation of experts. Previously, Mr. Sawin was a law clerk to Chief Justice John D. Casey of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and also represented indigent families through his participation of the Suffolk Family Advocacy Clinic in a variety of issues in the Greater Boston area. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Sawin served in the United States Marine Corps where he deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and aboard the USS Iwo Jima with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He currently volunteers a portion of his legal services to indigent military veterans and their families with the unique legal challenges they face before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and with state law issues.

Conveniently located mid-Long Island, in Old Bethpage, Akiva Shapiro, Esq. wants to be your personal attorney. Akiva has a wide array of legal and business experience covering areas of personal law, business law, and estate law. He has more than three decades of business operations & development experience. In addition to his law degree, Akiva holds an MBA from Duke University and is the author of a book about Electronic Discovery in New York State and Federal litigation. Akiva has practiced successfully in a diverse range of legal fields – helping clients handle personal and business litigation needs, protect their assets (from business and personal liability, adverse tax consequences, Medicaid spend down and claw back, and unforeseen divorces), file probate matters, litigate probate claims, negotiate leases and contracts, litigate landlord/tenant matters, prosecute lemon law claims, grieve their property taxes, and handle pre- and post-nuptial agreements and divorce matters, to name a few.

A native of Angleton, Texas in Brazoria County, Jeff Gilbert is a 6th generation Texan with deep roots to his community. Graduating from Angleton High School in 1978, Mr. Gilbert attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he was involved in the leadership of many campus service and social organizations. Upon completion of his business degree (BBA) in 1982, Mr. Gilbert returned to Brazoria County going to work for the First Freeport National Bank in Freeport, Texas. Mr. Gilbert later returned to Baylor where he enrolled in the graduate school of business obtaining his degree (MBA) while working as the night manager of the Baylor Student Union. Upon graduation, Mr. Gilbert began a career in banking and corporate investments before entering South Texas College of Law at the age of 27. While in law school, Jeff participated in many intramural moot court and mock trial competitions. Interestingly and of note, Jeff tried and won his first jury trial while in law school serving as an intern with the Harris County District Attorney's office before receiving his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in December 1989. Mr. Gilbert then accepted a position in the Trial Bureau of the Harris County District Attorney's office in Houston, Texas where he tried multiple jury and non-jury cases as a juvenile, misdemeanor and then felony prosecutor. In 1993, Mr. Gilbert left the District Attorney's office to join a prestigious Houston based civil litigation firm. Since that time, his practice has concentrated on litigation, including medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and toxic tort litigation with firms in Houston, Angleton and Dallas, Texas. In January 2006, Mr. Gilbert began a Brazoria County based practice and formed Jeffrey R. Gilbert, P.C. Mr. Gilbert is a member of The State Bar of Texas (Section Memberships include: Criminal Law, Family Law, Juvenile Law), The Brazoria County Bar Association (Past President 2008-2009), The Houston Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, The College of the State Bar of Texas and is a Fellow of the Trial Advocacy Institute of the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. He is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of Texas and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Mr. Gilbert remains a Trial Attorney. His practice focuses on criminal, family and general litigation. Mr. Gilbert was honored to serve two terms (1996 through 1998) as a special judge of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law. This appointment was made by the 15 county criminal court at law judges of Harris County. Mr. Gilbert presided over hundreds of case dispositions and numerous trials in this position. Active in his community, Mr. Gilbert currently serves on the City of Lake Jackson Planning Commission, as a Board Member and Preseident-elect of the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra Council, as a three-term President of the Brazoswood Buccaneer Band Booster Club (2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011), he is a past president and former board member of the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club, and has been a delegate to every Senate District (1996 and 1998, SD #7; 2000, SD #8; and 2002, 2004 , 2006 and 2008, and 2010, SD #17) and State Republican convention since 1996. Mr. Gilbert and his family are proud to trace their Texas roots to John Bradbury Follett who settled in Texas on Follett Island near San Luis Pass in Brazoria County. Accordingly, Mr. Gilbert is a proud member of the Stephen F. Austin Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Mr. Gilbert attends BrazosPointe Fellowship in Lake Jackson, where he serves as an usher, greeter, has previously led an adult "Home Team" and has been active in its children's ministries. Mr. Gilbert is the father of two children: Will, a student at Texas A&M University and Morgan, a student at Brazoswood High School. Mr. Gilbert is the son of the late Ralph W. Gilbert, a long-time Angleton attorney, and Fannie Mae Follett Gilbert a life-long resident of Brazoria County. Special Training and experience - Trained Mediator - AA White Dispute Resolution Institute; University of Houston Law Center; Certified for Approval of Court-Ordered Mediations; Trained Family Law Mediator Travis County Dispute Resolution Center; Credentialed and Qualified Family Law Mediator; Trained Ad Litem - Harris County Civil Court Ad Litem Training Course, 1998, 2005; Trained Guardianship Attorney Ad Litem - Completed Training Required by Texas Probate Code for service as Attorney Ad Litem in State Courts Areas of Practice Mediation Business & Commercial Law Contracts Business Organizations Sexual Harassment Construction Law Criminal Law DUI/DWI Guardianships & Conservatorships Wills Family Law Adoption Custody & Visitation Divorce Litigation & Appeals Personal Injury -- Plaintiff Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff Probate & Estate Administration Products Liability Law Medical Malpractice Real Estate Law

