Navigating through the difficult but unavoidable legal issues of life is so much easier with a knowledgeable pathfinder. For the past 30 years, the professionals at Paths Law Firm in Lee’s Summit have helped clients with legal issues such as blended families, special needs, business ownership, and elder law for seniors and their families—to preserve their assets and give them peace of mind for the unforeseen and inevitable.
With a third of its 12-member staff being family, Paths Law Firm helps clients feel at ease and comfortable during difficult legal conversations, adding a dinner table familiarity without sacrificing excellence.
Russell “Rusty” A. Fracassa, managing attorney, uses the dinner table analogy as the touchstone of his practice. A former accountant who found no joy in his occupation, Rusty remembers when his wife Rene’ asked him what he wanted to do.
“I told her I wanted to sit at the kitchen table and help ‘ma and pa,’” Rusty remembers. That simple passion led him to law school and estate and tax planning. Today, Rusty oversees the firm, along with business partner and fellow attorney Kathleen Overton; his wife Rene’, financial manager; daughter Hilary Tichota, marketing manager; sister Jeane Fracassa, community liaison; and six other employees.
Located at 5008 NE Lakewood Way, with a satellite office in Overland Park, Kansas, Paths Law Firm has earned a reputation for being “the most experienced and attentive elder law planners in the KC area.” They have consistent 5-star reviews for professionalism, compassion, responsiveness and legal knowledge.
Legal services include Estate & Business Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid and VA benefits, as well as seminars and corporate training. The attorneys and entire staff undergo continued education/training, with frequent lunch-and-learns, daily attorney reviews of national issues, and significant investment in the best software and educational material. They use a three-step detailed review process for all plans and documents.
“Clients can expect to receive personal and professional attention,” Rusty says. “Everyone with an urgent or crisis situation is given an appointment within 48 hours, followed by our ongoing attention to their needs.”
Rusty knows firsthand the difficult issues surrounding family health challenges and tragic sudden loss of loved ones. While Rusty and Rene’ were living in China as missionaries, they received news that their eldest son Tyler had died on his 27th birthday.
“Tyler was married with four children but didn’t know of the fourth as the pregnancy was discovered the day after his funeral,” Rusty says. “Due to that, we returned from living abroad to help with his family.”
Rusty adds that this year, René had serious surgical complications. “She was in and out of ICU for weeks, uncertain if she would recover. Then, we discovered she suffers from leukemia and continues to try to heal while on chemo. Rene’ is also the primary caretaker, along with her sisters, in caring for their 91-year-old mother. Basically, I understand well what it’s like to come home to a dark, empty house and the feeling of hopelessness, uncertainty and loneliness of not wanting to burden our children or friends.”
Their other sons include Spencer and his family in Kingsville and Logan, who serves in the military. As a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and former Christian missionary and pastor, Rusty enjoys converging his personal and professional life—working with families to protect their loved ones while easing the strain on the family caretakers.
One client puts it this way: “I most appreciated the love and compassion we received during a very hard time in my life. Russell walked me through everything I needed to do to make it run smoothly. I’m confident if we didn’t have Russell do our mother’s trust before she passed, we would still be dealing with it four years later. If you don’t use their services, I promise you are missing out.”
For more information or appointments, contact pathslawfirm.com.