Getting Your Legal Affairs in Order -- Before You Face a Crisis

If living through the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to make sure our legal affairs and estate plans are in order, even when we’re not ready for retirement. How do we take care of such critical needs, especially in a time of virtual meetings and social distancing? Host Ron Roel talks with one of America’s top elder law attorneys, Ronald Fatoullah, discussing the latest information you need to know about wills and trusts, advanced directives, Medicaid planning, estate planning and guardianships. He has been advising New Yorkers for over 30 years, helping them plan for sometimes difficult “family conversations” to meet the needs of their elderly loved ones. Whether a client need immediate assistance for long-term care or is looking to create an estate plan for future generations, Mr. Fatoullah’s mission has always been to help families meet the challenges of aging with confidence, grace and dignity.

Featured Guest: Ronald Fatoullah

contact: rfatoullah@fatoullahlaw.com

Ronald Fatoullah is principal and founder of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, perennially recognized as one of New York’s top elder law firms. For more than 30 years, Mr. Fatoullah has been devoted to advising New Yorkers about the legal and financial challenges of aging. The firm is highly regarded for its contributions and expertise in estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, wills and trusts, probate, guardianships and estate and & guardianship litigation. A certified elder law attorney, Ron currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association's financial planning and Investments committee; co- chairs the Board of the Alzheimer's Association's Long Island Chapter; and served on the Executive Council of AARP New York. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Ron lectures frequently on aging, elder law, and estate planning; has appeared on numerous radio and television programs; and has been quoted in The New York Times, Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, and Kiplinger's. He has been honored by many organizations for his achievements and contributions to the senior community. He is also a partner of Brightside Advisors, a wealth management company with offices in New York and Los Angeles.

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More Elder Law Resources

To find an elder law attorney in your local area, check out these national sources:

The National Elder Law Foundation (www.nelf.org)  is a national organization that certifies practitioners of elder and special needs law. NELF’s Certified Elder Law Attorney designation, also certified by the American Bar Association, requires that an attorney demonstrate expertise in elder law and special needs, pass an examination, maintain continuing education and involvement standards, and be recognized by his or her peers and colleagues. You can search an attorney through the website’s locator. (There are about 20 CELAs on Long Island and over 500 CELAs across the country.)

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org). Members of this organization specialize in dealing with legal issues affecting seniors and people with disabilities. The website offer a "Find an Attorney" link, which enables you to locate elder law attorneys within a certain distance of your ZIP Code. The site also haw tips for interviewing and selecting an attorney.

National Legal Resource Center (https://nlrc.acl.gov). Created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging, the center is a collaborative project involving several nonprofit organizations known for research, training and advocacy in legal and aging services. The site has listings of select legal service providers by state.