Matthew Deliberato Loves What He Does

Matt and his Deliberato Law team.

Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick J. O’Connor

Protecting lifetime resources and preparing for life’s final phase comprise important work but are difficult to discuss. It takes a combination of expertise and compassion. This describes the work of Matt Deliberato at the Deliberato Law Center.*

Background on the Law Center
Life’s final phase is stressful for everyone, as difficult conversations must be had and tough decisions must be made.  As with many difficult events in life, it is helpful to have someone assist with navigating the events. Matt and his staff provide extensive resources to guide clients/families through the many aspects of this difficult time. Succession planning, family trusts, estate planning, wills and health care power of attorney are a sampling of their services.

Much of their effort is based on educating clients and families on how to respond to these needs. The emphasis comes from a strong work ethic and a culture of support with learning as the focus. The following quote  sets the tone for Deliberato Law:

The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice. ~ Brian Herbert

A Career Switch
Matt completed his  bachelor’s degree and started working in the family funeral business (fourth generation). Funeral directors are on call 24/7 and must respond to needs whenever they arise. He enjoyed his work there but wanted a better balance between work and family. The importance of this was emphasized during a near fatal battle with throat cancer. This experience, with guidance from his mentors, helped him reorder his priorities. He experienced firsthand the importance of turning what you love into what you do.

Matt decided to choose law over funeral practice, so he completed a law degree at Cleveland State. He focused on elder law, which enabled him to lean on his many years of funeral home experience. Being a cancer survivor also enables him to empathize with his clients at one of life’s most difficult times.

Work and Family Balance
The balance of work and family is essential to Matt’s  lifestyle, law practice and who he is. In many respects, there is a fine line between his personal and professional lives. Matt and Katie, a tax preparer, will celebrate 30 years of marriage next year with family and their college-age twins, Grace and Gianluca (John Luke).

Matt also believes in a healthy balance of work and family for his staff. For example, from Memorial Day to Labor Day,  the office closes at noon on Fridays to let the weekend begin. He and his staff also work remotely on Mondays and Wednesdays. And his firm sponsors several family and social outings each year.

Matt also contributes time, treasure and talent to numerous groups professionally and personally. He loves his time spent serving on several boards, treasurer of his church’s credit union, the Knights of Columbus and even an assistant scout master. His community involvement mirrors his professional life, which is filled with service to others as he lives the motto of his alma mater St. Ignatius: “Men for Others.”

Mentoring
Mentor was the name given to several characters in Greek mythology and has become a synonym for a wise and faithful advisor. Matt has leaned on many mentors and confidants over the years. Most are priests connected to his wide and deep Jesuit education. He’s learned from good role models and emulates them. Perhaps they are a template for him to do the same for others during life’s tough times.

Matt has also taken his law career to a new level by participating in  “Lawyers with a Purpose,” which provides guidance to lawyers looking to improve their professional practice. Matt mentors six attorneys across the country, which he has found to be rewarding, both professionally and personally.

What’s Next?
Matt has always been good on his feet. Maybe it’s rooted in his hobby as a teenage amateur magician. He follows an MSU (make stuff up) approach to everything. He has a few thoughts about the future for his personal and professional life.

He and Katie will be busy with Grace and Gianluca as they pursue their college careers; Grace in theatre and Gianluca in horticulture. They hope their children will be more successful than they are. They also have plans to spend lots of time at their new vacation home on Catawba Island.

Matt plans to continue developing and improving Deliberato Law. His goal is to have the business essentially running itself someday. He will lean on a balance between work and family to achieve that goal as the journey is as important as the destination. A good thing to do when you love what you do is to keep doing it.

 *Meet Our Team of Elder Law Attorneys | Deliberato Law Center (icanprotect.com)