Lowe Law welcomes new attorneys, paralegal

Attorney Patricia M. Ouellette has joined Lowe Law Firm, P.C. in Okemos as a shareholder. She has substantial experience in estate planning, probate and trust administration, and taxation and advises clients on both simple and complex tax, estate and financial planning matters.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Central Michigan University, Ouellette became a Certified Public Accountant in 1978, and a Chartered Financial Consultant in 1986. In 1995 she earned a J.D., cum laude, from Cooley Law School, and became a Chartered Life Underwriter in 1997.

Ouellette serves on the board for the Lansing Community College Foundation, is a former board member of the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council, the Probate Council of the State Bar of Michigan, and has served on the Litigation/Business Valuation Task Force for the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. She is a former president of the Central Michigan Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

Since 2014 she has been named in Who’s Who for estate planning & probate and is named in the 2009-2016 Michigan Super Lawyers for estate planning and probate. Since 2007 she is named in the Best Lawyers for trusts and estates and since 2008 for tax law.

She maintains memberships in various professional organizations and has written numerous articles and spoken on various tax, and estate planning topics.

Attorney Diane Bernick, who has joined the firm as of counsel, has substantial experience in estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, and elder law. Bernick received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Michigan State University in 1973, and in 1978 earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from Cooley Law School, where she later taught as an adjunct professor.

She is named in Best Lawyers in Trust and Estates; and fellow lawyers have given her the highest rating “AV” maintained by Martindale-Hubbell.

Bernick is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and former member of the State Bar Elder Law and Advocacy Section and the Probate and Estate Planning Law Section, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council. She has been a speaker and commentator for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Estate Planning Councils, and Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.

In further news, Mary Kay Cascarilla has joined firm as a paralegal and has worked with Bernick and Ouellette representing clients in the practice areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, and taxation.

A paralegal for over 25 years and with an Associate in Business degree and a paralegal certificate from Lansing Community College, Cascarilla has prior experience in the practice areas of personal injury, family law, worker’s compensation, social security disability, and criminal law.

Outside of work, the Lansing native enjoys spending time with her two sons and two daughters, traveling, gardening, working out and being active.