Windermere attorney earns elder-law organization presidency

WINDERMERE  The newest president of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys lives and practices in Windermere.

Cary L. Moss, of Sawyer & Sawyer, P.A., started as a member of AFELA years ago and earned the position as its president for 2016 after four years of dedicated leadership in the organization, having previously been its treasurer and secretary, as well. 

“I spend a lot of time trying to make the organization better and to bring value to the members, but as much as I put in, I get back quite a bit by knowing about issues going on with elders and getting to bring that back to my clients,” she said.

AFELA, the state chapter for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, provides education to its members, advocates on behalf of clients and attorneys in the state and takes action when necessary from the standpoint of trying to protect elderly and disabled clients across the state, Moss said. The leadership also talks about issues circulating across the state that may affect seniors, and has a lobbyist who monitors bills being filed and works with state legislators.

“We definitely have a good pulse on what’s happening across the state legislatively and also from the standpoint of any rule making going on with agencies across the state,” she said.

“I am honored that people respect me enough to feel that I can lead the organization.” —Cary L. Moss

Elder law is a branch of legal practice that places emphasis on issues dealing with the elderly population. Under its umbrella are three main categories: estate planning and administration, long-term care issues and guardianship. However, it also includes disability and medical care, and wills and trusts.

Cary started in elder law after her parents — who are second-career attorneys — launched the firm while dealing with issues pertaining to her grandmother. They first opened an office in Williamsburg, a community near SeaWorld, to focus on elder law. As they built their clientele, they became involved in elder-law associations and eventually opened the current Windermere office. 

As managing partner of the practice, Cary Moss, along with her parents, works with clients to provide assistance with issues such as estate-planning and settlement, long-term care planning, guardianship for adult incapacitated individuals who don’t have estate planning documents, and probate and trust administration. Their firm also offers special-needs trust planning for special-needs beneficiaries. 

And as president of AFELA, Cary Moss will oversee quarterly board meetings, an annual strategic planning meeting and multiple committees that keep the organization running smoothly. Her goal is to move the organization forward in finding better ways to serve its members so they can take what they learn back to their practices to benefit their own clients. The position is also solely volunteer based.

“I am honored that people respect me enough to feel that I can lead the organization, so I’m proud of that,” she said. “Being on that inside track and hearing about things that are coming down the road makes me so much more knowledgeable and beneficial to my clients, and it’s fun.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].