Levins & Associates, L.L.C. - Fort Myers Florida Estate Planning Lawyer

Levins & Associates, L.L.C.
6843 Porto Fino Circle
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Phone: 239-344-9471
Toll Free: 888-312-0536
Fax: 239-437-1196
Map and Directions

Deborah A. Wainey

Deborah A. Wainey

Associate
Location:
Fort Myers, Florida
Phone:
239-344-9471
888-312-0536 (Toll Free)
Fax:
239-437-1196
E-mail:

Areas of Practice

  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Administration
  • Guardianship
  • Elder Law
  • Social Security Disability
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Medicaid
  • Wills and Trusts

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Accredited Attorney, Veterans Administration, 2008

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio, 1991
  • Florida, 2008
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 2009

Education

  • Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
    • J.D. (Summa Cum Laude) - December, 1990
    • Law Review: Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Review, Editor, 1988 - 1990
  • Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio
    • B.A. (Cum Laude) - June, 1987
    • Major: Business Administration
    • Minor: History

Published Works

  • Preventing Family Feuds, Trial, April, 2009
  • Nursing Homes: A Consumer Perspective, Ohio Lawyer, Sept./Oct., 1994
  • Editor, Elder Law Desk Reference, Ohio State Bar Association's Elder Law Committee, 1997
  • The Role of a "Medicaid Payback Trust" in Personal Injury Awards Granted to Disabled Persons, Ohio Lawyer, March/April, 1994
  • Power of Attorney, Guardianship, Conservatorship - Elder Law Desk Reference, Ohio State Bar Association's Elder Law Committee, 1993
  • Voluntary Active Euthanasia: The Ultimate Act of Care for the Dying, 37 Cleve. St. L. Rev. 645, 1989
  • "Law You Can Use", Ohio State Bar Association
  • "Lawyers Forum", The Daily Legal News (Cleveland, OH)

