By: Jessica Saio When you hear estate planning, you may think it’s only for individuals who are older, wealthier, married, or have a diagnosis. If you’re young, you may think you don’t need estate planning yet. However, estate planning is for everyone, even if you are young, healthy, and just building your wealth. It’s never…

By Sandi Rosenbaum, Special Education Advocate The announcement on March 27, 2025 from HHS unveiling its “Transformation to Make America Healthy Again” indicated that President Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2025 would close critical agencies serving people with disabilities, including the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Substance Abuse…

By Brian L. Miller Every year, the New York State Department of Health updates the allowed income and resource limits for Medicaid applicants and recipients. For Medicaid applicants seeking community Medicaid benefits on or after January 1, 2025, individuals are allowed monthly income of $1,800 plus a $20 unearned income credit and are allowed to…

By Joel Krooks Ringing in the new year brings updated estate and gift tax exemption amounts for 2025. The federal estate and gift tax exemption have now risen to $13.99 million per person, allowing married couples the advantage of portability, effectively safeguarding $27.98 million from estate taxes upon death. The tax rate for gifts and…

By Joel Krooks, Esq. Many individuals and families understand the importance of having estate planning in place. However, just because you have your estate planning in place does not mean that you are done. Things change and it is important for you to review your estate planning documents to make sure that your goals and…

For many individuals, their home is their most cherished asset. Whether it’s a co-op apartment, condo, or house, it often represents a lifetime of memories and is at times their most valuable investment. As people age, ensuring that the value of their home is preserved and passed down to their loved ones becomes a primary…

In the legal sphere of elder law, navigating the intricacies of Medicaid is often a crucial step in accessing long-term care services for clients and their loved ones. In New York, Medicaid serves as a lifeline for many individuals seeking assistance with long-term care services, whether at home or in a nursing facility. However, alongside…

By Brian L. Miller With the new year upon us, the New York State Department of Health has issued its updates to the allowed income and resource limits for Medicaid applicants and recipients. For new Medicaid applications submitted between January 1, 2024, seeking community Medicaid benefits, an individual is allowed to keep non-exempt resources of…

By Amy C. O’Hara, CELA Ringing in the new year brings updated estate and gift tax exemption amounts for 2024. The federal estate and gift tax exemption has now risen to $13.61 million per person, allowing married couples the advantage of portability, effectively safeguarding $27.22 million from estate taxes upon death. The tax rate for…

By Joel Krooks, Esq. Transferring your real property to a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust can be an effective estate planning tool to help your estate avoid probate, plan for Medicaid or to avoid an estate recovery from Medicaid. When the real property is transferred to a Trust, it is important to inform your homeowners and umbrella…