Our Founder

JANIS A. CARNEY is the founder of The Law Offices of Janis A. Carney, where she focuses her practice on the many facets of law, including Elder Law, Estate Planning, Long-Term Care Planning, Asset Protection, Medi-Cal planning, VA benefits planning, Trust Administration, and Probate Administration for clients that are all ages. Janis is an expert in assisting elderly, disabled, or chronically ill in planning best for their unique needs. Janis attended law school in her late 30’s as a wife and mother of two, and after watching both of her parents pass away. Going through the process of dealing with the issues of aging, care and death with her parents and in-laws gave Janis an insight to the need and importance of protecting families and estate planning. She excelled academically at Santa Clara University Law School, where she won competitions in client-counseling by utilizing her skills in listening, identifying issues and prioritizing responses, skills she uses today as an elder law counselor and attorney-at-law. She has a deep understanding and concern for clients who are caring for a chronically ill spouse or parent, or who want to plan for their own future care. Ms. Carney asks her clients not only what they want to happen when they die, but also what they want to happen if they don’t die, that is they need long-term care before they die.

Ms. Carney has been recognized as one of the top five percent of elder law attorneys in Northern California for the last eleven years and was recognized by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law in 1995. In 2005, she became the first Certified Elder Law Attorney in Santa Clara County and in 2009 became one of the first Accredited Attorneys with the Veterans Administration in the area.

She is a frequent speaker at community programs in and around Santa Clara County, has appeared on several local television and radio programs as an expert in the areas of elder law, and has taught a class on elder law for Stanford School of Medicine’s eCampus.