Kate Downes is an estate planning attorney (Wills, Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, and health care directives, etc.), specializing in elder law. 

Although she serves individuals, couples and families of all ages, many of her clients have particular concerns related to preservation of assets, estate taxes, real estate, long-term care insurance, MassHealth (Medicaid), assisted living, and skilled-nursing placement. 

She has been practicing law for twenty-three (23) years and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Oregon State Bar, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Massachusetts and national chapters).  Prior to being a sole practitioner, she worked for a non-profit law firm in Oregon (handling domestic relations cases), as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon, and as “Of Counsel” to two Massachusetts estate planning and elder law firms.  Her practice has been limited exclusively to elder law and estate planning since 1993.  She also speaks regularly at local organizations, including various Senior Centers.

Kate meets with clients in her Harvard office one day each week and conducts all of her other business and consultations from her Shelburne Falls office.

Kate serves as Chair and President of the Board of Directors of the Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation, New York, New York, a charitable foundation which focuses on creating elder-friendly neighborhoods and actively engaging older people in their community.  The foundation targets its grant-making primarily to nonprofit organizations in Westchester County, New York, with special attention to the City of Yonkers.

Kate also serves as a Board Member at Andrus on Hudson, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, a non-profit organization operating an independent-living, assisted-living, and skilled-nursing facility.

Finally, Kate serves on the Board of Trustees of the Arms Library, Shelburne Falls.

Kate lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, with her husband and two children.