Biography:
Daphne Moritz joined the firm in 2016 and is Of Counsel to the firm. Daphne practices in all areas of estate planning and administration. Daphne also focuses her practice on asset protection planning, addressing elders’ concerns, and helping families with family members who have special needs. Daphne works with entrepreneurs to form their companies, and with small business owners and farmers in their succession planning. She is dedicated to helping clients protect their assets, address health care needs, maintain their independence and reduce their taxes. She is licensed to practice in Vermont and New Hampshire state and federal courts.
Daphne is a current member and the past president of the Vermont Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), has been the Executive Editor of NAELA News, a national industry publication, and is the author of Ethical Considerations in Handling an Estate Plan and Engagement of A Practical Guide to Estate Planning in Vermont. Daphne is a former director of the New Hampshire/Vermont Council of Charitable Gift Planners, and of the Thompson Senior Center board in Woodstock, Vermont, and former chair of the Hanover [NH] Area Chamber of Commerce.
Daphne has a background which includes private and public practice. She spent many years in the family court as a child support attorney, and served as an acting magistrate. In 2004, Daphne became executive director of the Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council, an innovative nonprofit organization that provides early childhood educators professional development opportunities. Prior to joining Sheehey, Daphne was a partner at Melendy Moritz PLLC with concentrations in estate planning, special needs planning and elder law.
Throughout the year, Daphne takes speaking engagements and teaches CLEs to lawyers and members of the public on topics as varied as legal ethics for estate planners, farm succession planning, IRAs, and estate and Medicaid planning.
Notable Representations:
- Represents a wide variety of estate planning clients of all levels of wealth, including those with complex tax planning needs, blended families, and heirloom real estate
- Represents seniors in planning for long term care Medicaid, filing Medicaid applications, and assisting them in meeting their life care planning needs
- Represents families with loved ones with special needs in planning in order to maintain government services and benefits
- Represents small business owners in the formation and succession planning of their businesses
Practice Areas:
Education:
- Vermont Law School (J.D. 1990)
- Vermont Law School (M.S.E.L. Magna Cum Laude 1990)
- Dickinson College (B.A. Cum Laude 1986)
Prior Experience:
- 2008-2016, Partner, Melendy Moritz PLLC
- 2004-2008, Director, VCCICC
- 1991-1998, Staff Attorney Vermont Office of Child Support
Admissions:
- Vermont
- United States District Court for the District of Vermont
- New Hampshire
- United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Professional and Community Activities:
- Member, Vermont Bar Association
- Member and Past President, Vermont Chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Former Director, The New Hampshire/Vermont Council of Charitable Gift Planners
- Former Member, Thompson Senior Center Board, Woodstock, Vermont
- Former Chair, Hanover, NH Area Chamber of Commerce
- Former Chair and Director, South Royalton School Board