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Bertsch & Boze Elder Law: One of Only Two Certified Elder Law Attorneys in San Antonio

A San Antonio estate planning attorney search for elder law specifically narrows quickly: Carol Bertsch is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a national certification earned through rigorous testing and a demonstrated focus in elder and disability law — and one of only two attorneys in San Antonio to hold it. She still makes house calls to clients unable to travel to her office, a detail this directory finds more telling about the practice’s actual client-service model than any marketing language could convey. This profile is part of Awesome Attorneys’ coverage of San Antonio probate attorney options.

At a Glance

Origin & Background

Bertsch earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1992 and began practicing elder law in 1996, narrowing her focus entirely to the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities that year. In 2012, she earned Certified Elder Law Attorney designation — a national credential distinct from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s estate planning certification, requiring rigorous testing and a demonstrated practice concentration specifically in elder and disability law, and held by only one other attorney in San Antonio. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, and the San Antonio Bar Association. Brennen Boze joined the firm after more than a decade as a litigator, bringing courtroom experience to the practice’s elder law and guardianship work.

San Antonio Estate Planning Attorney Practice Concentration

As a San Antonio estate planning attorney practice focused specifically on elder law, Bertsch & Boze handles wills, trusts, probate, guardianships, Medicaid and long-term care planning, and disability planning for clients of any age. The firm’s website states directly that Bertsch does not represent a financial company trying to make a sale and is not a government employee — an explicit independence statement addressing a common source of client confusion in the elder-planning space, where insurance and annuity sales sometimes masquerade as impartial planning advice.

Track Record

Specific case-count or outcome statistics were not independently available in the sources reviewed for this profile; the firm’s public record consists primarily of nearly three decades of continuous San Antonio elder law practice under Bertsch’s CELA certification. Elder law, estate planning, and probate outcomes depend heavily on the specific facts, assets, and family circumstances of each matter, and past experience does not predict or guarantee a result in any future case.

Client Voice

Client reviews are unusually warm and specific for a legal practice. One client described trusting Bertsch and staff member Maria to handle their father’s will and final matters, writing that Carol and Maria “made my sister and I feel supported every step of the way” during one of the hardest periods of her life — and that the experience led her to now trust the firm with her mother’s planning as well. Another reviewer, a fellow attorney, described referring “many matters” to Bertsch over the years and consistently receiving “excellent work.” A third specifically credited attorney Autumn’s “exemplary knowledge of the law” matched by “kindness and compassion throughout the process.” No pattern of negative reviews or bar complaints was found in the sources reviewed.

Beyond the Courtroom

The firm provides educational seminars directly to senior groups on legal resources and planning strategies, an outreach model distinct from paid marketing content. Bertsch and her firm are recognized supporters of the San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA), OASIS, the Alzheimer’s Association, and DisabilitySA — a community involvement pattern specifically aligned with the population the firm serves professionally.

Recognition

Certification disclosure: Carol Bertsch’s Certified Elder Law Attorney designation was independently confirmed through the firm’s own materials and multiple third-party attorney directories, which is why this specific national certification is cited accurately in this profile. This profile did not confirm separate Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification for Bertsch in the sources reviewed, and does not apply TBLS “specialist” language as a result — though CELA certification is disclosed here as the genuine, rigorously-tested national elder law credential it is. Bertsch’s San Antonio Magazine Top Attorney recognition reflects a publication-based award, distinguished here from state licensing certification.

Texas Legal Backdrop

Texas does not impose a state estate or inheritance tax, though federal estate tax can still apply to larger estates above the federal exemption threshold. Medicaid planning, a stated core focus of this firm, requires accounting for Texas’s Medicaid look-back period — generally five years — during which asset transfers can trigger a penalty period of ineligibility for long-term care benefits, making early and carefully structured planning significantly more effective than reactive planning after a health crisis. Guardianship proceedings, another stated focus, require the Texas Estates Code’s clear-and-convincing-evidence standard establishing that a proposed ward cannot adequately care for themselves or manage their property — a protective standard given how significantly a guardianship restricts personal autonomy.

Awesome Attorneys Assessment

Bertsch & Boze Elder Law’s clearest differentiator is genuine specialty depth: Carol Bertsch is one of only two Certified Elder Law Attorneys practicing in San Antonio, backed by nearly three decades of exclusive elder law focus, still-active house calls for clients unable to travel, and a consistently warm, specific, and credible client review record including a notably candid peer endorsement from a fellow attorney.

The honest trade-off is that this profile did not confirm separate TBLS board certification for Bertsch, so clients specifically prioritizing that particular state credential should weigh it against her CELA national certification — a genuine but distinct credentialing path — combined with her firm’s deep, sustained elder law specialization and strong client track record.

Methodology & Sourcing

This profile was compiled from Bertsch & Boze Elder Law’s own website (assistingseniors.com), its Yelp business listing, Carol Bertsch’s Justia attorney profile, and independent third-party review aggregation and summary pages. CELA certification was independently confirmed through the firm’s own materials and multiple third-party directories; TBLS certification specifically was not confirmed. Statutory references were checked against Texas’s lack of a state estate tax, Texas’s Medicaid look-back period for long-term care planning, and the Texas Estates Code’s clear-and-convincing-evidence standard for guardianship as generally published. No case results, credentials, or quotes were invented; client statements referenced above are drawn from the firm’s public website and third-party review pages.

Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice

Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal directory and editorial publication. This profile was not paid for, commissioned, or reviewed by Bertsch & Boze Elder Law, PC prior to publication. Awesome Attorneys may in the future offer sponsored placements clearly labeled as such, but no payment of any kind determines inclusion in, or the content of, this editorial profile. This article is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Bertsch & Boze Elder Law or Awesome Attorneys.