Estate Planning Isn’t Just For The Elderly

Happy, smiling couple in their sixties.
Attorney Lauren C. Enea
  • Partner

 

Biography

Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a partner at Enea, Scanlan & Sirgnano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and enjoys working with individuals to ensure that their plan best suits their needs.

An active member of the local bar associations, Ms. Enea was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association (WCBA) Trusts and Estates Section. She is also the co-chair of the WCBA New Lawyers Section, a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County, and chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section Publications Committee and co-editor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is a past co-chair of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section 2020 Fall Meeting and the Elder Law and Special Needs Section 2022 Summer Meeting.

Ms. Enea was awarded the Outstanding New Lawyer Award in 2020 by the Westchester County Bar Association. She was also named to the 2021-2024 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and the 2023-2025 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list. Ms. Enea was recognized at Westfair Communications' 2019 Millennial Awards and as a 2022 Westchester Wunderkin by 914INC. She is the president of CAREERS Support Solutions' Board of Directors, a non-profit helping individuals with disabilities obtain gainful employment in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, and a member of the Pace Women's Justice Center Advisory Board, Friends of Gail.

Ms. Enea received a B.S. in Business Management from Quinnipiac University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida.


Practice Areas

  • Elder Law
  • Wills, Trusts, and Estates
  • Medicaid Planning
  • Medicaid Applications (nursing home and homecare)
  • Estate Administration and Probate
  • Article 17 and Article 17A Guardianship Proceedings

Education

  • Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York
    • J.D.
    • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut
    • Bachelor of Science
    • Honors: magna cum laude
    • Major: Business Management

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • Florida

Professional Associations

  • Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County, Member, Present
  • Italian American Forum, Member, Present
  • New York State Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Section, Publications Committee Chair & Journal Co-Editor, Present
  • Pace Women's Justice Center Advisory Board, Member, Present
  • Westchester County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section, Executive Committee, Present
  • Westchester County Bar Association, New Lawyers Section, Co-Chair, Present

Published Works

  • “The Best Gift You Can Give: Generational Gifting,” The Mt. Kisco Bedford Times, October 2024
  • “Congratulations, You've Signed Your Estate Planning Documents - Now What?,” Yorktown News, September 2024
  • “Estate Planning for College Students: Why It's So Important and How to Get Started,” Mahopac News, August 2024
  • “Sharing is Caring: Pros and Cons of Communicating Your Estate Plan,” Westchester Senior Voice, Summer 2024
  • “How to Relay Your Medical Preferences in a Health Care Proxy,” Yorktown News, May 2024
  • “Is it Too Early for Young Adults to Create an Estate Plan?,” Mahopac News, May 2024
  • “Commencing a Guardianship Proceeding?,” The Mt. Kisco Bedford Times, March 2024
  • “Guardianship Proceedings,” Westchester Senior Voice, Spring 2024
  • “New Year's Resolutions: Estate Planning Edition,” Yorktown News, January 2024
  • “Debts & Deaths: Who's Responsible?,” Westchester Senior Voice, Winter 2023-24
  • “Tis the Season to Consider Gifting,” The Mt. Kisco Bedford Times, December 2023
  • “First Steps to Take When a Loved Ones Passes,” Westchester Senior Voice, Fall 2023
  • “Aging Alone Does Not Need to be Lonely,” The Katonah Lewisboro Times, August 2023
  • "Debts & Death: Who's Responsible?," Westchester Senior Voice, Winter 2023-2024
  • "First Steps to Take When a Loved One Passes,” The Somers Record, September 2023
  • "Aging Alone Does Not Need to Be Lonely: Estate Planning Tips for "Solo Seniors," Westcheser Senior Voice, Summer 2023
  • "Attention Single Parents: Protect Your Children with a Proper Estate Plan," Yorktown News, May 2023
  • "Avoid These Estate Planning Mistakes," Westchester Senior Voice, Sping 2023
  • "What's Best for Me: A Revocable or Irrevocable Trust?," Westchester Senior Voice, Winter 2022/2023
  • "How to Stay In Control of Your Affairs After an Alzheimer's or Dementia Diagnosis," The Somers Record, October 2022 | Westchester Senior Voice, Fall 2022
  • "Estate Planning for Digital Assets," Westchester Senior Voice, Summer 2022
  • "How Gray Divorce Adds a Wrinkle to Your Estate Plan," Westchester WAG Magazine, June 2022
  • "Your Next Chapter: Estate Planning Considerations for the Newly Retired," The Somers Record, May 2022
  • "Planning for the Newly Retired," Westchester Senior Voice, Spring 2022
  • "Brady Bunch Estate Planning," Westchester Senior Voice, Winter 2021 | The Somers Record, January 2022
  • "Shedding Light on the Power of Attorney," Westchester & Fairfield County Business Journals, November 2021
  • "Heightened Anxiety for Parents of Children with Disabilities," Westchester & Fairfield County Business Journals, June 2021 | The Somers Record, July 2021
  • "Probate and its Problems," Westchester Senior Voice, March 2021 | The Somers Record, May 2021
  • "Disinheriting a Child," Westchester & Fairfield County Business Journals, January 2021 | The Somers Record, February 2021
  • "How to Avoid a Will Contest when Disinheriting a Child or Family Member," Westchester Senior Voice, Winter 2020-2021
  • "Don't Worry Honey, You Will Get My Diamond Ring When I Die: Steps You Can Take to Ensure it Actually Happens," Westchester & Fairfield County Business Journals, September 2020 | The Somers Record, September 2020
  • "To Trust or Not to Trust: Leaving Money to Adult Children," Westchester Senior Voice, Fall 2020
  • "The Importance of a Proactive Approach to Estate Planning," The Somers Record, July 2020

