We are temendously proud and excited to announce the newest member of the Dent-Coulson Elder Law firm as of October 25, 2015 – Kimberly R. Finnegan – and invite you to get in touch with her.
Kimberly R. Finnegan
Kimberly R. Finnegan is a Missouri licensed attorney and master-level social worker, and trained mediator. She serves as the primary attorney for Dent-Coulson Elder Law, LLC’s St. Louis, Missouri office.
Ms. Finnegan is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law and College of Public Health & Social Justice, with concentrations in Business Transactional Law, Taxation, and Family Practice. She served on the Student Bar Association Budget Committee and as Assistant Treasurer; served with faculty on the Field Education Advisory Committee for the School of Social Work, and was a member of the Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society. Additionally, Ms. Finnegan holds a MBA from Maryville University and BSW from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where she was President of the Tau Sigma National Transfer Honor Society and a member of Golden Key International Honour Society.
My approach to practice is deeply influenced by my adherence to social work values, where each client’s unique family, financial, and health concerns are acknowledged throughout the planning process.
Ms. Finnegan’s objective is to help clients translate their needs into tangible goals that may be achieved through implementation of a legal plan, supported by her vast network of financial and social service partners. These partners share Ms. Finnegan’s holistic, person-centered approach to problem solving and planning.
Ms. Finnegan recognizes the family unit is fundamental to the planning process – however the client defines “family”. For the older adult client, family may mean an adult niece acting as caregiver, a clergy member, a longtime next-door neighbor, or a domestic partner. When the family and Ms. Finnegan’s team work together, intergenerational conflict is prevented or reduced and outcomes are maximized. Her perspective is based on the understanding that no person or problem exists in a vacuum, and no sound solution is one-size-fits-all. Creativity is not only welcomed, but necessary to creating a tailored plan.
For younger couples, the process may mean taking a step back to identify key family members and their responsibilities to those individuals, such as caring for aging parents and grandparents or affording health care for a child with special needs. It also means taking time – in many instances for the first time – to articulate their own wishes for handling life’s challenges of unemployment, divorce, remarriage, incapacity, or death of a spouse. Ms. Finnegan believes most people are immobilized by fear of uncertainty, causing them to fail to plan before a crisis occurs. As a trusted advisor, she strives to facilitate honest discussions to address the “what-ifs” and reduce anxiety.
Ms. Finnegan enjoys building relationships with and learning from others. She believes clients are the best teachers and is grateful to have worked with adults with memory impairment and children going through the foster care system. These experiences led her to pursue a law degree in order to become an empowered advocate for the needs of others.
Kimberly resides in Eureka, Missouri with her husband Dan Lucas and their beloved Westie, Bubbles, who enjoys watching sports almost as much as her owners.
Licenses & Memberships
Missouri licensed master-level social worker; Missouri Bar; 40 hour Mediation Training; American Bar Association; Bar Association of Metro St. Louis; St. Louis County Bar Association; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; National Association of Social Workers
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (877)995-6876 or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
