Elena Sallitto, Esq.

OWNER, PRINCIPAL

Two people influenced my decision to become an elder law attorney; my grandmother, who got married at age 75 taught me that age is just a number, and there is joy in living, no matter how old you are.  My father, an immigrant to this country,  was  a WWII bronze star recipient who liberated a concentration camp in Austria. He taught me that everyone, regardless of who they are, or where they come from, is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. 

Education

Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)

  • Certification - 2016

Catholic University Columbus School of Law, Washington, D.C.

  • Juris Doctor - 1980

Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - 1977

Named to Maryland Super Lawyers® 2020 - present

Honors

  • Washington, D.C., 1981

  • New York, 1981

  • Connecticut, 1981

  • Maryland, 1991

Bar Admissions

About Ms. Sallitto

Elena is the leading authority on elder and disability planning law in Maryland. She is at the forefront of expert representation, teaching, and legislative reform. She is the owner and partner at Stavely & Sallitto Law.  

Her passion for protecting the elderly and the disabled is unwavering, and her knowledge is unmatched. She works alongside the Alzheimer’s Association, the Maryland Chapter of AARP, aging life care specialists who coordinate home health, and many other experts and advocates in her field. Below is a summary of her work in protecting the dignity and freedom of the elderly and the disabled.

One of Seven CELA Attorneys in Maryland.

Elena is one of only seven practicing CELA attorneys in Maryland, which is the gold standard certification for elder law and special needs practitioners. This certification is reserved for those who possess extensive targeted experience, pass a rigorous examination, and pass a peer-led investigation into their reputation in ethical and competent representation. See more information on what it means to be a CELA attorney on this National Elder Law Foundation webpage.

Annual Editor, Elder Law in Maryland by Jason Frank (published by LexisNexis).

Elena is the annual Editor of Elder Law in Maryland by Jason Frank, the main legal treatise used for reference and education for all attorneys working with the elderly and the disabled in the state. Elena makes yearly revisions to the 2600-page treatise to ensure that attorneys can reference the most up-to-date and accurate information in an extremely state-specific, complex, and changing area of law. This book and more information can be found at the LexisNexis store, here. 

Coauthor, Maryland State Bar Practice Manual, Elder Law Section.

Elena is a coauthor of the Elder Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Practice Manual. This is essentially the flyover guide for approaching common situations in elder law. This nuts and bolts volume provides practical aspects of practicing law that are not covered by law school, and is available through the state bar association as part of continuing education with a focus for new lawyers. 

Adjunct Law School Professor, University of Maryland and University of Baltimore.

In addition to stewarding the premier reference literature for her practice area, she also teaches every individual law student pursuing a career in elder and disability planning law in Maryland. As an adjunct professor, she teaches the only elder law classes at both schools of law in Maryland: the University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore. In these courses, Elena introduces between 14 and 40 students to a wide variety of knowledge areas, from asset management, to abuse of the elderly, to medical decision making, to housing options, and more. 

President, MD/DC NAELA Chapter.

Elena is the President of the MD/DC Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the main force driving legislative reform in its space. At NAELA, she writes state legislation, meets with the MD legislature and the Department of Health, testifies before state congress, and works with lobbyists to move issues forward so that the rights of the elderly and the disabled continue to be improved and protected. Most recently, Elena spearheaded the passing of waiver legislation in Maryland. This law makes it easier for health services to be provided in the home rather than institutions like nursing homes, protecting individuals’ independence and wellbeing. 

As of the start of 2024, Elena is joining NAELA’s Federal Advocacy Committee where she will weigh in on federal legislation. See here for more information on NAELA. 

Board Member, The First Maryland Disability Trust.

As of early 2024, Elena is newly voted in as a board member of The First Maryland Disability Trust, a nonprofit that protects assets and maintains and improves the quality of life for people in nursing care. As of 2024, the organization manages $85 million in assets in trusts. For more information on the trust, see here. 

Council Member, The State Advisory Council for Quality of Care at the End of Life.

Elena is a council member on the State Advisory Council for Quality of Care at the End of Life. This expert group does valued work on advanced directives, which designate healthcare-related decision-making authority to individuals, especially for end of life care.  See here for more information on the council.   

Member, Maryland State Bar Association Estates and Trust Section and Elder Law Disability Rights Sections.

In each of these sections, Elena leads and participates in continuing education, lunch and learns, and networking activities with other elder law-focused attorneys in Maryland. Information on the Estates and Trust Section can be found here. Information on the Elder Law Disability Rights Section can be found here.