Issue 42 | September 2026

 

We first heard Gretchan Ohlig’s name after it came up several times as a trusted local attorney for estate planning. When a recommendation surfaces more than once, we pay attention.

 

After meeting Gretchan, it was easy to see why. Her approach is practical, thoughtful, and focused on helping families understand how the different pieces of an estate plan actually work together.

 

For women in midlife, that can mean planning for themselves while also supporting children and aging parents. This week, Gretchan helps us understand where to begin, why a will alone may not be enough, and how to build the right planning bench.

 

 

Gretchan R. Ohlig, Esq. is a partner at Phelan, Frantz, Ohlig & Wegbreit, LLC, where she focuses on estate planning, estate and trust administration, guardianship matters, and real estate law. She earned her JD from St. John’s University School of Law after graduating from UNC at Chapel Hill and later clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Raymond J. Dearie. Gretchan lives in Westfield with her family and has been active in the community, including service on the Westfield Board of Education and as a trustee of The Westfield Foundation.

 

A: Women in the sandwich generation who are caring for their children and aging parents often neglect getting their own affairs in order thinking that it’s not a priority.  The reality is that anything can happen at any time and that the caretakers need to care for themselves as well.  This includes making sure that there’s a plan in place in the event of a sudden illness or worse.

 

A: We have an outline that we ask prospective clients to complete in advance of the initial consultation so that I can get to know them on paper and learn about their important people, their assets and their goals. This allows me to spend our time together focusing on substance rather than how to spell children’s names and asking for addresses.

 

A: A Last Will and Testament will dictate the distribution of assets held by an individual in their name alone without a beneficiary assigned.  If an asset, like real estate or a bank account, is owned jointly with someone, it will automatically pass to the survivor by operation of law.  Similarly, assets like retirement accounts and life insurance often have beneficiaries named.  Those named beneficiaries will inherit the asset regardless of the contents of a Will.  A successful estate plan ensures that the way in which these assets are designated align.  This is why I believe it is so important to work in conjunction with my client’s financial advisors and CPAs.

 

A: A power of attorney designates someone to serve as your agent to complete financial, legal or business matters and a medical or health care proxy appoints someone to make medical decisions for you in the event you cannot articulate your own wishes.  These two documents are separate from and in addition to a Last Will and Testament and are equally as important.

 

The NEWH newsletter and directory are community-sourced resources, shared for informational purposes only. They do not constitute medical advice, formal endorsement, or provider review. Always consult your healthcare provider and insurance plan before making any decisions. Provider listings reflect personal experiences shared by NEWH members or direct submissions by the provider. Inclusion is not based on ranking, review, or clinical vetting. Please do not copy, repost, or redistribute this content outside of the NEWH community. Do not scrape, resell, or repurpose this list for external use — including other platforms, promotions, or business purposes.