Amy B. Smith

Biography

Amy B. Smith practices in the areas of trusts and estates, probate, and real estate law. She works with clients to develop effective estate plans, often incorporating succession planning for closely held businesses to coordinate business and personal/family goals. Amy offers both traditional and more complex will and trust planning.

Amy empathetically represents fiduciaries in the administration of trusts and decedent estates, and individuals in contested probate matters such as will contests and parental rights matters. She understands that her clients are often navigating a new and intimidating legal system during an emotional and vulnerable time in their lives. Her work includes probate and elder law, guardianships, and conservatorships. Offering strategic advice to families with elderly members as they create care plans and deal with financial concerns, Amy guides her clients through legal issues made more complex by uncertainty and worry for the future of their loved ones. She is an Attorney Professional Member of PLAN of Connecticut, the only organization in Connecticut authorized to administer a pooled trust. For families with special needs children transitioning to adulthood, she has helped secure appropriate legal interventions in the Probate Courts that encourage disabled young adults to live as independently as possible.

Amy represents individuals, legal entities, and lenders in both residential and commercial real estate transactions. Numerous commercial real estate owners have successfully relied on Amy’s advice in purchase and sale transactions, lease drafting, dispute resolution, collections, and evictions. She supports organizations as they form or reorganize to operate as tax-exempt non-profit entities. She has advised common interest communities in the interpretation and amendment of bylaws and has represented associations in collection and foreclosure matters. Additionally, she has represented developers of common interest communities in closing many first unit transfers from contract drafting to closing.

Amy is admitted to practice in the Connecticut state and federal courts and is a member of the Connecticut and New Haven Bar Associations. Her passion for the law is matched by a strong interest in developing skills in our youth. She volunteers as a mock trial judge for students in college, high and middle and high school.

Amy earned her B.S. from Bryant College and her J.D. from New England School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and served as Production Managing Editor of the New England Law Review. She was awarded the New England Scholar Award, the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction Award (CALI) in conflict of laws, the Woman Achiever Award, and the West Group Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award.

Recently relocating from Southbury, Connecticut to the shoreline, Amy looks forward to engaging with her new neighbors in much the same way as she enjoyed in upper New Haven County: serving on the Southbury Business Association and the Economic Development Commission as well as acting as trustee of the South Britain Congregational Church and member and former president of the Southbury Women’s Club.

When not helping clients or supporting her community, Amy enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and hiking with her two dogs.

Professional Memberships

Community

Speaking Engagements

Bar Admissions

• Connecticut
  
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut