A big congratulations to Vincent J. Russo who has yet again, been named the Best Lawyers' Elder Law “Lawyer of the Year” for the Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). Vincent has been honored in the Best Lawyers…
For parents of special needs children (either mentally or physically), passing control of their children to a stranger or outside health professional can be difficult. Many parents however, do not establish plans for their children should they become too sick to…
The ongoing battle over who will make healthcare decisions for Casey Kasem is getting more and more complicated. Last week the radio icon's wife and attorneys were delivered a court order from California judge giving Casey Kasem's daughter, Kerri Kasem,…
A comprehensive estate plan should at least include the following documents: durable power of attorney, health care directives and a Last Will and Testament (a Will). Health Care Directives, often referred to as a Health Care Proxy and a Living Will,…
On October 23, 2013 Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act (“UAGPPJA”) in to law. This long-awaited law, which will go into effect April 21, 2014, provides a much-needed resolution to the expensive and…
For many parents of children with special needs there is an inherent fear of death. While most people are afraid of dying, for the parents of a child with special needs this fear goes beyond the normal dread and extends…
Individuals with developmental disabilities and disability advocates achieved a significant victory recently when a Virginia judge rejected a guardianship request from the parents of a 29-year-old woman with Down syndrome. Jenny Hatch’s mother and stepfather filed a guardianship proceeding in…
We work hard to make sure our young children are safe, happy and healthy. We look in to their eyes and feel an innate need to ensure their well-being. We take them to the doctors at the earliest sign of…
There is no clear path to health care decision making for people with developmental disabilities. Although the current laws attempt to create a framework for health care decision making, each situation comes with a different set of facts, so the…
What happens if a New York court has appointed you as the guardian of a loved one, and either you or that loved one needs to move to another state? Well, right now the answer is… it’s complicated. Let’s face…