Founding Member and Attorney | Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Special Needs, Barlow Anderson, LLC
Leonard R. Anderson is an Anchorage, Alaska, estate planning, elder law, and special needs attorney and a founding member of Barlow Anderson, LLC.
Admitted in Alaska in 1994 (Bar No. 9411092) and also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Tax Court, he has more than 30 years of experience.
He focuses on estate planning, probate, special needs and Medicaid planning, guardianship and conservatorship, asset protection, and business law, and he serves on the national Board of Directors of the Special Needs Alliance. He was selected as an Alaska Super Lawyer in 2021 in Elder Law.
About Leonard
Leonard Anderson is a founding member of Barlow Anderson, LLC, and brings more than 30 years of experience to his clients. He provides efficient, effective legal services with excellent
communication, so your concerns never languish.
He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University in 1991 and his law degree from Gonzaga University in 1994.
He is a member of the Anchorage and Alaska Bar Associations and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Tax Court.
Leonard was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Alaska after meeting his wife, Lale, in college and getting hooked on the long summer days and salmon fishing. Together they have raised eight children, all in Alaska.
Why Estate Planning and Business Law
Leonard has been interested in business since college, and he went to law school after taking a business law class.
He also genuinely enjoys helping people plan for the future, so that their affairs are organized and their wishes are known and followed if they can no longer act for themselves or after they pass away.
When conversations turn to difficult subjects like death, incapacity, or family conflict, his approach is to be sensitive but to address the issues head-on, so clients can understand the real options available to them in their circumstances.
What He Does Differently
Leonard believes the firm’s clients are well served by lawyers who are timely, efficient, and friendly, and who build good communication and lasting relationships.
Some of the matters he is most proud of involve helping families qualify a loved one for Medicaid benefits so they could receive care they desperately needed but could not otherwise afford, and helping trust and estate beneficiaries recover the share they were owed when a fiduciary was withholding it.
That combination of planning and advocacy is at the heart of his practice.
Practice Focus
Leonard represents individuals, families, and business owners across Alaska in:
- Estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and community property trusts and agreements
- Probate and trust administration
- Special needs and Medicaid planning, including first-party and third-party special needs trusts and Miller trusts
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Elder law and asset protection planning
- Business law, including formation, shareholder and owner agreements, contracts, and buy-sell agreements
He practices primarily in Anchorage and Palmer and serves clients throughout Alaska.
Experience at a Glance
- 30+ years of legal experience (admitted in Alaska in 1994)
- Founding member of Barlow Anderson, LLC
- Alaska Super Lawyer, Elder Law (2021)
- National Board of Directors, Special Needs Alliance (an invitation-only organization of special needs planning attorneys)
- Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Tax Court
- Past President and current Board member, Anchorage Bar Association
Representative Work
Leonard’s practice combines careful planning with determined advocacy when needed. Representative examples include qualifying elderly and disabled clients for Medicaid benefits while protecting their families, establishing first-party and third-party special needs trusts that coordinate with government benefit programs, and representing trust and estate beneficiaries to recover distributions wrongfully withheld by a fiduciary.
Descriptions of past work are illustrative and are not a guarantee of any particular result. Every matter depends on its own facts.
Education
- J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, 1994
- B.S. in Accounting, Brigham Young University, 1991
Bar Admissions and Credentials
- Alaska, admitted 1994 (Bar No. 9411092)
- U.S. District Court, District of Alaska
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Tax Court
Leadership and Professional Involvement
- National Board of Directors, Special Needs Alliance
- Past President and Board member, Anchorage Bar Association
- Member, Alaska Probate Rules Committee
- Member, Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law Sections, Alaska Bar Association
- Frequent speaker on estate planning and the probate process
Recognition
Alaska Super Lawyers, Elder Law (2021)
Verified Profiles and Directory Listings (H2)
You can verify Leonard Anderson’s credentials and read independent reviews on his profiles:
What Our Clients Say About Us:
“We recently did all our estate planning with this wonderful firm. They were so thorough. And explained everything so clearly and patiently. The entire staff was friendly, professional, and accommodating at all times. The final product exceeded all expectations. We cannot recommend them highly enough. They’re definitely the best at what they do!”
“Mr. Anderson has been a fantastic help to me through my grandparents’ death and setting up my new trusts. Can not recommend Mr. Anderson enough”
“By far the best experience I’ve had. Anderson was compassionate and offered help when no one else would. Expertly navigating through the messy situation I experienced.
He was fair with expenses and was dutiful, prompt, and excellent at communicating with me and everyone who needed it. I would work with him many times over and highly recommend him to anyone looking for an estate to be handled with grace and intelligence.”
Contact Leonard R. Anderson for a Consultation at Barlow Anderson, LLC
Planning your estate or facing a probate, special needs, or business matter in Alaska? Talk with Leonard Anderson. Call (907) 375-0750 to schedule a consultation. Barlow Anderson, LLC, 420 L Street, Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99501.
Office hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Zoom consultations available.
