Estate Planning Isn’t Just For The Elderly

Happy, smiling couple in their sixties.
Attorney Sara E. Meyers

 

Biography

Sara E. Meyers, Esq. is a partner of the firm of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, guardianships, and long-term care planning strategies, with a focus on Medicaid home care and nursing home.

Prior to Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, Ms. Meyers was a staff attorney at the Sadin Institute on Law of the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity and the New York Legal Assistance Group. At Sadin, Sara concentrated on Medicaid home care and nursing home care. She created materials and conducted training seminars for social service providers, attorneys, and social workers on topics including elder law, Medicaid, Medicare, home care, and administrative appeals.

Ms. Meyers is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association* and has been named to the 2013-2024 New York Metro Super Lawyers lists in Elder Law. She was also recognized as a 2024 914INC. Women in Business honoree.

Ms. Meyers is on the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Executive Committee and is the past 9th district delegate. She is the inaugural chair of the Westchester County Bar Association's Elder Law and Special Needs Committee and past-chair of the Adult Guardianship Committee and Elder Law Committee. Ms. Meyers is also a past co-chair of the Westchester County Senior Law Day and an editor of the Westchester County Bar Journal.

Ms. Meyers has a B.A. in History, cum laude, from Brandeis University and a J.D. from the Cardozo School of Law. She is a volunteer attorney for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley. She is a Trustee of the Board of Directors of the Westchester Day School in Mamaroneck, New York. Sara is also the White Plains coordinator for I-Shine, an after-school program for children living with illness or loss in their homes.

*The National Elder Law Foundation is not affiliated with any Governmental authority. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of Law in the State of New York and does not necessarily indicate greater competence than other attorneys experienced in this field of law.


Practice Areas

  • Elder Law
  • Medicaid Planning
  • Home Health Care
  • Medicaid Applications (nursing home and homecare)
  • Wills, Trusts and Estates
  • Guardianships (contested/non-contested)
  • Certified Mediator

Education

  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
    • J.D.
  • Brandeis University
    • B.A.
    • Honors: cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Professional Associations

  • Westchester County Bar Journal, Editor, 2008 to Present
  • Westchester County Bar Association, Co-Chair, Adult Guardianship Committee, 2015 to 2024
  • Westchester County Bar Association, Chair, Elder Law and Special Needs Committee, 2024 to Present
  • Westchester County Bar Association, Past Co-Chair, Elder Law Committee, 2011 to 2013
  • Westchester County Senior Law Day, Co-Chair, 2020 to Present
  • New York State Bar Association, Elder Law & Special Needs Section, Executive Committee, Past 9th District Representative
  • New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section, Member
  • New York State Bar Association, Editor, Elder Law and Special Needs Journal

Published Works

  • "Using a MHL Article 81 Guardianship to Foil Scammers," New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section Newsletter, 2023
  • "Highlights of New York’s Medicaid Law," NYSBA Senior Lawyer Section, The Senior Lawyer, 2019
  • "Effectively Utilizing the Fair Hearing Process to Establish that a Transfer was a Gift for Medicaid Purposes," Westchester County Bar Association Newsletter, 2019, 2019
  • "Editor," Westchester County Bar Journal
  • "Using SCPA Article 17-A and MHL Article 81 Guardianships for Disabled Children," NYSBA Senior Lawyer Section, The Senior Lawyer, 2015
  • "Medicaid Managed Long Term Care is Coming to Westchester. Are You and Your Clients Ready?," Westchester County Bar Newsletter, WCBA Newsletter, January 2013
  • "Guardianships and Supplemental Needs Trusts (SNT) as planning tools for Parents of Adult Disabled Children," New York State Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Journal, NYSBA Elder Law and Special Need, Winter 2012
  • "An Overview of Medicaid Home Care Options for Seniors," New York State Bar Association Elder Law Attorney, NYSBA Elder Law Attorney, Winter 2010
  • "Co Author of: The Doors Open Further for the Nursing Home without Walls Program," Westchester County Bar Newsletter, November 2007
  • "Utilizing Medicaid Home Care as a Solution in a Post DRA World," New York State Bar Association Elder Law Attorney, NYSBA Elder Law Attorney, Summer 2007

Honors

  • Super Lawyers, New York Metro: Elder Law, Thomson Reuters, 2013 – 2024
  • Super Lawyers, New York Metro: Top Women in Elder Law, Thomson Reuters, 2021

