Ms. Lacey has been a legal professional for more than fifteen years.  She is an alumna of Trinity College and Emory University School of Law, is licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and Washington, D.C., and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney.

Her practice concentrates on planning for the unique and often complex concerns of the elder population and their adult children, and those of disabled children and adults.

• The Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia
• Mt. Vernon Business Seminars
• The People's Law School
• The Southern Gerontological Society
• Kennesaw State University Continuing Education
• Georgia State University
• The Joint Conference on Law and Aging
• SunTrust Bank
• A.G. Rhodes Nursing Home
• North Atlanta Senior Services
• Piedmont Hospital's Senior Plus program
• The Georgia Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society
• Alzheimer's Support Groups
• AARP Chapters

Dorothy Richeson Harper (Dot) joined our practice in March 2008. Her interest in the practice of Elder and Special Needs Law stems from past experiences with Alzheimer patients and with students having Special Needs. Dot graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Florida with a degree in Education. After teaching Math and Algebra for many years, she went back to school to fulfill her interest in becoming a lawyer. She graduated from Mercer University’s School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List and was awarded honors for Excellence in Achievement in several areas of legal study, including Health Care Law. Dot has also practiced as a residential closing attorney and in general litigation, specializing in Family Law.

 Dot can be contacted directly at dharper@elderlaw-lacey.com.

Diane Terpstra Diane Terpstra joined the team at the Law Firm of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. in early 2007 as Administrative Assistant/Office Manager. Diane manages the office operations and is responsible for the financial aspects of the business. Diane graduated from The Berkeley School and attended William Paterson College in New Jersey where her focus was Accounting. She has office experience in a wide spectrum of businesses and has won a number of awards for her Customer Service skills. Born in New Jersey, Diane has called Georgia home for more than fifteen years. She is the proud grandmother of a beautiful little girl and mother to a wonderful son. Diane's household buddies include two talking parrots, Remy and Shamrock. Her favorite pastimes include cooking, knitting, reading and watching her nephew play soccer. Diane can be contacted directly at dterpstra@elderlaw-lacey.com.

Stephanie Buffington

Stephanie Buffington joined the team at the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C., in November 2007 as the firm's paralegal. Prior to coming to the firm, she spent over twenty years working as a litigation paralegal in areas such as products liability defense, personal injury, special education law, medical malpractice, and other areas. She has extensive trial and complex litigation experience.

Ama Speede joined the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C. in August, 2007 as the firm's Receptionist. Ama receives inquiries and provides information to callers, greets visitors, and is responsible for various clerical duties. She is patient and thorough in providing each caller with the information they have requested and forwarding requests to the appropriate individual with in the office. Presently Ama is attending Atlanta Technical College, where she is currently serving as State President of Delta Epsilon Chi.

Ms. Speede is excited about elder and special needs law and how she and the firm serve the needs of our clients. She brings with her seven years of experience as a receptionist, nine years in retail sales, and sixteen years in customer service.

Ama was born in New York City, but has enjoyed Georgia's beautiful weather for ten years. Her interests include reading, mentoring, nurturing her plants, listening to praise and worship songs, and volunteering in community service projects such as helping children with their homework at the Atlanta Fulton Public Library, and as a Teachers Assistant at Gullian Elementary School. Ama can be contacted directly at aspeede@elderlaw-lacey.com.