Compassion. Knowledge. Tenacity. These are words used to describe Colleen’s work in advocating for individuals with disabilities.
Having a loved one with disabilities (or having disabilities yourself) can be incredibly challenging in ways that only you know. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Colleen understands - she has spent years working with and advocating for people who are challenged with disabilities.
Within five minutes of meeting her, you’ll know you’re in great hands. Her calm, kind, and understanding demeanor will assure you that you’re working with the right person to make plans for your future.
Colleen can show you how to use a Special Needs Trust to maintain and improve your quality of life, and to protect your money so you can afford the care you need for the long run. She knows public benefits inside and out and can guide you through the eligibility process in a way that won’t jeopardize your eligibility for government benefits.
Before joining us, Colleen was with PLAN of CT where she worked with families and their attorneys to determine the appropriate trust type for the families’ given situation. She also worked with the Connecticut State Department of Education where she represented students in the care of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this role, she advocated for children with special education needs - filing complaints, performing record reviews, and communicating with various agencies and providers.
In her spare time, Colleen enjoys the outdoors and often hikes and camps. She’s an avid reader and has been spending years trying to teach herself the French language.
What She Does:
-Special needs planning
-Medicaid applications
-Public Benefits assessment and counsel - including Medicaid, state and federal Medicaid waiver programs, Money Follows the Person, and Com
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Elder Law
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
- Special Needs Planning
- Medicaid & Public Benefits
- Disability Planning
- Connecticut
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- English: Spoken, Written
- Partner
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri
- - Current
- Associate Attorney
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC
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- Trust Coordinator
- PLAN of Connecticut
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- Surrogate Parent
- CT State Department of Education: Special Educational Law and Advocacy
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- Attorney
- Law Office of Gerry McMahon, LLC
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- Pro Bono Attorney
- Lawyers for Children America
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- University of Connecticut School of Law
- J.D. (1995)
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- Bates College
- B.A. (1992)
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- North Central Area Agency on Aging (NCAAA)
- President
- - Current
- Activities: Previously served as a Member of the Board and First Vice President.
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- Community Health Resources (CHR)
- Board Member
- - Current
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- CT National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Board Member
- - Current
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- Connecticut Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Elder Law Section
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- SPEdConnecticut
- Vice President/Parent Advisor
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- Dyslexia Society of CT
- Former Secretary
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- Activities: Conference Co-Chir
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- Should You Choose Family or a Professional Trustee? Know the Pros and Cons
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri Smart Planner Blog
- Special Needs Planning During the COVID Era
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri Smart Planner Blog
- Stop Cleaning Your Closet! Do These 5 Steps First
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri Smart Planner Blog
- Special Needs Planning: Choose a Trustee with a Network
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri Smart Planner Blog
- 5 Things to Think About When Your Child With Special Needs Turns 18
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri Smart Planner Blog
- Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, Oxford Public Schools Webinar, Webinar
- Oxford Public Schools
- Special Needs Planning, SEPTO Webinar, Webinar
- South Windsor Public Schools
- Uniform Trust Code, West Hartford Public Library, Webinar
- West Hartford Public Library
- Supported Decision Making & Pooled Trusts, CT Community Care Session 1 & 2, Webinar
- CT Community Care
- Pooled Trusts, CT Community Care presentation, Bristol, CT
- CCCI
- Website
- Colleen E. Masse's Website Profile
- Website
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC
- Blog
- Connecticut Estate Planning Attorneys Blog
- 6 Tips to Effective Estate Planning for LBGTQ+ Families
June 22, 2022 - Single People Need Estate Plans Too
June 15, 2022 - Protect Yourself from Cybercrime and Identity Theft
June 7, 2022
