Date: Fri 16-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

business-Murphy-elder-law

Full Text:

Murphy Joins Murphy

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

When Thomas E. Murphy was admitted to the Connecticut Bar last November, he

and his wife, Michele, were ready to name their Newtown legal practice Murphy

& Murphy LLP.

There was one major problem, however.

"The state informed us that a Murphy & Murphy already existed so we couldn't

use same name - we'd have to change it," Michele Murphy said. "We could have

used Murphy's Law but we thought that might not be associated with quality

legal services."

The situation was finally resolved, however, by letting the Murphys add the

words Attorneys At Law to the name of their practice, so Tom Murphy now is a

full partner in the practice which his wife established in 1988.

A registered nurse who became an attorney and specialist in elder law, Michele

Murphy helps seniors and the disabled in such areas as independent living,

nursing homes, health care, conservatorship services, income and benefits

assistance. Now that Tom Murphy has joined the practice, the services have

been expanded to provide comprehensive elder law services including asset

protection (living trusts, insurance issues, financial management), and other

planning tools such as wills, trusts and estates. He also does real estate

closings, as part of elder planning or as a regular real estate transaction.

They share the raising of Kyle, 7, Rebecca, 5, and Rachel, 2, children born

while Michele was starting her law practice and Tom was still in law school at

Pace University.

"She was carrying the family in more ways than one," Tom said. "Now we're

trying to balance the work load so there isn't so much on her. Working

together allows us to be more flexible. We're each home certain days to meet

the school bus and drive to dance class."

Michele Murphy agreed. "It allows us to raise a young family in a creative

way," she said.

Murphy & Murphy is located at 38 Church Hill Road, on the second floor of the

building which houses the McLachlan Agency. There's a staff of six including a

social worker who provides home visits.

"The practice wasn't built on a law office model. It was built on a social

service agency model," Michele Murphy said. "We have a holistic approach.

We're never dealing just with an issue, we're dealing with the whole person.

We try to apply that to everything we do."

The Murphys recognize that they deal with issues which are often difficult for

people to face.

"People don't wake up and say `It's a beautiful day - I think I'll call my

lawyer,'" Tom Murphy said, smiling broadly. "But planning shouldn't be an

event; it should be a process. We try to urge people to get counseling earlier

rather than later, when it can become a crisis. More options are open earlier,

options which can have major financial implications for an estate."

Mr Murphy said he asks clients to think of their goals, decide what is most

important to them, and then he uses the information as a planning tool.

"People have some ideas when they come in, but we pull on the loose threads

and find out if there are other issues that need to be addressed," he said.

There are many options, for example, in long-term care insurance. Housing

issues can range from house sharing or using reverse annuity mortgages to help

elderly clients stay in their homes to choosing between nursing homes, rest

homes or lifecare facilities.

"Housing is a continuum," Michele Murphy said. "Your needs may change many

times during your lifetime. Lots of time seniors make housing decisions for

the wrong reasons - perhaps they are trying to protect an asset, or they are

feeling trapped."

Each case they handle is unique, Tom Murphy said. "The law applies to everyone

equally but what you do depends on the client's attitudes, history, family,

finances - the results can vary. It's important to ask the right questions.

Michele has great assessment skills because of her experience as a visiting

nurse."

"When I work with clients, I always leave them with a to-do list," Michele

Murphy said. "I also have a to-do list. By the end, we've accomplished a lot.

But situations do change, so it is usually not a one-time event."

Recently the Murphys participated in Law Day in Danbury, speaking at the

senior center with the Danbury probate judge about elder law issues.

"It was our first duet," Michele said. "We may do a mini series. One of us

also will speak at Nunnawauk Meadows in June."

Since they've been working together, the Murphys have found that life is very

different.

"It's kind of a good news, bad news, arrangement," Tom Murphy said. "We can

always find each other to consult on any topic, but that means we also carry

our work home. Of course, we never run out of things to talk about."