Elder Law & Estate Planning

SSA urges Benefit Recipients with Dependent Children to Provide Information to the IRS quickly to receive Maximum Benefit

By Arshi Pal, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP The President signed the Stimulus Package on March 27, 2020, which authorized direct payments to individuals and families. It was announced that individuals who filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 did not have to take further steps to receive their stimulus funds. However, the Social Security Administration further…

Father and Daughter Playing Together at the Beach at Sunset. Hap
Special Education Advocacy

Protecting the Most Vulnerable Adults in New York: What Can We Do?  

By Marion M.  Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP The COVID-19 virus is taking a disproportionate toll on our most vulnerable population. The New York Times, in a recent article,  reported that, as of Monday, April 7,  1,100 of the 140,000 people with developmental disabilities had tested positive for the virus;  105 people had died.  This…

Grandfather And Kids Reading Book
Special Education Advocacy

The Board of Regents Passed Emergency Amendments Regarding Services for Special Education Students and Impartial Hearings

By Arshi Pal, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP On April 6, 2020 Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the ‘New York on Pause’ order, keeping New York State schools closed through April 29th. Simultaneously, the New York State Board of Regents adopted emergency regulations to address continued school closures. The amendments address various topics such as Requirements for…

Man looking over estate litigation documents
Elder Law & Estate Planning

New York Executive Order Permits Remote Witnessing of Wills

By Brian L. Miller, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP As the COVID-19 crisis lingers, the interest of people seeking to prepare and/or update their estate planning documents has increased.  However, there is an inherent (and valid) concern of clients who have socially isolated themselves in compliance with the CDC directives.  As such, the Last Will and…

Elder Law & Estate Planning

Significant Changes To New York State Medicaid

By Brian L. Miller, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP In the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature quietly made significant changes to New York’s Medicaid rules, making it harder for New Yorkers to obtain Medicaid benefits for long-term care. The changes to New York State’s Medicaid program include the…

Elder Law & Estate Planning

Allow Us To Prepare Your Estate Planning Documents Remotely

By Brian L. Miller, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP In this current COVID-19 environment, we have seen an uptick in news articles about Do It Yourself Wills and Advance Directives.  These articles are often written by journalists with little to no real world experience of probating a will or executing advance directives, or are targeting a…

If your child requires significant supervision and support beyond the school day, they may be eligible for services from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Special Education Advocacy

Navigating the Pandemic: OCR issues Clarifications on Distance Learning to Students with Disabilities

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP We are living through unprecedented times. Schools have closed – a jolt to our systems. Students, educators and parents alike are trying to chart their course in our newfound world of online or remote learning.  A host of new concerns and considerations in the wake of the…

Corporate & Securities

COVID-19: SEC and FINRA Issue Temporary Relief on Regulatory Obligations and Offers Guidance on BCP for Broker-Dealers

As the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) continues to spread and its impact on the U.S. financial market rapidly intensifies, brokers and dealer are presented with significant financial or operational challenges and risks. The SEC started taking action as early as of February 2020, granting continued assistance to and relief for advisors impacted by COVID-19.[1] On March…

Special Education Advocacy

Safeguarding Civil Rights of Students During The Pandemic

By Marion Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP In our new reality where school doors are physically closed, we are embarking on distance learning for ourselves, and for our children, from home. These are indeed unprecedented times.  School officials and educators must tackle a slew of new challenges and considerations in the shadow of the Coronavirus…

Teenager with disability reading with laptop
Special Education Advocacy

NYCDOE Institutes Remote Learning and Sets Forth Guidance on Services for Students with Disabilities

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP On March 22, 2020, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education sent a letter to all parents to notify all that the NYCDOE has instituted  remote learning to the 1.1 million students in NYC.  The letter contains important contact information and a plan of…