Elisabeth W. Molnar's practice focuses primarily on family law cases, including Divorce, Child Support and Custody.  Her cases involve complex matters in these areas of the law, and handling the issues with key advice and care.  Equally important to her practice is a client-oriented concept of returning telephone calls promptly, speaking realistically to clients about their cases and developing an overall comfort level with clients through the most difficult times in their lives.  Attorney Molnar's practice is based upon satisfied clients referring their friends, family and other loved ones to her services, and said referrals are treated with the utmost respect and confidence.  Although Ms. Molnar's practice is based almost entirely in family law, she also prepares Last Wills and Testaments, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills, as these documents frequently go hand in hand with family law matters. Attorney Molnar is currently a member of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, and Women's Bar Associations.  She is currently the co-chair of the Children's Issues Sub-Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association Family Division.  This sub-committee works with mental health professionals, judges and other attorneys in Pittsburgh to address important issues facing children today and how those issues affect our legal system.  She has also worked on other subcommittees of the Allegheny County Family Law Section, including the subcommittee that designs programs to educate other attorneys through Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education.  Ms. Molnar is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership Board, designing and implementing signature projects for pro bono work in the Pittsburgh area.  Ms. Molnar was also named a Pennsylvania Rising Star in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine in the years 2006 and 2007.   She was also named one of the Cambridge Who's Who, in the 2008 Edition. Before joining the law firm of Raphael, Ramsden & Behers, in 2004, Attorney Molnar joined a general civil litigation firm in Pittsburgh, upon her graduation from Duquesne Law School in 2003.  During her time at the civil litigation firm, she handled several insurance defense matters, in a multiple county practice.  During her tenure at the civil litigation firm, family law also became a significant portion of her practice so much so that she eventually dedicated her career almost entirely to the practice of Family Law. Duquesne University in Pittsburgh is Attorney Molnar's alma mater for undergraduate, as well.  She is a 2001 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Duquesne University, where she majored in Business Administration.  While an undergraduate student, she received the Pittsburgh Builders' Exchange Scholarship.  Ms. Molnar participated in the 3-and-3 Program at Duquesne Law School, permitting her to attend law school at Duquesne at the end of her Junior year of undergraduate education.  While in law school, she was selected to membership on Law Review, based upon academic merit during her first year.  She received her Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in June of 2003, graduating Cum Laude.  Ms. Molnar was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in October of 2003, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in December of 2003.   Attorney Molnar is a Pittsburgh native, having attended Thomas Jefferson High School.  She now resides in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

James A. Fisher is a shareholder and President of the Vandervoort, Christ & Fisher, P.C. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University. Jim's practice is now focused on providing the highest level of client services and legal representation in the areas of Family Law (Divorce, Custody, Alimony, and related tax issues, Post-Judgment Modification issues, complex Property Division cases and Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements) and Estate and Tax Planning. Jim practices in Calhoun, Branch, Kalamazoo, Barry, and Eaton counties. Jim has been recognized as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, a distinguished group of attorneys chosen for their professional excellence and service to the community. He was also selected and named one of Michigan's "Super Lawyers" in the area of Family Law. Super Lawyers identifies the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state, as chosen by their peers through the independent research of law. Jim has an "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the facilitator of a peer review process. The legal ability rating of "A" indicates a very high to preeminent legal rating. A General Ethical Standards rating of "V" indicates a very high ethical standard. Based upon a survey of his peers, Leader Lawyers.com and the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys have recognized Jim for his excellence in the field of Family Law. In addition to being a member of the State Bar of Michigan, wherein he is a member of the Family Law section, he is also involved in several professional associations including the American Bar Association, the Calhoun County Bar Association of which he is a past president and member of the Friend of the Court/Family Law Committee, and the Branch County Bar Association. Jim has been an active member of many community organizations and nonprofit corporations. He is past Chairman of the Board of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce and also a past President of the Rotary Club of Battle Creek, where he has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

"Putting Children First"No matter what your needs, if they involve children, young and old alike, we are here to serve you. From adoptions and guardianships to wills and estate planning, CornerStone Law serves every aspect of law that involves children, whether they are minors or adults.We are a service-oriented law firm and recognize that your needs are important and whatever they may be, we are here to help you. Many times legal problems can be eliminated just by asking the right questions and being able to obtain the correct legal advice. That's why we offer initial legal consultations at a reduced rate from our regular hourly rate.Our marvelous support staff and state of the art computerized legal research capabilities ensure that your questions will be answered promptly.