Decades of Experience, Rooted in Lancaster
Metzger and Spencer, LLP offers practical legal services in estate, trust, tax, real estate, and business matters with over 90 years of combined experience.
Our Mission
To serve as a trusted resource for families and individuals navigating complex legal situations; fostering harmony, preserving assets, and guiding clients through every phase of the process with professionalism and care.
Meet Our Attorneys
John W. Metzger and Patti S. Spencer bring decades of specialized legal expertise in estate, trust, and tax law to support your needs with precision and care.
John W. Metzger
John W. Metzger is a partner in the Lancaster firm of Metzger and Spencer, LLP, where he practices in the areas of taxation, probate, trusts, estate planning, business entities, real estate, orphans court practice, orphans court litigation and zoning law. He is chairman of the Lancaster Township Zoning Hearing Board.
Mr. Metzger is a member of the Lancaster and Pennsylvania bar associations. Mr. Metzger has served on the Real Property Probate and Trusts Law Section Council. Mr. Metzger volunteered and, for many years, served as the estate planning expert for Lancaster County Wills for Heroes program. He served several terms as a trustee of The Heritage Center Museum of Lancaster County, as well as chairman of its Planning and Giving Committee, and chairman of The Heritage Museum at Penn Square.
Mr. Metzger recently concluded service on both the Board of Directors and the executive Committee of the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, and as a member of the Preservation Action Committee. As part of his service to the Historic Trust, he personally reviewed, inspected, and submitted reports on the continued compliance and maintenance of façade easements throughout southeastern Pennsylvania to ensure continued federal income tax benefits for the proponents of those historic structures. He earned his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Richmond and his J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
Patti S. Spencer
Patti S. Spencer has been practicing law for over 40 years and continues to focus her practice on estate planning, probate, trusts, taxation, and closely-held business issues. Ms. Spencer often serves as a consultant to other attorneys and financial professionals on estate planning, trust, and tax matters, as well as serving as an expert witness in fiduciary litigation.
She graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College and received her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. She is a member of both the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Bars. She taught Estate and Gift Tax Law in the Boston University School of Law Graduate Tax Program for 8 years.
Her column, Taxing Matters, appeared weekly in the “Business Monday” section of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal for 14 years. She is a frequent lecturer and the author of numerous articles on estate planning. In 2003, Ms. Spencer was elected as a fellow in The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. “Your Estate Matters,” a compilation of Ms. Spencer’s columns, was published in January 2015. Your Estate Matters is currently available online at www.amazon.com.
Ms. Spencer is also the author of a reference book for lawyers: “Pennsylvania Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library Forms and Practice Manual”, originally published in 2007, 3 volumes, updated annually. It is available on Data Trace Publishing and Amazon.
Our Values
Professionalism & Integrity
We approach every case with diligence, discretion, and respect to uphold the highest standards.
Accessibility
Our team works to make legal services approachable and understandable.
Local Connection
As part of the Lancaster community, we value long-term relationships built on trust and results.
Let's Navigate Your Legal Journey Together
Ready to Start? Reach Out Now!
At Metzger and Spencer Law LLP, we are dedicated to providing personalized legal services tailored to your unique needs. Whether you're facing estate administration, estate planning, trust administration, tax filings, or business considerations, we are here to help you every step of the way.