Tina has been in the legal field for over 35 years and has specialized specifically in the areas of Estate and Trust Administration in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.  She graduated from the Widener University Law School Paralegal Program, which is an ABA approved program, and received a Bachelor’s Degree from West Chester University in political science.

Prior to joining the Barnes Law Group, she was employed with some influential firms such as Haws & Burke, MacElree Harvey, Ltd., and Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill & Sager, P.C. in Pennsylvania. Her work with Barnes Law Group, LLC, as well as her previous employers, included extensive involvement with estate and trust administration from inception to completion, including preparation of accountings, fiduciary filings, and all death and fiduciary income tax returns, including but not limited to Federal estate tax return (Form 706), NJ Inheritance Tax Returns, PA Inheritance Tax Returns, individual income tax returns (Form 1040), estate and trust income tax returns (Form 1041), gift tax returns (Form 709), FBAR form and review for tax elections beneficial to client and/or estate or trust.  Additionally, part of my duties for Barnes Law Group, LLC, include, but are not limited to, assisting in the preparation of release and refunding bonds, obtaining letters of administration, guardianship applications, coordination of tax matters with the Internal Revenue Service, New Jersey Division of Taxation and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, and procuring proceeds from life insurance policies, 401K’s, IRA’s, and annuities, including determining cost basis and post mortem tax planning.

In addition to Tina’s paralegal services, her experience has been significant and respected enough in quality that she was previously an auditor for the Chester County Guardianship Program for 10 years.  Moreover, she was appointed by the Honorable Paula Francisco Ott, President Judge, as the administrator of an estate by the Court.  Judge Ott complimented her work and services as an estate administrator by stating she was practical, detail oriented and used common sense in administering estates.

Due to Tina’s extensive experience as a paralegal, specifically in regards to estate planning and administration matters, she has been actively involved in the participation of and organization of continuing legal education seminars. She attended the PBI Estate Planning Institute for almost 20 years until moving to New Jersey.  She organized and participated in Fiduciary Accounting seminar for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and Chester County Bar Association with the Honorable Calvin S. Drayer, Honorable Katherine B. L. Platt, and Attorney General Mary Kenney.  In addition, she wrote and organized a seminar on estate administration with The Honorable Lawrence E. Wood and other attorneys in Chester County at the Chester County Bar Association.  Since being in New Jersey, she has attended numerous estate administration and estate planning seminars thru the NJSBA.   She also organized and participated in an estate administration seminar with the Atlantic County Surrogate James Curcio, Cape May County Surrogate Susan M. Sheppard, New Jersey Division of Taxation, and various other attorneys at the Ocean City Yacht Club in 2016 thru the New Jersey State Bar Association, which was the first NJSBA seminar in Cape May County.  Tina al worked on a seminar with the FBI to inform senior citizens and the general public of potential scams with email and the internet which will be presented in the Fall.

In addition to Tina’s work experience and her involvement with continuing legal education seminars regarding trust and estate matters, she also has extensive volunteer and pro bono experience in the field. She volunteered as a tax preparer for AARP in Pennsylvania, served on the Board for the Chester County Estate Planning Council, and was a member of the Chester County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee and Chester County Paralegal Association.  She also was the first non-attorney to receive the Pro Bono Award Access to Justice from the Chester County Bar Association in conjunction with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania for assistance to those in need by participating in Wills for Heroes and assisting with estate planning documents thru Legal Aid, as well as providing fundraising assistance for Legal Aid of Southeastern PA.

Also, part of her experience and background is to facilitate legal educational opportunities in other settings and mediums, which assists other lawyers and paralegals in their services to their clients.  She currently is on the New Jersey State Bar Association Paralegal Committee, NJSBA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law and Tax Sections Listserve and participate in active conversations as to current events in tax and estate law.  Since being in New Jersey, she has attended numerous estate administration and estate planning seminars thru the NJSBA.  She also participates in WealthCounsel Listserve, which is an estate planning document program wherein attorneys discuss various issues and solutions for estate planning documents as well as administration.

Tina is also a member of the South Jersey Paralegal Association, a current volunteer with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance thru the IRS) in Cape May County, a CERT volunteer in Ocean City, and current board member of Ocean City AARP.   As mentioned above, continuing education is an essential part of being a paralegal and Tina participates in tax training every year for VITA, which entails approximately a week of training and testing.  In addition, every year she participates in a 2 day training Tax Update thru Bob Jennings of Tax Speaker as well as various tax seminars throughout the year provided by the IRS.

Furthermore, Tina’s work has been recognized as a recipient of an award from the National AARP for orchestrating webinars, newsletters, and Zoom meetings with Ocean City AARP to keep senior citizens informed on current events and information during COVID.  With Barnes Law Group, LLC, she provides free Zoom and webinar access for all Ocean City AARP members, as well as Ocean City Colony Club.  Additionally, she serves as a board member of Ocean City Colony Club, which provides scholarships and assistance to the children and teenagers in the community and provided purple basketballs to Ocean City 15th Street basketball court for use by local children.