Classes/Seminars

  • Adjunct Professor, Paralegal Studies, Myers University - Cleveland, OH, 2003 - 2004
  • Basic lssues in Elder Law, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, November 17, 1992
  • Planning for Your Future: Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Guardianships and Basic Estate Planning, Maple Heights Regional Library Law Day, May 4, 1994
  • Housing: Access to Nursing Homes, Retirement Communities and Subsidized Housing From a Consumer Perspective, Ohio State Bar Association Convention, May 19, 1994
  • Medicaid Planning and Recent Changes in the Law, Lake County Estate Planning Council, December 13, 1994
  • The Local Experience with Advance Health Care Directives, Cleveland Bar Association, March 21, 1995
  • Planning for Your Future: Powers of Attorney, Medical Care Decision-making, Conservatorship/Guardianship, and Basic Estate Planning, CCBA Law Day for the Family, April 30, 1995
  • Ohio Long-Term Care: Legal and Financial lssues - Informed Consent, Powers of Attorney, Medical Care Decision-Making, Guardianships, Health Education Network, lnc., June 7, 1995
  • The Effect of Trusts on Medicaid Eligibility, Cleveland Society of Estate Analysts, June 20, 1995
  • The Pros and Cons of Setting Up a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization to Raise Funds for Your Senior Program, Cuyahoga County Conference on Aging, October 25, 1995
  • Living Wills, Wills and Estate Planning, Warrensville Heights Public Library, November 9, 1995
  • Medicaid Payback Trusts, OATL Medical Negligence Seminar Cleveland, Ohio, November 17, 1995
  • Basics of Probate Administration, OSBA/CCBA Bridge the Gap Seminar, December 2, 1995
  • Health Care Planning and the Law: A Survival Kit for the 1990s, David N. Myers College 1995 Legal Seminar Series, December 16, 1995
  • Elder Law, CCBA Law Day for the Family, May 14, 1996
  • Beyond Estate Planning, Brecksville Community Center, May 14, 1996
  • lssues in Elder Law: Medicaid Update, Ohio State Bar Association Convention, May 17, 1996
  • Advance Directives, Margaret Wagner House - Family Meeting, May 26, 1996
  • Basics of Probate Administration, Cleveland Association of Paralegals, Inc., March 31, 1996
  • Medicaid Planning Techniques, Ohio Elder Law & Medicaid Planning Seminar, June 20, 1996
  • Advance Directives, Margaret Wagner House - Residents Association, August 23, 1996
  • Advance Directives, Benjamin Rose Institute Staff Training, September 19, 1996
  • Planning for Long Term Care, OLA Holy Name Society, October 14, 1996
  • Joint Bank Accounts, Cuyahoga County Bar Association Elder Law Seminar, October 28, 1996
  • Overview: Basic Medicaid Concepts, lncluding Ohio-Specific Regulations, Ohio Elder Law, November 14, 1996 - November 15, 1996
  • Medicaid Trusts and Other Advanced Planning Tools, Ohio Elder Law, November 14, 1996
  • Alternatives to Trusts for Small and Mid-Size Estates, Estate Planning Techniques for Small and Mid-Size Estates, December 13, 1996
  • Planning for Long-Term Care, Estate Planning Techniques for Small and Mid-Size Estates, December 13, 1996
  • Overview of Basic Medicaid Concepts and Case Law, Ohio State Bar Association 117th Annual Convention, June 6, 1997
  • Medicaid Update - Current lssues in Elder Law, August 13, 1997
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Brecksville, Ohio), September 7, 1997
  • Medicaid Law and Estate Planning, New Horizons in Elder Law and Medicaid Planning - Toledo, Ohio, September 11, 1997
  • Medicaid Law and Estate Planning, New Horizons in Elder Law and Medicaid Planning - Cleveland, Ohio, September 12, 1997
  • Basic Medicaid Concepts; Medicaid Trusts and Other Planning Tools - Fiduciary Topics for Trust Officers Part II, A KeyBank/National City Bank Event -Cleveland, Ohio, September 17, 1997
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Brecksville, Ohio), October 2, 1997
  • Medicaid Eligibility & Assets, Akron Bar Association Elder Law Benefits & Estate Planning Conference (Akron, Ohio), October 9, 1997
  • Appealing a Medicaid Eligibility Decision, Akron Bar Association Elder Law Benefits & Estate Planning Conference (Akron, Ohio), October 9, 1997
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Shaker Heights, Ohio), November 20, 1997
  • Basics of Probate Administration, CCBA/OSBA Bridge The Gap Seminar (Cleveland, Ohio), December 13, 1997
  • lssues Concerning Your Patients' Rights, North Coast Regional Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (Cleveland, Ohio), January 8, 1998
  • Basic Medicaid Concepts; Medicaid Trusts and Other Planning Tools, Cleveland Bar Association Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Section (Cleveland, Ohio), January 20, 1998
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Cleveland, Ohio), February 28, 1998
  • Planning for Long Term Care, BraeView Nursing Home (Euclid, Ohio), March 11, 1998
  • Basic Medicaid Concepts; Medicaid Trusts and Other Planning Tools (Cleveland, Ohio), May 20, 1998
  • Basic Medicaid Concepts; Medicaid Trusts and Other Planning Tools, Cleveland Society of Estate Analysts (Cleveland, Ohio), June 10, 1998
  • New Horizons in Elder Law & Medicaid Planning '98: Medicaid Eligibility, Planning and Appeals, (Toledo & Cleveland, Ohio), August 27, 1998 - August 28, 1998
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Brecksville, Ohio), September 10, 1998
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Brecksville, Ohio), October 1, 1998
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Planning & Appeals, Akron Bar Association (Akron, Ohio), November 12, 1998
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Planning & Appeals, Ohio CLE Institute (Columbus, Ohio), December 2, 1998
