Securing the Safety of Clients in Family Court
Elder Law practitioners work within complex family dynamics when they engage with their clients on a variety of topics. Most often, even if tension exists among family members, the exchanges among the parties are civil. In some circumstances, however, family dynamics are more complex and even become unsafe. When this arises the elder law practitioner…
Remote Notarization and Witnessing Has Ended
By Brian L. Miller, Esq. With Governor Cuomo officially ending the New York State’s COVID-19 State Disaster of Emergency on June 24, 2021, so too ended his authority to suspend and modify laws using executive orders. As such, the Governor’s executive orders which allowed remote notarization and remote witnessing of documents have ended. Effective June…
The Benefits of a Credit Shelter Trust
By Joel Krooks, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP In 2021, the New York estate tax exemption amount is $5,930,000. If an individual has over $5,930,000 of assets, then that individual will owe an estate tax at their passing. One planning technique for individuals to consider is to use a Credit Shelter Trust in estate planning documents.…
Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act
By: Amy C. O’Hara, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP Earlier this month, Congress reintroduced the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act (H.R.3763). The proposed bill provides significant and long overdue improvements to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program including increasing the general income disregard from $20 per month to $123 per month, adjusting the earned income disregard…
Zoom Conference: Financial Elder Abuse and Fraud
June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Because of the many issues surrounding elder abuse, Littman Krooks attorney Brian L. Miller, Esq., and his guest, Ilene Amiel, Financial Care Manager from Personal Affairs Administrator Inc., are a hosting a discussion on financial elder abuse. Brian and Ilene will discuss money management and how we…
New York Enacts New Power of Attorney Law
We share this bulletin to update our clients on an important change in New York law governing powers of attorney which could impact your estate planning. This bulletin provides important information related to the changes. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by these changes or if you are uncertain about how this update…
New York State Rules on Aging out of Special Education
By Sandi Rosenbaum and Marion Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP It is important for parents and students to understand when the entitlement to special education ends. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that states must provide a free appropriate public education to all students with disabilities residing in the state between the ages…
Update on New York’s Community Medicaid Changes
By Brian L. Miller, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP In April of 2020, New York State passed laws significantly changing the Community Medicaid program for all New Yorkers, including the implementation of a thirty-month lookback for all asset transfers. These laws were intended to take effect in October 2020 but have been pushed back several times…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
By Marion M. Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP Littman Krooks is a long-time sponsor of NAMIWalks and has participated for the past five years, in torrential rain, in sunshine, and virtually in 2020. Our “Team LK Marion’s Marchers” will be taking part in the 2021 NAMIWalks Your Way: A United Day of Hope, on May…
Managing Virtual Learning for Students with Special Needs
Reprinted with permission of the Special Needs Alliance (www.specialneedsalliance.org) This post was authored by attorney Amy C. O’Hara, CELA of Littman Krooks, LLP, New York. Amy focuses her practice on special needs planning, elder law, trusts and estates, and personal injury settlement consulting. She serves on SNA’s Board of Directors. If the pandemic has been…