Attorney Profiles

Despite Rhode Island's lack of a process for certification of specialization, Mr. Sjoberg has developed a reputation for expertise in the area of estate planning and administration, probate practice and procedure, and estate and trust litigation. By practical necessity, his practice is concentrated on this area of the law with special emphasis on protection of the elderly and disabled, fiduciary negligence and claims on bonds, and litigating complex estate issues.

Mr. Sjoberg is on the qualified lists of the probate, family and superior courts for appointment as independent fiduciary, master, custodian and/or guardian ad litem for those with legal disabilities. He investigates cases of self-neglect, exploitation and financial and physical abuse of the elderly and disabled and has initiated and prosecuted protective proceedings on their behalf at the instigation of families and State protective services. He has prosecuted actions to remove fiduciaries, has recovered embezzled and converted assets and prosecuted claims on fiduciary bonds.

Mr. Sjoberg is actively engaged in disability and medical assistance planning and other aspects of Elder Law. He has represented institutionalized and community spouses in fair hearing before the R.i. Department of Human Services. He has been commissioned in the family court to establish court-created disability trusts for asset protection of divorce litigants who are disabled and under age 65.

He has lectured extensively on estate, trust, probate and planning matters through the National Business Institute, Lorman Education Services, R.I. Association for Justice (formerly R.I, Trial Lawyers Association), R.I. Bar Association Annual Meeting and Continuing Legal Education Committees, and League of City and Town Clerks. His goal is to raise the level of competence of the bar in a rapidly evolving area of practice. He is particularly concerned and offended with publicized cases of misappropriation and fraud resulting in attorney discipline that tarnishes, by association, the reputation and integrity of competent practitioners. He has accepted appointments in the probate and superior courts to conduct forensic audits of such cases and to present findings, through the court, to the Rhode Island Disciplinary Counsel and the Supreme Court.

Anxiety and misinformation are the main obstacles in the public's understanding of the services available from the estate, trust and elder law bar. To remove the mystery and fear in the public, especially among the elderly and disabled, and to improve the public perception of attorneys, Mr. Sjoberg has regularly presented seminars and participated on panel discussions through the sponsorship of the Ask a Lawyer Program, Volunteer Lawyer Program, Council of Churches, Citizens Law School, as well as local church groups, other charitable organizations and nursing and assisted living facilities.