ABOUT ME

Practicing Attorney since 2003

PROFESSIONALLY:

I am a licensed attorney practicing in Massachusetts and Connecticut. I earned my Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2003, and I subsequently earned my Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning & Elder Law from Western New England College of Law in 2014. I graduated from University of Vermont in 2000, from where I earned my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics.

While attending law school, I served as an intern for two years in the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, Narcotics Unit, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was the highlight of my law school experience, working alongside a group of great individuals, doing our collective best to prosecute those profiting from the drug epidemic. Much of my time involved extensive legal research and writing (as often, drug cases involve challenging the legality of the stops, arrests, searches and seizures), in addition to forfeiture proceedings, whereby the proceeds of the illegal activity are forfeited to the county and utilized for the benefit of the public.

After graduating and passing the Massachusetts and Connecticut bar exams, I began practicing law in 2004, representing clients in their personal injury claims resulting from the negligence of others. Assisting two other attorneys (Joseph A. Franco and Edward N. Marasi) with whom I shared office space, I also worked on criminal defense matters in both state and federal court, ranging from tax fraud, assaults, DUI and drug possession to first-degree murders.

It was only after helping an elderly client prepare a Will that I realized I wanted to focus my practice on estate planning and estate administration. Rose, an 82-year old widow, who stood at maybe 5 feet tall but possessed a stern voice and an overall powerful but pleasant presence, came into our office in need of a Will. She hadn't done any prior estate planning. She and her late husband, both children of Italian immigrants, worked hard their whole lives, but they unfortunately never had children. She had many siblings, nieces and nephews. She was very concerned and worried about not knowing what would happen to all her money and possessions in the end, and she hated the idea that the State would otherwise dictate to whom her stuff would go. After a few meetings, we created an estate plan that gave her peace of mind and understanding. Once everything was signed, I could feel all her stress and concerns just simply drift away. I knew right then that I wanted all my clients to leave my office with that same feeling. Unfortunately, Rose passed away many years ago, but to this day, I can still hear her addressing me as "Lawyer Della Ripa" and remember her unwavering attempts to introduce me to one of her grandnieces, since she really wanted her to meet "a nice Italian boy" like me.

PERSONNALLY:

I am a life-long resident of Connecticut, where I live with my wife (no, not Rose's grandniece), my two sons, and my Cavaliere King Charles spaniel, Trevor. When I'm not at work, I am most likely doing one or more of the following: listening to music; watching reruns of my favorite TV shows/movies or stand-up comedy; walking around the house spouting out movie quotes, humming 80's movie themes or singing songs; cleaning or fixing something around the house; doing yardwork; convincing my wife that we need to go to Costco or BJ's; fighting the

urge to eat ice cream, Oreos and Cheez-Its daily; or otherwise spending downtime with the family, even if it's as simple as all of us sitting in the same room looking at our phones. Outside of the usual day-to-day, I enjoy going out to eat with family or friends; playing billiards; going to the movies, a concert or comedy club; reading about politics, the economy and financial markets; taking a bike ride; or going for a drive anywhere, regardless of the reason or necessity, especially with my driving buddy, Trevor (pictured).