Arlene Zarembka

As an Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney, I provide comprehensive legal counsel and practical advice regarding your estate planning, as well as the documents that are necessary to protect you and your loved ones. I advise clients as to Medicaid planning, where that is a concern.

Documents are customized to your needs and wishes.

My experiences helping to care for my mother during her 16 years of decline from Alzheimer's, and handling her financial and legal matters after my father died, provide me with insights that I bring to my Estate Planning and Elder Law practice.

I also handle Name and Gender Marker Changes, and Co-Parent Adoptions. A substantial portion of my clientele are lesbian, gay, and transgender individuals and couples.

My law firm provides individualized, friendly service, with attention to detail. Each client is a person, not a case. Telephone calls usually are returned by my paralegal or by me the same day, or by the next business day. Free notary services are provided for established clients.

I have been a consistent advocate throughout my career for civil rights, civil liberties, and justice for all. I have over 30 years experience representing LGBT persons, and advocating for LGBT rights.

I graduated cum laude from St. Louis University Law School (1974), and from Swarthmore College with Honors (1970). I founded my law firm in 1987, after six years as an attorney in Legal Services, and six years in a private practice partnership.

The firm's paralegal, Linda J. Lewis, has been employed by the firm since 1995. She has an Associates Degree in Applied Science - Legal Assistant (St. Louis Community College, 1994), and a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice (University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1994).

YOUR LIVES RESPECTED, YOUR RIGHTS AND PRIVACY PROTECTED.
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Saint Louis University School of Law

J.D. | Law

1971 - 1974

Honors: Graduated Cum Laude, Order of the Woolsack.

Swarthmore College

B.A. | Economics, Russian

1966 - 1970

Honors: Graduated with Honors, Phi Beta Kappa.

Attorney/Owner

Law Office of Arlene Zarembka

1987 - Current

Areas of Practice include: Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Estate and Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Trusts, Probate, Real Estate, Step-Parent Adoptions, Name Changes.

Attorney/partner

Gilchrist and Zarembka

1981 - 1986

General practice

Staff Attorney

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

1977 - 1980

Primary focus: representing neighborhoods and individuals threatened with displacement by urban redevelopment corporations.

Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer

North Central West Virginia Legal Aid Society

1974 - 1976

Represented low income persons in variety of legal matters; also represented a community group fighting strip mining.

Over 90 Commentaries on civil rights, civil liberties, and social and economic justice published since 1986

Various publications

Medicaid and the LGBT Community: Paying for Long-Term Care

National Resource Center on LGBT Aging

2011

Estate Planning for Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Clients

St. Louis Bar Journal

2010

To Establish Justice: Citizenship and the Constitution (with Patricia M. McKissack) (Knopf, 2004)

2004

The Urban Housing Crisis: Social, Economic, and Legal Issues and Proposals (Greenwood Press, 1990)

Greenwood Press

1990

Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame

St. Louis University Law School

2016

Ethics in Action

St. Louis Ethical Society

2015

Diverse Business Leader

St. Louis Business Journal

2012

Award for my advocacy for LGBT rights.

Civil Liberties Award

American Civil Liberties Union - Eastern Missouri

2010

Social Justice Hero

Metro Theater Company

2009

Extraordinary Volunteer Service

ACLU-Eastern Missouri

2008

Clarence Darrow Public Interest Advocate Award

St. Louis University Public Interest Law Group

1998

Humanitarian Award

Union Sarah Community Corporation

1980

Order of the Woolsack

St. Louis University Law School

1974

Reginald Heber Smith Fellow

Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship

1974

Reginald Heber Smith Fellow at North Central West Virginia Legal Services (1974-1976), and at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (1976-1977)

Phi Beta Kappa

Swarthmore College

1970

National LGBT Bar Association

Member - Family Law Institute

2012 - Current

National Center for Lesbian Rights

Cooperating Attorney

2004 - Current

ACLU of Missouri (formerly ACLU of Eastern Missouri))

Member of Legal Committee

2004 - Current

Activities: Cooperating Attorney, 1986 to present

Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee

Member

2003 - Current

Alzheimer's Association (St. Louis)

Public Policy Committee

2002 - Current

ACLU of Missouri (formerly ACLU-Eastern Missouri)

Cooperating attorney

1986 - Current

Lambda Legal

Cooperating Attorney

1986 - Current

ACLU-Eastern Missouri

Cooperating Attorney

1983 - Current

Missouri State Bar

Member

1974 - Current

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Member

2007 - 2013

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Member

2001 - 2010

Activities: Elder Law Committee

Privacy Rights Education Project (a/k/a PROMO)

Member; officer

1987 - 2006

Activities: Member of Legislative Committee,1987-2005; President 1990-1993.

National Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Roundtable

Member

1986 - 1998

Missouri

Since 1974

• Credit Cards Accepted
  Mastercard, Visa, and Discover accepted.

• LGBT Family Protection Planning
• Co-Parent Adoptions
• Name Change and Gender Marker Change
• Medicaid Planning
• Powers of Attorney

• Special Needs Trusts
• Trusts and Trustee Advice
• Wills