Honors

  • Ones to Watch, The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025
  • Rising Star, Super Lawyers Metro New York, Thomson Reuters, 2021-2024
  • Westchester Wunderkind, 914INC, 2022
  • Outstanding New Lawyer Award, Westchester County Bar Association, 2020
  • Millennial Award, Westfair Communications, 2019

Classes & Seminars

  • "Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams," The Club at Briarcliff Manor, 2024
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," North Salem Seniors, Putnam-Northern Westchester Fire Police Association, North Castle Public Library, Mamaroneck Public Library, 2024
  • "Nuts & Bolts of Elder Law Planning," Judicial Title Insurance Agency, Accountants Club of America, Drum Hill Senior Living Community, 2024
  • "Critical Issues Facing Senior Clients," Master Networks, 2024
  • "Life Transitions and the Unexpected," Scarsdale Public Library, The Somers Library, The Warner Library, 2024
  • "Estate Planning for Every Age: What You Need to Know," North Castle Public Library, Scarsdale Public Library, 2024
  • "Protecting Your Assets from the Cost of Long-Term Care," Police Columbia Association of Westchester, NYSSCPA Manhattan/Bronx Chapter, Judicial Title Insurance Agency, 2024
  • "Aging in Place: A Guide to Growing Older at Home," Bronxville Public Library, Heritage Hills Men's Club, 2024
  • "New York Independent Assessor (NYIA) Program and the World of Evaluations," HalfMoon Education, 2024
  • "Transfer on Death Deeds (TODD)," Westchester County Bar Association, 2024
  • "Aging in Place: A Guide to Growing Older at Home," John C. Hart Memorial Library, Tuckahoe Public Library & Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 2023
  • "Nuts and Bolts of Estate Planning and Federal & New York Estate Taxes," Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial District, 2023
  • "Understanding Estate Planning: Wills and Trusts Demystified,” Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial District, 2023
  • "Why Plan a Funeral Before You're Ready to Have a Funeral?," The Somers Library, 2023
  • "Estate Planning for Every Age,” Tuckahoe Public Library, 2023
  • "Protecting Assets from the Cost of Long-Term Care,” The Somers Library, 2023
  • "What's New in Elder Law and the Medicaid Home Care Program,” Heritage Hills Men's Club, 2023
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing Yourself for the Elder Years,” Bronxville Public Library, 2023
  • "What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Last Will?," Westchester County Bar Association & Mamaroneck Public Library, 2023
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," Larchmont Public Library, 2022 - Present
  • "Changing Real Estate Needs and Estate Planning for Seniors," Irvington Public Library, 2022 - Present
  • "Critical Issues Facing Senior Clients," Columbian Lawyers Association (Westchester County), 2022 - Present
  • "Drafting an Effective Power of Attorney," Columbian Lawyers Association (Westchester County), 2022 - Present
  • "Nuts and Bolts of Estate & Financial Planning," First American Title Insurance Company, Port Chester/Rye Bar Association & Tuckahoe Public Library, 2022 - Present
  • "Planning Considerations for New York's New Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for Long Term Care," Pace Haub School of Law, 2022 - Present
  • "Planning for New York and Federal Estate Taxes," Pace Haub School of Law, 2022 - Present
  • "Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams," John C. Hart Memorial Library & Yorktown Assisted Living, 2022 - Present
  • "What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will?," Association on Aging in New York & Tuckahoe Public Library, 2022 - Present
  • "What is a Power of Attorney and Why Do I Need One?," The Somers Library, 2022 - Present
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," Bronxville Public Library & The Kittay House, 2021 - Present
  • "Changing Real Estate Needs and Estate Planning for Seniors," Bronxville Public Library & Tuckahoe Public Library, 2021 - Present
  • "Critical Issues Facing Senior Clients," Yonkers Lawyers Association, 2021 - Present
  • "Managing Your First Year Alone: A Legal & Financial Planning Checklist for Widows & Widowers," Bronxville Public Library, 2021 - Present
  • "Planning Options for the Transfer of a Primary Residence," Yonkers Lawyers Association, 2021 - Present
  • "Protecting Assets from the Cost of Long-Term Care," Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 2021 - Present
  • "Utilizing a Trust for Elder Law and Estate Planning: The Pros and Cons," Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 2021 - Present
  • "Elder Law & Protecting Assets from the Cost of Long-Term Care," Town of Bedford Seniors, 2020 - Present
  • "New Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Create Urgency to Long Term Care Planning," John C. Hart Memorial Library, 2020 - Present
  • "Pandemics & Planning: Estate Planning Essentials in a COVID-19 World," John C. Hart Memorial Library, 2020 - Present
  • "Protecting Your Assets from Medicaid Home Care and Nursing Home Costs," Bronxville Public Library, 2020 - Present
  • "Protecting Assets from the Cost of Long Term Care," John C. Hart Memorial Library, 2020 - Present

Fraternities or Sororities

  • Beta Gamma Sigma