Elle Van Dahlgren

Elle advises clients on matters relating to estate planning, including powers of attorney, advance health care directives, wills, revocable trusts, supplemental needs trusts (also called “special needs” trusts), irrevocable life insurance trusts, asset protection, and business succession.  Her work encompasses all aspects of wills and trusts in Delaware and Pennsylvania, including probate of wills, the marshaling and inventory of assets, and the administration of living and testamentary trusts.  In addition, Elle provides counsel on estate and trust administration, including probate, estate tax returns, post mortem tax planning, and other administration issues.

In addition, Elle frequently assists clients in adult guardianship proceedings and petitions relating to probate or trust administration in the Delaware Court of Chancery and in Pennsylvania Orphans Court.  She advocates on behalf of proposed guardians and persons with disability to pursue the best interests of elderly and disabled persons.   

Elle prides herself on working hand in hand with her clients to ensure that they meet the goals of their case while also minimizing stress and ensuring all of her clients understand what is happening in their case.  She enjoys explaining things to her clients in a way that they find comforting and approachable.

Elle has spoken frequently to other attorneys in Delaware, as well as members of the community in general, on the subjects of estate planning and adult guardianship proceedings in the Court of Chancery.  

Admissions: Delaware (2009), Pennsylvania (2014)

Areas of Practice:  Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives (living wills), Supplemental Needs Trusts (also called Special Needs Trusts), Adult Guardianship, Guardianship Litigation, Probate, Estate Administration, Trust Administration, Trust Modification, Probate and Trust Litigation 

Education:  Drake University (Des Moines, IA) (2005), University of Iowa College of Law (2009) 

Professional Memberships:  Delaware State Bar Association (Sections:  Estates and Trusts, Elder Law, Small Firms and Solos), Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Association, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Pro Bono Volunteer), Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Inc. (Pro Bono Volunteer)

Other Affiliations:  Sellers Senior Center Board of Directors (Member), Friends of the Brandywine Hundred Library Board of Directors (Member), BNI Newark I (Vice President), Marketing & Admissions Professionals (Member), Delaware Health Care Network (Member)