By: Amy C. O’Hara, Certified Elder Law Attorney Sending a child to college involves more than selecting courses, furnishing a dorm room, and purchasing a meal plan. There are also important legal documents that every family should consider before the semester begins: a power of attorney and a health care proxy. These documents may not…

By: Jessica A. Saio, Esq. Creating an estate plan is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family, preserve your assets, and ensure your wishes are honored. However, signing your documents does not mean the planning process is complete. As your life changes, your estate plan should be reviewed and…

By Brian L. Miller, Esq., CELA Planning for long-term care in New York can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with the complexities of Medicaid eligibility. At Littman Krooks LLP, we regularly guide individuals and families through one of the most critical, and often misunderstood, rules: the Medicaid five-year look-back period. With nursing home costs in…

By: Amy C. O’Hara, Certified Elder Law Attorney Artificial intelligence has quickly become a popular tool for answering questions about everything from travel planning to home repairs. It is not surprising that many people are now turning to AI platforms for guidance on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other estate planning matters. While AI…

By Arshi Pal, Esq. Pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school districts must provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. If a parent believes that the school district has failed to provide a FAPE, the parent can unilaterally place their child in a non-public school of their choosing…

By Nicole Garcia Navigating the special education process can be overwhelming for many families. One of the most important parts of that process is the Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting, where decisions are made about a child’s educational program, services, supports, and Individualized Education Program (IEP). A CSE meeting typically includes professionals such as…

By Melissa L. Steinberg, Esq. When a family member has a serious mental illness — schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or another condition that can cause recurring crises — families often come to an attorney looking for a single, definitive legal solution. They want to know: Can we get guardianship? Can we force treatment? Can…

By Amy C. O’Hara, Certified Elder Law Attorney No one expects to be hospitalized suddenly. Yet accidents, unexpected illnesses, or medical crises can happen at any time. While we cannot control when emergencies occur, we can prepare for them. From an estate planning perspective, thoughtful preparation for an emergency hospitalization can reduce stress, protect your wishes,…

By: Melissa L. Steinberg, Esq. When does “I’ve got it” quietly turn into “I might need help?” For many adult children, the shift isn’t obvious. It shows up in subtle ways: a missed payment, a confusing phone call, a new “friend” getting unusually involved. At the heart of these situations are questions of “capacity.” Understanding…

By Francesca Dumont According to a 2025 Pew Research Center study, only about 31% of Americans have a will or advance directive documents as part of their estate plans. This means that the majority of individuals have not put any formal estate plan in place for their future. Estate planning attorneys serve a dual role…