Elizabeth Spadafore and Kyle Janes
Emil Spadafore
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Elizabeth focuses her practice on family law matters such as divorce, custody, adoption, protection from abuse, and support. Her background as a former County Solicitor for Crawford County Children and Youth Services has led to her being a steadfast advocate for children and the preservation of families on both the trial and appellate levels. Elizabeth also advised the City of Meadville and serves as a solicitor to many local municipal authorities.
Elizabeth was raised in Meadville. She graduated with a B.A. in 1998 from Slippery Rock University, worked as a paralegal for ten years, and was a local small business owner before attending Duquesne University School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate in 2010. Elizabeth serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Learning Center K-8 Independent School. She co-chairs the Crawford County Family Law Rules Committee with her husband and law partner, Kyle. She is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Meadville.
In the past, she has served as President of the Creating Landscapes Learning Center, Vice President of the Board for Women's Services, and was appointed to serve on the Crawford County Juvenile Court Roundtable. Before refining her focus to family law, Elizabeth opened and managed three offices in Northwest PA for a leading Pittsburgh bankruptcy firm. She was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States Federal District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania in 2011. In pursuit of more tools for effectuating a change in the family law landscape, Elizabeth became a certified mediator in 2017.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Dance and performed professionally in several U.S. cities. Elizabeth lives in Meadville with Kyle, her daughter Mia, and her stepdaughter Roselyn.
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Kyle has expertise in all family law matters. From negotiating high-net-worth divorces to appellate litigation, Kyle has successfully assisted countless clients throughout Western Pennsylvania in controlling their futures.
Kyle was born and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Allegheny College in 2010 with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in economics and mathematics. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2013. In 2014, Kyle moved back to Meadville to begin practicing family law. Kyle became a Certified Collaborative Professional in 2017 and a Transformative Mediator in 2022.
Kyle is a member of the Kiwanis Club and serves on the board of the Stone UMC Children’s Center and the board of the local United Way. He co-chairs the Crawford County Family Law Rules Committee with his wife and law partner, Elizabeth. Kyle is a sought-after presenter and speaker on family law topics in the community.
Kyle’s family owns a frozen custard stand in New Wilmington, PA. Kyle enjoys cross-country skiing at his family’s lodge in Wattsburg, PA, and playing the drums. Kyle lives in Meadville with Elizabeth, his daughter Roselyn, and his stepdaughter Mia.
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Since 1976, Emil’s practice has focused on personal injury, real estate development, commercial transactions, estates, municipal law, and school law. For 19 years, Emil served the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville in myriad ways. He served as an Adjunct Instructor of Law, Chairman of the Advisory Board and is currently a member of various committees on the University of Pittsburgh's Board of Trustees.
From 1989 to 2003, Emil served as Solicitor for the Crawford Central School District. He has also served as a solicitor to multiple municipal authorities.
Emil received his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University in 1976 after interning as Jr. Law Clerk from 1973 to 1975 for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Before law school, he received his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971.
Over the years, Emil has been heavily involved in performing in and supporting local community theater, has volunteered in local service organizations, and has served in numerous roles on the boards of local non-profits.
Today, Emil is a residential and commercial real estate pillar in Northwest Pennsylvania.
Emil was raised in Monessen, PA, and is married to Kathleen, his real estate paralegal. Emil and Kathy have raised four children in Meadville: Elizabeth, Rebecca, Rachel, and Joseph. Emil is overjoyed to have been blessed with four granddaughters.
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Education: Drake University, J.D., 1993; Brown University (History), M.A.T, 1997; College of Wooster (History), B.A., 1987.
Practice Areas: Throughout his career, Ross has concentrated on estate planning, administration, and litigation. His practice includes drafting wills and trusts, including complex estate planning, powers of attorney, Medicaid, nursing home asset protection planning, and other tax and estate planning and document preparation. Ross has extensive litigation experience and provides counsel for guardianship petitions and other actions involving estates and fiduciary matters. In his younger years, Ross served as Chief Public Defender of Crawford County and litigated homicide and death penalty matters.
Bio: Ross was born and raised in Meadville and graduated from Meadville Area High School. After they met in law school, Ross and his wife, Libby, began their law practices in 1994 as the fourth generation in Ross’s family’s law firm. They were partners in the Law Firm of Prather, Prather & Higgins, LLP, and Ross later re-established the Prather Law Firm, LLC. Libby now teaches third grade at First District Elementary. They have two sons, Duncan and Frank, and a daughter, Meredith, who served with the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan, one of the first females in US history to earn the Combat Infantry Badge.
Ross has served 12 years on the Crawford Central School Board and several other local boards.
Ross and Libby enjoy running, hiking, and climbing, and Ross has competed in over 20 marathons, including the Boston Marathon.
Ross Prather
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