Arlene Zarembka

Arlene Zarembka

Law Office of Arlene Zarembka
  • Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate
  • Missouri
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

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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Education
Saint Louis University School of Law
J.D. | Law
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Honors: Graduated Cum Laude, Order of the Woolsack.
Saint Louis University School of Law Logo
Swarthmore College
B.A. | Economics, Russian
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Honors: Graduated with Honors, Phi Beta Kappa.
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Professional Experience
Attorney/Owner
Law Office of Arlene Zarembka
- 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
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General practice
Staff Attorney
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
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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
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Represented low income persons in variety of legal matters; also represented a community group fighting strip mining.
Publications
Articles & Publications
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
Estate Planning for Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Clients
St. Louis Bar Journal
To Establish Justice: Citizenship and the Constitution (with Patricia M. McKissack) (Knopf, 2004)
The Urban Housing Crisis: Social, Economic, and Legal Issues and Proposals (Greenwood Press, 1990)
Greenwood Press
Awards
Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame
St. Louis University Law School
Ethics in Action
St. Louis Ethical Society
Diverse Business Leader
St. Louis Business Journal
Award for my advocacy for LGBT rights.
Civil Liberties Award
American Civil Liberties Union - Eastern Missouri
Social Justice Hero
Metro Theater Company
Extraordinary Volunteer Service
ACLU-Eastern Missouri
Clarence Darrow Public Interest Advocate Award
St. Louis University Public Interest Law Group
Humanitarian Award
Union Sarah Community Corporation
Order of the Woolsack
St. Louis University Law School
Reginald Heber Smith Fellow
Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship
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
Professional Associations
National LGBT Bar Association
Member - Family Law Institute
- Current
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National Center for Lesbian Rights
Cooperating Attorney
- Current
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ACLU of Missouri (formerly ACLU of Eastern Missouri))
Member of Legal Committee
- Current
Activities: Cooperating Attorney, 1986 to present
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Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee
Member
- Current
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Alzheimer's Association (St. Louis)
Public Policy Committee
- Current
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ACLU of Missouri (formerly ACLU-Eastern Missouri)
Cooperating attorney
- Current
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Lambda Legal
Cooperating Attorney
- Current
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ACLU-Eastern Missouri
Cooperating Attorney
- Current
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Missouri State Bar
Member
- Current
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National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Member
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Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Member
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Activities: Elder Law Committee
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Privacy Rights Education Project (a/k/a PROMO)
Member; officer
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Activities: Member of Legislative Committee,1987-2005; President 1990-1993.
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National Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Roundtable
Member
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Missouri
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Mastercard, Visa, and Discover accepted.
Practice Areas
Elder Law
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Probate
Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Additional Practice Areas
  • 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
Languages
  • Spanish: Written
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Contact & Map
9378 Olive Blvd., Suite 206
St. Louis, MO 63132
Telephone: (314) 567-6355