Westchester Elder Law Attorney Anthony J. Enea Sheds Light on COVID-19 Estate Planning Essentials
Westchester County, N.Y. (April 27, 2020) – Westchester elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. recently addressed the New York State Bar Association’s Senior Lawyers Section regarding estate planning essentials during COVID-19. With many recent changes in the law concerning Medicaid as well as the realities of the pandemic, Mr. Enea urges adults of all ages to take a proactive role in planning for their future.
The New York State Bar Association program, Pandemics and Planning: The Documents Every Attorney Should Have, highlighted best practices and important documents to protect both attorneys and their clients, employees, and partners through the current crisis.
“There are six basic estate planning documents and advanced directives that everyone should have in order to deal with a potential health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Anthony J. Enea, who has spent the past 35 years educating and protecting the rights of seniors, the disabled and their families. “These include a durable general power of attorney, health care proxy, living will, HIPAA authorization form, Last Will and Testament, or a Revocable Living Trust.”
From an elder law and estate planning perspective, many were sadly unprepared for the pandemic. According to Caring.com’s 2020 Estate Planning and Wills Survey, the number of adult Americans that have a last will or other type of estate planning document in place has decreased by nearly 25 percent since 2017.
“Thanks to an executive order by Governor Cuomo, which temporarily allows remote witnessing and notarizing in New York State, obtaining legal services while home is possible,” explained Enea. “All estate planning documents can now be executed remotely via audio-video conferencing platforms and our attorneys are working to ensure it remains a smooth, seamless process.”
For those considering updating their estate plan or putting one in place, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP recently launched a weekly Facebook Live lunch and learn series featuring a new topic each Wednesday at 2:00pm ET. To watch a live broadcast, visit the firm’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/EneaScanlanSirignanoLLP) and click the “Videos” tab. A Facebook account is not required to watch.
“We can’t know what the future holds, but we can plan for it. Being prepared is key, and as we all find ourselves with canceled plans and empty calendars during this difficult time, it can be hard to stay positive. The silver lining is the gift of time: time to spend at home with family, video conferencing loved ones, and to do the important things we may have previously put off. Now is a great time to get our legal matters organized,” said Enea.
A strong leader in Westchester’s legal community, Anthony J. Enea is chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Senior Lawyers Section and president of the Westchester County Bar Foundation. He was named Westchester County’s Leading Elder Care Attorney at the Above the Bar Awards and Best Lawyers’ 2019 Trusts & Estates “Lawyer of the Year” in White Plains. A past chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section, Enea’s practice areas include elder law; Medicaid asset protection trusts; Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home); special needs planning; guardianships (Article 81 and 17-A); and wills, trusts and estates.
Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. Elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea can be reached at 914-269-2367 or [email protected]. For the latest news, visit Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano online at www.esslawfirm.com.
About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at www.esslawfirm.com.
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Kelly Lee
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914-269-2367
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Elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea, member at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
