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THE TEAMRuthann P. Lacey
Ruthann is a member of the Special Needs Alliance, a charter member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners, a member of the Elder Law and Small Firm Sections of the Atlanta Bar Association, as well as the Elder Law Committee and the Probate and Estate Planning Committee of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section of the American Bar Association. Formerly, she served as vice-chair of the Elder Law Section of the Georgia Bar Association.
Ruthann P. Lacey has received an AV® certification mark through Mardindale-Hubbell, authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. Ruthann belongs to the DeKalb Estate Planning Council and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and serves as a Trustee on the board of The Georgia Community Trust. She is also a member of the Brain Injury Association of Georgia, the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta, the National Family Caregivers Association, and the National Guardianship Association. Ruthann has drafted Elder Law legislation for submission to the Georgia General Assembly, and is an editor and published writer. She is an active speaker on the local, state and national level, both to professional and public groups and organizations. She also conducts staff training programs for nursing homes and hospitals, and has been an Instructor of Estates, Trusts and Wills and Legal Research at the National Center for Paralegal Training. Licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and Washington, D.C., Ruthann is a graduate of Trinity College and Emory University School of Law. Ruthann enjoys reading and photography and serves with a missions outreach team teaching business classes to small business owners and managers in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Donald S. Horace
Prior to joining the firm, Donald practiced Health Care law at Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP. as an Associate, the Grady Health System as Associate General Counsel, and the Georgia Department of Community Health as Associate General Counsel and the Director of Contracts Administration. Donald also spent time as an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of State Administrative Hearings. Most recently, Mr. Horace practiced Elder Law at the Senior Citizens Law Project. While at the Senior Citizens Law Project, Donald coordinated and presented multiple community education events on a wide range of Elder Law matters throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area. He also chaired and coordinated a state-wide Consumer Law Task Force for a number of years. Throughout his career, Donald has been featured as an expert on the Layman’s Lawyer and has been quoted in several publications, national and local. His interest in Elder and Special Needs Law derives from his time as a Health Care attorney for medical providers and healthcare facilities. He often found that in order to assist his provider clients that he had to first help the patient or resident and his or her family with their Elder Law needs. Because he found himself in this position so often, he became proficient at these tasks and really enjoyed the work. Consequently, Donald was practicing Elder Law and he did not know it. Mr. Horace is a proud graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Since 1994, he has been licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Atlanta Bar Association (Elder Law Section). When Donald is not serving the firm’s Clients, he enjoys time with his family, exercise, reading, and learning guitar. Dorothy (Dot) Richeson Harper
As an Associate Attorney for the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C., Dot Harper’s primary focus is on Probate and Estate work as well as Guardianships and Conservatorships. Dot assists clients in planning for the future by drafting legal documents, and represents clients in court hearings for the Appointment of Executors, Guardians and Conservators. Prior to joining the firm, Dot served as Associate Attorney handling general practice, family law, and real estate litigation for Claude M. Kicklighter, Jr. P.C. and as a Real Estate Closing Attorney for Weissman, Nowak, Curry & Wilco, P.C. Before entering the field of law, Harper taught Middle School math for more than 10 years. Dot’s interest in the practice of Elder and Special Needs Law stems from past experiences with Alzheimer patients and with students having Special Needs. She counts among her most gratifying work the time she spent serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children where she represented children who were abused and neglected, and her experience drafting legislation that would provide funding for the Post Secondary education of Foster Care Children in Georgia. Dot graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Florida with a degree in Education. She later completed graduate programs at Georgia Southern University and Armstrong Atlanta State University. She earned her JD from Walter F. George Mercer University School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List and was awarded honors for Excellence in Achievement in several areas of legal study. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the State Bar of Georgia, the Gwinnett Bar Association (Estate Planning Section), the American Bar Association, and the Atlanta Bar Association (Elder Law Section). Dot is also a board member for the Elder Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. When she’s not working to protect her clients, you’ll find Dot on the beach or planning her next trip to the beach. Stephanie Buffington
Prior to joining the firm, Stephanie worked as a litigation Paralegal in areas including product liability defense, personal injury, special education law, medical malpractice, and others. She also has extensive trial and complex litigation experience. Stephanie was an English major at the University of Georgia and continues to develop her skills through numerous continuing education programs in the areas of Special Needs Trusts, Probate, Medicaid, Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's dementia. Stephanie enjoys reading, researching and spending time with her toy poodle, Serendipity. Ama Speede
Ama has completed continuing education programs offered by the Atlanta Bar Association and a certificate program at the Metropolitan Atlanta Opportunities Industrialization Center. She is past State President of Delta Epsilon Chi, the collegiate division of DECA, and is presently studying Computer Information Sciences at Atlanta Technical College. Ama serves as a Teacher’s Assistant at Gullian Elementary School and enjoys helping children with their homework, resume preparation, and employment search at the Atlanta Fulton Public Library. As an employee of the Fulton County Election Board, she has risen from the position of Greeter to Chief Manager of a Precinct. A New York City native, Ama moved to Georgia in 1996. Her interests include reading, mentoring, nurturing her plants, listening to praise and worship songs, and volunteering in community service projects. Teresa Martinez
Although this is her first experience working for a law firm, Teresa has been quick to embrace her responsibilities explaining that she’s always been compelled to treat her employer’s business as if it were her very own. Teresa has earned an associate’s degree in Accounting and Office Technology Management from Gwinnett Technical College. A newlywed, Teresa enjoys reading Stephen King and Robin Cook novels, spending time with her Chow Chow and traveling with her husband. |
Ruthann Lacey is a Certified Elder Law Attorney. She started her firm, the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C., in 1995 to concentrate on planning for the unique and often complex concerns of the elder population and their adult children, and those of disabled children and adults.
At the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C., Donald’s law practice concentrates
on Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, and Estate Planning. 
Stephanie
Buffington brings more than 20 years of experience to her role as Paralegal
for the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. She is currently responsible for
drafting documents (including wills and powers of attorney) and communicating
with clients on all issues related to the creation and execution of those documents.
Stephanie also acts as a liaison between clients and Ms. Lacey. 
As
Office Manager for the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C., Ama Speede is
responsible for administration of both front and back
office operations. She brings a wealth of administrative and customer service
experience to the role and most recently served as a Library Assistant for
Atlanta Fulton Public Library.
As
the firm’s Accountant, Teresa Martinez is responsible for the proper maintenance
of client accounts as well as for client investment trusts. Prior to joining
the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C., Teresa was a bookkeeper for Wings
Air.