Karen L. Rowell

Joined the Firm in 2018

Education

• Juris Doctor, Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary, 2008
• B.S. in Family and Child Development , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1996

Military Service

• Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Second Class (CTI2), United States Navy, 1997–2002.
• Received the Good Conduct Medal, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, a NATO Medal for Service in the Former Yugoslavia, and an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Admissions

• Virginia State Bar since 2008

Certifications

• Certified Guardian ad litem for incapacitated adults by the Virginia Supreme Court, since 2010

Publications

• Basic Long-Term Care Medicaid Planning: A Focus on Protecting the Spouse” presented to the 2019 UnProgram of the Virginia Academy of Elder Attorneys, Richmond, Virginia.

Professional Affiliations

• Virginia Bar Association
• Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• Member, Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• Member and past Secretary of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association
• Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce BOLD program, 2019 – 2021 class
• Member and Past President (2013), Bridgewater Ruritan Club

Community Involvement

• Board Member, The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham
• Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 632
• Adult volunteer, Virginia Skyline Council, Girl Scouts of America, since 2009

Practice Areas

• Planning of taxable and non-taxable estates;
• Drafting Last Will and Testaments and Trusts (revocable, irrevocable, charitable, asset protection, life insurance and testamentary);
• Fiduciary services – acting as executor, trustee, and attorney-in-fact for clients;
• Representation of fiduciaries and personal representatives: executors, administrators, trustees, health care agents, and attorneys-in-fact;
• Trust and estate administration and probate;
• Representation of clients before the Commissioner of Accounts’ offices;
• Incapacity planning: drafting financial powers of attorneys and Advance Medical Directives (health care powers of attorney and end of life decision making);
• Medicaid benefits planning with regard to nursing home and long term care;
• Petitions for adult guardianships and conservatorships; and,
• Accepting appointment as guardian ad litem in guardianship and conservatorship petitions.

Karen received her baccalaureate degree in Family & Child Development from Virginia Tech and her juris doctor from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary. Ms. Rowell served as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretive in the United States Navy for five years prior to attending law school and has been practicing law in Harrisonburg since 2008. 

Ms. Rowell focuses her practice on wills & estate planning, advanced medical directives & powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid & Social Security Benefits, financial & long-term care planning, revocable living trusts, special needs trusts, guardianships & conservatorships, and probate, trust & estate administration.  Ms. Rowell is a qualified guardian ad litem for incapacitated adults. 

Ms. Rowell and her daughter have enjoyed living in Bridgewater since 2008 and look forward to many more years living and serving the community in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.  

Back To Our Team Page

Contact Karen L. Rowell