While I’m attending social events in New York, I introduce myself as a New York Estate and Elder Law Attorney and I’m often asked “What is Elder Law?”
Typically I respond that Elder Law is a somewhat new field of law that centers its attention on family issues, financial, legal, medical and social issues for seniors and people with disabilities and their families.
I also mention that I’m a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, which is a national, non-profit association of attorneys that help with these problems.
I say Elder Law is somewhat new because attorneys have been handling the main topics of Elder Law such as Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Health Care Planning, Elder Rights, Medicare and Medicaid Planning for many years. These elements have recently been attached to the term “Elder Law”.
These elements of law aren’t new to our law firm. We’ve been assisting New York citizens with “Elder Law” issues for over five decades.
Current seniors are living much longer than previous generations while having much more active and independent lifestyles. This is causing our seniors to experience problems that even their parents didn’t encounter.
Wills and Estate Planning have been a standard procedure for seniors for many years so that their assets could be passed onto their family and beneficiaries. However, 78 years of age is the current life expectancy.
So many more issues arise for seniors to worry about in regard to their future-care that must be addresses with focused Estate Planning. Below are a few questions seniors need to plan for in advance before an unfortunate turn of events:
- Will my savings last my lifetime?
- Can I reduce or nullify my income and estate taxes?
- What is the best method to leave as much as possible to my children and grandchildren while keeping hold of my finances?
- Do I have the finances for a nursing home or assisted living facility?
- Can I be approved for Medicaid?
- Should I obtain long term care insurance?
- What legal tactics can help secure my assets?
- How will Financial and medical decisions be handled if I become disabled?
Undoubtedly, most seniors aren’t looking forward to planning their departure. However, leaving the matter to federal or state hands to decide is very unpleasant experience.
Please take a moment to go over the elements of “Elder Law” that we can assist with. When you’re ready to talk about your future, call me at 716 542 5444 or 800 729 4571. If you want to contact me via e-mail, feel free to use the form to the right.
- Administering estates and trusts
- Advanced Directives
- Annuities
- Article 81 Guardianships
- Assisted Living
- Contested Accountings
- Contesting a Will
- Court Representation for Executors, Trustees, Creditors or Beneficiaries
- Elder Abuse
- Estate & Trust accountings
- Estate Administration & Settlement
- Estate Litigation – Contested Estates & Trusts
- Estate Tax Issues
- Estate Sales of Real Estate
- Estate Tax Returns and Audits
- Family Partnerships, LLCs and Business Succession Planning
- Government Benefits
- Guardianships for Disabled Children
- Health Care Proxies
- Intestacy (dying without a will)
- Invalidating trusts
- Kinship proceedings (Establishing Heirs)
- Life Estates
- Life Insurance Trusts
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Medicaid Planning
- Medicare
- Nursing Home Care
- Power of Attorney
- Probating wills – simple to complex
- Representation of executors & trustees
- Representation of Out-of-State Beneficiaries
- Retirement Planning
- Reverse Mortgages
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Social Security Disability
- Special Needs Trusts
- Supplemental Needs Trusts
- Spousal inheritance disputes
- SSI
- Surrogate’s Court Litigation
- VA Aid and Attendance
- Wills
- Wrongful Death Proceedings
Our practices also include the following Estate Representation:
- Administrator Legal Guidance
- Executor Legal Guidance
- Guardian Legal Guidance
- Trustee Legal Guidance
- Serve as Executor for your Estate
- Serve as Trustee for your Estate
Elder Law and Estate Planning is a lot to take in and can be complicated. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re in need of an Estate Attorney in New York.