Mary Ellen McCoy joined East Coast Elder Law, as a Long-Term Care Paralegal following her retirement from a distinguished 22-year career in elder law dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of Medicaid and long-term care planning. Mary Ellen works remotely from South Carolina, where she relocated to be close to her grandchildren. She brings decades of hands-on experience to clients facing some of life’s most difficult transitions.
Mary Ellen’s path to elder law was anything but conventional. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and spent years practicing as a licensed architect in Virginia while raising her three children. When she decided to pursue a new direction, she found her calling in elder law, discovering that the same attention to detail and problem-solving instincts that served her as an architect translated naturally into building and implementing sound plans for families navigating Medicaid and long-term care.
She began her elder law career with Susan I. Jean & Associates in Yorktown, Virginia, and went on to work with several other firms before retiring from Hook Law Center after more than two decades of service to older adults and their families. Along the way, she earned her credentials as a Certified Medicaid Planner™ (CMP) and a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), reflecting her deep expertise in Medicaid eligibility policy, asset protection and long-term care planning. Mary Ellen also has years of experience in estate planning and estate administration.
Rather than stepping fully away from work she loves, Mary Ellen chose to join East Coast Elder Law in a role that lets her continue supporting clients while also prioritizing time with her family and church community. She counts helping people navigate the Medicaid system, and simply being a steady, listening and compassionate presence for families in difficult moments, among the most rewarding parts of her work. She is guided by a deep respect for the dignity of her clients and a commitment to helping families protect their savings and receive much needed public benefits.
Outside the office, Mary Ellen stays active with church and cherishes time spent with friends and family. She and her husband love to hike and travel and they are always looking for new places to explore together.