Classes & Seminars

  • "First Steps After the Passing of a Loved One," Community Synagogue of Rye, 2024
  • "Estate Planning Panel Discussion," Westchester Women's Agenda, 2024
  • "Aging in Place: A Guide To Growing Older at Home," Chappaqua Continuing Education, Yonkers NNORC, 2024
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," Yonkers NNORC, Woman's Club of White Plains, 2024
  • "Legal & Financial Panel: Advanced Directives," Alzheimer's Association Meeting of the Minds Conference, 2024
  • "Utilizing A Trust For Your Elder Law and Estate Planning Needs," Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2024
  • "Aging in Place with Medicaid Home Care," Rockland County Bar Association, 2024
  • "Protecting Your Future: Estate Planning Basics, Medicaid Eligibility, and Avoiding Senior Scams," New York Medical College's Center for Long-Term Care, 2024
  • "Critical Issues Facing Senior Clients," NYSSCPA Rockland Chapter, 2024
  • "Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams," National Association of Social Workers' NYC Chapter, 2024
  • "Planning Considerations for New York's New Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for Long-Term Care," National Association of Social Workers' NYC Chapter, Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2024
  • "What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will," New York County Lawyers Association, 2024
  • "Keeping the Bread In the Sandwich: Helping Your Parents Manage Their Money,” Westchester Jewish Community Services, 2023
  • "Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams," National Association of Social Workers' NYC Chapter & Hudson Valley Estate Planning Council, 2023
  • "Aging in Place: A Guide to Growing Older at Home," Association on Aging in New York, 2023
  • "Critical Issues Facing Seniors," National Association of Social Workers' NYC Chapter & Montefiore Aging CME Series & SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 2023
  • "Nuts and Bolts of Estate and Financial Planning," Hudson River Community Education & Yonkers NNORC, 2023
  • "Estate Planning 101,” New York Medical College's Center for Long-Term Care, 2023
  • "Estate Planning for Families with Children," Hudson River Community Education, 2023
  • "Planning Considerations for New York's New Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for Long Term Care,” Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2023
  • "How to Avoid a Will Contest,” Yonkers NNORC, 2023
  • "Critical Issues Facing Individuals with Parkinson’s," Northern Westchester Hospital Parkinson's Support Group, 2023
  • "Protecting Your Assets from the Cost of Long-Term Care," Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2023
  • "How to Talk to Loved Ones About End of Life Choices," Congregation Emanu-El, 2023
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2023
  • "Critical Issues Facing Seniors," SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 2023
  • "Protecting Against Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams," The LOFT & Waterstone of Westchester, 2023
  • "Aging in Place: A Guide to Growing Older at Home (Parts 1 & 2)," Yonkers Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, 2022 - Present
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," DOROT & The LOFT, 2022 - Present
  • "Estate Planning for Families with Children," Chappaqua Continuing Education & Hudson River Community Education, 2022 - Present
  • "Utilizing a Trust for Your Elder Law and Estate Planning Needs," Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2022 - Present
  • "What Happens When Someone Dies without a Will?," DOROT, 2022 - Present
  • "What Happens When Someone Dies without a Will?," Chappaqua Continuing Education, 2021 - Present
  • "Pandemics & Planning: Estate Planning Essentials for a COVID-19 World," Yonkers Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, 2021 - Present
  • "Nuts and Bolts of Estate & Financial Planning," New York Medical College's Center for Long-Term Care, 2021 - Present
  • "Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams," Woman's Club of White Plains, 2021 - Present
  • "Article 81," Westchester County Bar Association, 2021 - Present
  • "Accountable Aging: Preparing for the Elder Years," Scarsdale Adult School & Yonkers Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, 2021 - Present
  • "Aging in Place with Medicaid Home Care," Drum Hill Senior Living Community, 2021 - Present
  • "Comprehensive Approach to Dementia (MAHC)," Montefiore Dementia Symposium, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 2021 - Present
  • "Critical Issues Facing Senior Clients," New York State Society of CPAs (Rockland County), 2021 - Present
  • "What is a Power of Attorney and Why Do I Need One?," Chappaqua Continuing Education & Scarsdale Adult School, 2021 - Present
  • "Critical Issues Facing Seniors," New York Medical College’s Center for Long-Term Care, 2020 - Present
  • "A Practical Update for Practitioners in Mental Health, Primary Care, Home Care, and Long-Term Care Settings," The 24th Annual Comprehensive Approach to Dementia, 2020 - Present
  • "Early Stage Forum," Alzheimer's Association, 2007 - Present
  • "Alzheimer's Disease," New York City Mayor's Conference, 2006 - Present
  • "Advanced Medicaid Update," Department of Health Care & Public Administration, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, 2000 - Present
  • "Frequent Lecturer in Elder Law for the New York State Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association and Sadin Law Institute of the Brookdale Center on Aging"

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified as an Elder Law Attorney, National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association