Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorneys Serving Little Neck, NY

Little Neck is adjacent to the Bay of the same name that is part of Long Island Sound.  Little Neck is part of the borough of Queens of New York City and is also sometimes known as Douglaston-Little Neck.[1] Although the area has been inhabited for centuries, early Dutch and other European settlers selected Little Neck for its convenient harbor and abundant fishing as a source of food.  During the late 1800’s clams from the sound just outside the area were served in the finest restaurants in New York City and in Europe.[2]  Eventually, the term “littleneck clams” were known as a class of hard clams based on their size, regardless of their origin.[3]

The mid-1800’s brought an expansion of modern suburban lifestyle to the Little Neck and Douglaston area as Douglaston Hill was laid out with large lots where the homes were granted enough land for gardens, and many in this area grew enough produce to share their excess and sell their produce to residents in Manhattan.[4]  Many of these larger lots became the fine homes in Tudor, Mediterranean, Arts and Crafts, and Colonial Revival styles to be known as the Douglaston Historic District now.[5]

Known for its convenient commute to New York City, Little Neck is home to many who commute to the city.  There are two convenient stops on the Long Island Railroad: the Douglaston station and the Little Neck station, which is slightly further East; providing an approximately 30-minute ride to the city.  The Long Island Expressway (I-495) runs through the southern portion of the neighborhood giving a straight shot to Manhattan, or you can take the Cross Island Parkway to Belt Parkway to catch a flight from JFK International Airport.

Despite the small geographic size, Little Neck is home to some convenient outdoor recreation.  There’s Udall’s Cove Park Preserve and Memorial Field on the North end of the neighborhood.  Little Neck and Douglaston are also home to two different golf courses, municipal course Douglaston Golf Course[6], and North Shore Towers and Country Club.

The attorneys of Esther Schwartz Zelmanovitz, PLLC are honored to serve the residents of Little Neck and the surrounding area. Our firm is proud to have assisted many residents in planning for their long term care and protecting their Little Neck homes, as well as younger families preparing their estate plan.

Like many other individuals, residents of Little Neck may think that estate planning is not relevant to them, but that is simply not true.

A very common estate planning and long-term care planning mistake is to assume that a plan is not relevant to you, or that it’s too late or too early to plan. Every adult should begin by speaking with an estate planning and elder law attorney to determine what plan is relevant and necessary at any stage of life, in the event of unexpected incapacity or death.

Every person should have an estate plan in place upon reaching the age of 18 years old. While a parent or legal guardian has legal authority to make health care decisions and manage a child’s legal and financial matters, once that child has reached his or her eighteenth birthday, the child is independent and his or her parent no longer automatically has legal authority over health, legal, or financial matters on behalf of the child. At eighteen, a young person with minimal or no assets and no children may only need health care directives and a durable power of attorney in the event of incapacity. As their life develops, they begin to accumulate assets, get married, have children, and so on, their plan should be revisited and adjusted to perhaps include a last will and testament, and to revisit initial designations. As a person ages, it is likely that a more comprehensive elder law plan would be appropriate to address long-term care needs. Click here to learn more about estate planning through all life stages.

As an individual enters their senior years, the likelihood of needing assistance increases. With the development of medicines, medical technology, and other factors, people are living longer, so the possibility of diminishing mental capacity before death increases.  More elderly people than ever are requiring assistance with the management of legal, financial, and healthcare matters. It is best to have a plan in place so that while you are capable of doing so, you can choose the people who would assist you in the event help is needed, and more importantly to empower those you choose to have the legal ability to do so.

In addition to mental decline, the possibility of requiring physical assistance may increase. As a person ages, health issues or simply age may make tasks that have always been routine, suddenly more complicated, and perhaps even impossible. Having a long term care plan in place, which may simply include the people you designate to may decisions when the time comes, planning for the high cost of long term care, or even a plan regarding where you will live and specifically who will provide care, should be addressed. Having a plan in place, at whatever level you feel comfortable will give not only your peace of mind, but those that would provide for you, your family, friends, and loved ones.

It is important to acknowledge that long term care planning can involve complex issues that combine concerns about healthcare, residence, finances, and estate planning. Without the right guidance, it is very easy to make simple mistakes that may have costly effects.

Creating an estate plan, including long term care planning, however, should not be complicated with the right assistance. Esther Zelmanovitz and her team are honored to help Little Neck residents navigate the estate planning process and specifically, long term care. As experienced elder law and probate attorneys, they will evaluate each individual situation, discuss options, and develop a custom-tailored plan that will achieve each client’s specific goals and objectives.

While a younger person will benefit from basic estate planning documents at a minimum, such as a Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, and Health Care Proxy, an elder law attorney can also help clients preserve and protect their hard-earned assets should they need long term care such as a home health aide if living at home, or an assisted living or nursing home care. One of the strategies an elder law attorney can assist Little Neck residents with, as well as other clients, is creating and funding Medicaid Asset Protection trusts so that the individual can participate in the Medicaid long term care program to cover the high cost of long term care.

When should you start planning? Now. You may not need a full plan now, but it is important to have a consultation with an experienced elder law attorney so that you better understand what you should do and when. No one has a (working) crystal ball, and knows precisely when crisis may hit, and once it does, not only will it be a very inconvenient time to start addressing these matters, but some planning options may no longer be available resulting in greater cost and complications.

Contact Our Experienced Lawyers Today

Esther Schwartz Zelmanovitz, PLLC would welcome the opportunity to work with you. Call us at (516) 466-WILL or contact us online to begin your planning today with a free consultation.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglaston%E2%80%93Little_Neck,_Queens

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglaston%E2%80%93Little_Neck,_Queens

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglaston%E2%80%93Little_Neck,_Queens

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglaston%E2%80%93Little_Neck,_Queens

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglaston%E2%80%93Little_Neck,_Queens

[6] http://www.golfnyc.com/