What It Means to Work with a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) in Pennsylvania
Choosing an elder law attorney is a significant decision. In Pennsylvania, the Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) credential signals proven experience, advanced knowledge, and a commitment to ethical, client-centered practice.
Working with a CELA means your family’s planning is guided by an attorney who has passed a rigorous specialty exam, demonstrated substantial practice in elder law, received peer endorsements, and maintains extensive continuing education.
About Carol Sikov Gross, CELA
Carol Sikov Gross is one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Western Pennsylvania, certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as authorized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. She is the president of Sikov and Love, P.A. in Pittsburgh and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
Recognized as a Super Lawyer and among the Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania by peer selection, Ms. Sikov Gross brings decades of focused experience to seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families.
She earned her B.S., M.B.A., and J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and clerked for a federal judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Her leadership includes founding and chairing key ACBA elder law groups and serving in leadership for the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA), as well as appointments to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Elder Law Task Force and the Orphans’ Court Rules Committee.
She also helped launch the ACBA “Very Important Papers” Project, advanced senior fraud-prevention efforts, and teaches through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. She is a frequent speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the ACBA, and PAELA.
Why CELA Certification Matters in Pennsylvania
- Verified expertise and ethics: CELAs must pass a comprehensive elder law exam, document substantial elder law practice, earn peer recommendations, and complete additional continuing legal education to maintain certification. In a field where rules around Medicaid, long-term care, guardianship, special needs planning, and capacity change frequently, this substantial continuing legal education ensures your plan is both current and compliant with Pennsylvania law.
What to Expect Working with Carol Sikov Gross, CELA
From the first meeting, you can expect a thorough intake that clarifies goals, care needs, and finances; clear, practical explanations of options and trade-offs specific to Pennsylvania statutes and procedures; coordination with your financial advisor, CPA, and care providers; helpful checklists and estate planning guidance so decision-makers can act; and transparent fees with defined scope and next steps.
Whether planning years in advance or navigating an immediate care crisis, you receive strategies designed to protect eligibility, preserve resources, and honor your values.
Who We Serve
- Seniors planning proactively or facing immediate care needs
- Spouses and adult children supporting aging loved ones
- Individuals and families with special needs
- Personal injury recipients needing settlement protection planning
- Executors and trustees administering Pennsylvania estates and trusts
We will provide a customized plan with concrete steps, timelines, and coordinated implementation. As laws and circumstances change, we remain available to update your plan.
About Sikov and Love, P.A.
Based in Pittsburgh, Sikov and Love, P.A. focuses on elder law, special needs planning, guardianships, estate planning, and estate administration across Western Pennsylvania. Led by Carol Sikov Gross, CELA, the firm is committed to clear counsel, practical solutions, and compassionate advocacy.