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Nelson A. Raust

  • Director

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Biography

Nelson's practice is focused in the area of Trusts & Estates in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He represents medium to high net worth individuals, families, retirees, professionals and business owners in matters of estate planning, sophisticated wealth transfer strategies, estate and trust administration and business succession planning. Nelson also handles Elder Law and disability issues, assisting seniors and their families with issues relating to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, guardianships, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He also prepares Special Needs Trusts for families with adult or minor children with special needs. Nelson is a frequent speaker on Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Trusts, Probate Matters, and Trust Administration.

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, Tennessee
    • J.D. - 1988
  • Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
    • LL.M. - 2002
    • Major: Taxation
  • University of Rochester
    • B.A. - 1985
    • Honors: magna cum laude

Bar Admission

  • New Hampshire, 1991
  • Massachusetts, 2008

Published Works

  • Book Review, Counseling Older Clients, Second Edition, New Hampshire Bar News, (February 2006)
  • Ethical Challenges in Representing Elderly Clients, New Hampshire Bar Journal, Vol. 46, p. 28, 2005
  • Op Ed, Granite Care Might Financially Hurt Seniors, Nursing Homes, The Union Leader (November 2004)

Honors

  • Listed in New England Super Lawyers for the areas of Estate Planning & Probate and Elder Law
  • 2024 Best Lawyers in America® (Trusts and Estates)

Classes & Seminars

  • "Probate Practice: The Essential Basics", National Business Institute, January 2008
  • "Special Needs Trusts", Lorman Education Services, December 2007
  • "Will and Estate Planning Workshop", Department of Transportation, November 2007
  • "Estate Planning Update", Plymouth State University Alumni Seminar, October 2007
  • "Estate, Disability and Medicaid Planning in New Hampshire", National Business Institute, June 2007
  • "Asset Protection: Opportunities, Strategies & Pitfalls", NH Bar Association, May 2007
  • "Estate and Tax Planning Seminar", Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System, November 2006
  • "The New Medicaid Law of 2005", New Hampshire Bar Association, September 2006
  • Transfer and Discharge Law in New Hampshire: Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals", McLane Law Firm, June 2006
  • "Estate, Disability and Medicaid Planning in New Hampshire", National Business Institute, June 2006
  • "Elder Planning In New Hampshire", Lorman Education Services, March 2006
  • "New Hampshire Estate Planning and Drafting Fundamentals", National Business Institute, September 2005
  • "Estate and Medicaid Planning For Caregivers and Their Families", Compass Care Education Series, May 2005
  • "Basic Probate Procedures and Practice in New Hampshire", National Business Institute, January 2005
  • "New Hampshire Elder Law", National Business Institute, August 2004
  • "The Safety Net: Medicaid and SSI", New Hampshire Bar Association, May 2004
  • "Practical Medicare and Medicaid Skills in New Hampshire", Halfmoon, LLC, October 2003
  • "Fundamentals of Estate Planning", Sterling Education Services, July 2003
  • “Trusts 101”, National Business Institute, June 2012
  • “Elder Law and Medicaid Planning”, National Business Institute, September 2011
  • “Drafting and Administering Special Needs Trusts”, National Business Institute, March 2011
  • “Trusts 101”, National Business Institute, October 2010
  • “Basic Estate Planning”, New Hampshire Bar Association, March 2010
  • “Elder Law in New Hampshire,” New Hampshire Bar Association, December 2009
  • “Special Needs Trusts”, Lorman Education Services, January 2009

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Charitable & Civic Involvement, Bethany Covenant Church, Bedford, NH

Past Positions

  • Hinckley Allen, Partner, 2010 to 2016
  • Devine Millimet & Branch, PA, Of Counsel, 2006 to 2010
  • McLane Middleton, Associate, 2002 to 2006

Fraternities or Sororities

  • Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations

  • Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate Section of the New Hampshire Bar Association, Immediate Past Chair
  • New Hampshire Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Founding Member, Incorporator, and Member of the Board of Directors
  • New Hampshire Estate Planning Council, Member
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member
  • Massachusetts Bar Associations, Member
  • Manchester Bar Associations, Member
  • New Hampshire Bar Associations, Member