  • Elder Law, Financial Network of America (Cleveland, Ohio), December 4, 1998
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Planning & Appeals, Ohio Society of CPAs (Westlake, Ohio), December 7, 1998
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Planning & Appeals - (Toledo, Ohio), December 9, 1998
  • Beyond Estate Planning - (Strongsville, Ohio), March 8, 1999
  • Medicaid Eligibility and Planning Techniques, Cleveland Bar Association (Cleveland, Ohio), March 16, 1999
  • Long Term Care Planning, Estate Planning Team, March 17, 1999
  • Long Term Care Planning, Estate Planning Team, March 24, 1999
  • Long Term Care Planning, Estate Planning Team, April 15, 1999
  • Long Term Care Planning, Estate Planning Team, April 23, 1999
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association (Strongsville, Ohio), April 8, 1999
  • Building an Economically Health Elder Law Practice - (Middleburg Heights, Ohio), April 16, 1999
  • State/Federal Update on Elder Law, OSBA Convention (Cleveland, Ohio), May 14, 1999
  • Ohio Elder Law/Medicaid Planning 1999 - (Toledo, Ohio), October 8, 1999
  • Basics of Medicaid Planning, Ohio Elder Law ((Cleveland, Ohio), February 17, 2000
  • Medicaid Eligibility and Planning, UAW Legal Services Training Session (Cleveland, Ohio), April 5, 2000
  • Planning for Long Term Care, Alzheimer's Association Support Group (Brecksville, Ohio), April 6, 2000
  • Financial lssues in Planning Ahead, Shaker Senior Center (Shaker Heights, Ohio), April 18, 2000
  • Elder Law Update, OSBA Annual Convention (Toledo, Ohio), May 19, 2000
  • Moderator, Medicaid Planning, OSBA/CIE lnstitute Satellite Broadcast (Columbus, Ohio), July 13, 2000
  • Medicaid & Medicaid Planning in Ohio, Medical Educational Services (Middleburg Hts., Ohio), August 24, 2000
  • Ohio Medicaid and Elder Law Planning, PESI (Toledo, Ohio) Ohio, October 12, 2000
  • Medicaid and Elder Law Planning, PESI (Cleveland, Ohio) Ohio, October 13, 2000
  • Elder Law, OSBA/CLE (Columbus, Ohio), April 18, 2001
  • Medicaid Eligibility and Planning, UAW Legal Services Training Session (Columbus, Ohio), April 18, 2001
  • Ohio Elder Law, OSBA/CLE (Cleveland, Ohio) Beyond, April 27, 2001
  • Estate Planning - (Shaker Heights, Ohio), February 11, 2002
  • Basics of Medicaid Planning (Ohio Elder Law), OSBA/CLE (Cleveland, Ohio), March 15, 2002
  • Medicaid Planning - Satellite Seminar, OSBA/CLE (Columbus, Ohio), July 18, 2002
  • Medicaid Update and Appeals, Lorman Seminar (Cleveland, Ohio), September 19, 2002
  • Planning for Your Future, Alzheimer's Association (Cleveland, Ohio), November 12, 2002
  • Planning for your Future, St. Dominic's Church (Shaker Hts., Ohio), February 26, 2003
  • Planning for your Future, Telephone Pioneers of America (Cleveland, Ohio), March 5, 2003
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Guardianships, Powers of Attorney, Long Term Care Ombudsman Training (Cleveland, Ohio), March 18, 2003
  • Basics of Medicaid Planning (Ohio Elder Law), OSBA/CLE (Cleveland, Ohio), March 28, 2003
  • Planning for Your Future, ALS Association (Akron, Ohio), May 18, 2003
  • Basics of Medicaid Planning, Stark County Bar Association (Canton, Ohio), June 5, 2003
  • Planning for Your Future, ALS Association (Cleveland, Ohio), June 7, 2003
  • Medicaid Eligibility, Planning and Appeals, NBI Seminar (Eastlake, Ohio), July 21, 2003
  • Medicaid Update and Appeals, Lorman Seminar (Cleveland, Ohio), September 18, 2003
  • Basics of Medicaid Planning, OSBA/CLE (Cleveland, Ohio), March 19, 2004
  • Beyond Estate Planning, Low Vision Group (Shaker Heights, Ohio), April 26, 2004
  • Elder Care in Ohio: Legal and Financial lssues, NBI Seminar (Cleveland, Ohio), November 17, 2004
  • Medicare Benefits - Ohio Medicaid and Elder Law Planning 2004 - PESI Seminar, Columbus, Ohio, October 13, 2004
  • Medicare Benefits - Ohio Medicaid and Elder Law Planning 2004 - PESI Seminar, Toledo, Ohio, November 4, 2004
  • Medicare Benefits - Ohio Medicaid and Elder Law Planning 2004 - PESI Seminar, Cleveland, Ohio, November 5, 2004
  • Medicaid Planning - Ohio Elder Law, OSBA/CLE Seminar (Cleveland, Ohio), March 18, 2005
  • Elder Law Update, OSBA Annual Convention (Columbus, Ohio), May 13, 2005
  • Planning for Incapacity (POAs, Advance Directives, DNR Orders, Anatomical Gifts) - PESI Seminars, (Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus), 2005
  • UAW Legal Staff Training - Medicare & Medicaid Basics; Veteran's Benefits, LTC lnsurance, Mansfield, Ohio, October 27, 2005
  • Basics of Medicaid Planning, OSBA/CLE (Cleveland, Ohio), March 17, 2006
  • Beyond Estate Planning - Orange Senior Center, Orange Senior Center, Pepper Pike, OH, December 1, 2006
  • Elder Exploitation, Estero-Gulf Coast Kiwanis Club, May 14, 2009

Honors and Awards

  • Top Attorney in Elder Law field-Inside Business Magazine
  • Top Attorney in Elder Law field-Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member
  • Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, Member
  • The Florida Bar, Member
  • Lee County (FL) Bar Association, Member
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals

Past Employment Positions

  • Avard Law Offices, Associate, 2007 - 2009
  • The Law Firm of Deborah A. Wainey, Inc., Owner/Attorney, 2001 - 2007
  • Stege & Associates Co., L.P.A., Elder Law Attorney, 1991 - 2000

At the Southwest Florida law office of Levins & Associates, L.L.C., we represent clients throughout the Fort Myers area, including those in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Punta Gorda, Labelle, Sanibelle, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral, Estero, Naples, Lee County and Collier County.