The Elder Law Year in Review (2022 Elder Law Institute Session)

Marielle F. Hazen is the founder of Hazen Law Group, a firm dedicated to the practice of elder and special needs planning law, estate planning, tax planning and estate administration. Ms. Hazen has earned the distinction of being a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and as Co-Chair of its Federal Advocacy Committee. She is an ACTEC Fellow, Past President and one of the founding members of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA), a Past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), and a Past President of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national nonprofit alliance of special needs planning attorneys. In 2023, Ms. Hazen was recognized as a Fellow of NAELA, the highest honor bestowed by the Academy in recognition of exceptional contributions to meeting the needs of older Americans. In 2018, she received the NAELA John J. Regan Writing Award for co-authoring the article “The Fiduciary Pitfalls of Managing Special Needs Trusts That Own Real Estate.” In 2014, Ms. Hazen was presented with the NAELA Powley Elder Law Award. This national award is presented to an attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to promote, in the minds of the general public, a greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and people with special needs. In 2010, Ms. Hazen was presented with the Excellence in Elder Law Award from the Elder Law Section of the PBA. This award was given in recognition and appreciation of her superior professional efforts in the field of elder law, her significant contributions to the legal profession and her noteworthy service to the elderly. In 2009, Ms. Hazen received an Outstanding Achievement award from NAELA. Ms. Hazen has been selected by her peers as a “Super Lawyer” in the field of Elder Law and as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania, as featured in Law and Politics Magazine. She has also been selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America, and Hazen Law Group has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top law firms in the country. Ms. Hazen has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest lawyer rating of AV®. An AV Rating is given to those attorneys who have reached the highest standards of professional excellence.

Rebecca A. Hobbs, Esq., CELA is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Hobbs Legacy Law Group, LLC, a boutique law firm serving individuals and families throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania in the areas of elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, trust and estate administration, Medicaid and long-term care planning, guardianships, veterans’ benefits, and related litigation matters. Rebecca is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a distinction awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation and accredited by the American Bar Association. The CELA® designation is recognized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and identifies attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge, experience, and dedication in the practice of elder law. She is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for veterans’ benefits. Recognized as a leader in the field of elder law, Rebecca was selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2017 through 2024 and was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers honoree in Elder Law in 2026. She is also the recipient of the 2025 WealthCounsel Award for Scholarship and has been recognized as a Main Line Today Top Lawyer in Elder Law for 2025 and 2026. She has also been consistently recognized as a Top Lawyer in Chester County in the fields of Elder Law and Estate Planning. Rebecca is an active member of numerous professional organizations dedicated to elder law and special needs planning, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA), and the Special Needs Alliance (SNA). She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Elder Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, where she works to advance education and advocacy on issues affecting older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families. Rebecca regularly presents continuing legal education programs for attorneys, financial professionals, fiduciaries, and care professionals. She has lectured on a wide range of topics, including elder law, estate planning, trust and estate administration, special needs planning, Medicaid planning, legal ethics, and veterans’ benefits for organizations such as NAELA, PAELA, WealthCounsel, ElderCounsel, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI), county bar associations, and other professional education providers. Rebecca is passionate about helping families navigate life’s most important planning decisions with confidence and clarity. Through proactive planning and compassionate counsel, she helps clients protect what matters most, preserve dignity and independence, and create lasting legacies for future generations.