In 2001, Wes Coulson decided it was time to realize his career ambition of establishing a law firm that would focus on the needs of families. He understood the financial challenges we face as we grow older. He realized how much it means to people to be able to make life better for their children, grandchildren and other loved ones.

Since graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in 1978, Wes had been assisting families in meeting their estate planning needs and goals. Mr. Coulson realized that every family was different. Some were large, others small. Some were traditional, while others illustrated the ways in which the concept of family is being gradually redefined in modern American life. Many families included someone with special needs. Some families had to deal with the concern of potential estate tax liabilities, while others would need to win the lottery for that to become an issue. Wes took great pride in developing estate plans designed to meet the very individual needs and goals of the clients he was privileged to serve.

In the early 1990s, Mr. Coulson began noticing a disturbing trend. Clients who needed nursing home care often lost not just the opportunity to realize their planning goals, but their dignity as well. Despite a lifetime of hard work, savings, and doing without in order to make life better for their children and grandchildren, they ended up experiencing the same poverty they had endured in their youth, growing up in the Great Depression. Worse still, they died unable to experience the peace of mind that comes being able to leave a financial legacy for one’s family.

Wes knew that he needed to expand the focus of his practice to cover the challenge of paying for the cost of long term care. He developed the expertise needed to help clients with planning that would enable them to preserve an estate they could pass on to their spouse, children, and other loved ones. He learned the ins and outs of the Medicaid eligibility rules, and how to apply them to the benefit of his clients.

In October 2001, Mr. Coulson started The Coulson Law Group, with offices in Creve Coeur, Missouri, and Edwardsville, Illinois. Its goal and mission were to help families to preserve their life savings to pass on to their loved ones, through estate, asset protection and Medicaid eligibility planning.

The efforts of the Firm have been rewarded with great success. Within the first two years, The Coulson Law Group moved from its initial locations into larger office suites in both Creve Coeur and Edwardsville. The number of employees of the Firm has more than doubled. A second attorney, a social worker, and a community education and outreach director have been added to the staff. Moreover, the Firm’s client base continues to grow rapidly, and the Firm is committed to continued growth to meet the needs of its ever-expanding base of clients.

The Coulson Law Group is dedicated to taking a proactive role in helping to educate people about the opportunities for and benefits of proper planning. Staff members regularly visit hospitals and nursing homes to talk with social workers and admissions counselors, and to distribute the educational materials the Firm produces, including The Consumer’s Guide to Medicaid planning and Division of Assets and the St. Louis Area Nursing Home Guide. Mr. Coulson and other staff members lecture frequently before various professional organizations as well as the general public. The Firm participates actively in activities sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, the Breakthrough Coalition, and other volunteer organizations dedicated to meeting the needs of seniors. Its attorneys are active members of various professional organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”), the St. Louis Estate Planning Council, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the Missouri and Illinois bar associations.

The Coulson Law Group is dedicated to being the best elder law and estate planning law firm in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and its members strive daily to offer clients a very high level of professional service.

Areas of Practice

Our firm typically handles the following:

• Estate Planning
• Medicaid Eligibility Planning
• Long Term Care Planning
• Asset Protection Planning
• Special Needs Trusts

Attorneys

Please see the Lawyers page for complete attorney biographies.