Founder
A lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, attorney Nick Lutz focuses on elder law, asset protection, estate planning, and closely related practice areas. Over the course of his career he has helped hundreds of families in northeast and central Pennsylvania protect their assets from nursing home costs and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having a comprehensive estate plan in place for the future.
Nick founded Cardinal Estate Planning to create a boutique environment dedicated exclusively to meeting the short- and long-term planning needs of the community he calls home. He takes a highly personal approach to the practice of law and can be described as a “family counselor for life.” He devotes all the time and energy necessary to gain a thorough understanding of his clients’ unique needs and explains their options in clear language devoid of confusing jargon. Nick then uses his experience and mastery of the law to design a customized plan capable of meeting all of a particular client’s needs and goals. Nick believes this level of collaboration is the key to effective planning.
Nick’s grandparents have played a major role in his life, and this has translated into a love of working with elders. Nick appreciates the wisdom and life experiences his clients share, and derives a great deal of professional satisfaction from helping elders plan for the future and find solutions to difficult legal issues during times of crisis.
When asked why he chose to focus on elder law, asset protection, and estate planning, Nick explains, “There is nothing quite like that feeling when you’re sitting down with a client, perhaps an elder couple you have known for much of your life, and explain exactly how you can simultaneously protect their life savings and their eligibility for Medicaid to pay for nursing home care. You can literally see the stress disappear, replaced by relief and a smile. This is why I do what I do.”
Nick earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He also earned an MBA from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. Nick received his undergraduate degree from Wilkes University. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and Lawyers With Purpose (LWP).
Nick lives in Berwick with his wife, Kirstin, daughter Addie, and son Dimitri. Rounding out the family are (Bob) Dylan, a German Shorthaired Pointer, (Joan) Jett, a Goldendoodle, and a cat named Stevie (Nicks). When not practicing law, Nick enjoys spending time with his family, attending church at St. Mary’s, golf, collecting classic rock vinyl records, working on his lawn, craft beer, and cheering on Pittsburgh sports teams.
Latest Articles by Nick Lutz
What Your Family Needs to Know About Powers of Attorney
In this series, I will get right to the point about what I think your family needs to know about important topics in elder law, estate planning, and estate ...
New Blog Series: What Your Family Needs to Know About Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Estate Administration
As an attorney, I often walk a fine line between listening to my clients describe what they want and on the other hand, explaining to them what they need. ...
Probate vs. Non-probate Assets: What’s the Difference and Why Does it Matter?
One of the most common questions clients ask us is what is the difference between a probate and non-probate asset? Most clients own a mix of assets that ...
How to Choose a Professional Home Care Provider, Continued
When choosing a home care provider, it’s important to ask for references. Suitable references include doctors, discharge planners and other patients or the ...
