631.405.4857 
Speak with an Attorney about Protecting Assets and Government Benefits for Loved Ones
As a public service, Cona Elder Law, an estate planning and elder law firm based in Melville, L.I., is sponsoring a free Special Needs telephone hotline on Wednesday, March 7th from 9 AM– 7 PM for community members who have children or family members with special needs to call in and speak to an attorney.
Speak to a Cona Elder Law attorney for answers to your legal and financial questions so you can protect children or adults with special needs by calling the Hotline at 631-390-5000.
In light of the proposed changing definition of autism that could lead to tightening criteria, it is more important than ever to know how to insure that those with autism or other developmental disabilities get the support, services and benefits they need as well as information on preserving assets and independence.
“Adults and children with special needs have unique estate planning requirements,” says Paul Hyl, senior associate at Cona Elder Law. “During the hotline, we hope to help individuals and families by clarifying the complex legal issues and rules as well as offer strategies and techniques to protect the assets and quality of life of adults and children with special needs.”
For example, families need to know how special needs children and adults can apply for or maintain their government benefits, how parents can leave an inheritance to a disabled child, how to plan for financial needs and lifestyle for long term care, as well as issues regarding gifting, trusts, guardianships and more.
Some of the topics Cona Elder Law can address include:
Protecting Assets Without Losing Government Benefits
Management and Use of Special Needs Trusts/Supplemental Needs Trusts
Pooled Trusts
Planning through a Will
Guardianships – Planning Beyond Age 18
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability affecting 1.5 million Americans. As many as 4 million people could be diagnosed with autism by 2015, according to the Autism Today organization.
The telephone hotline is only one of the many public service programs offered by Cona Elder Law. The firm also offers free guides on various topics. Call Cona Elder Law at 631-390-5000 or e-mail elder@conalaw.com to request the Special Needs Trusts brochure or the firm’s publication: “Your Guild to Elder Law and Estate Planning.”
Cona Elder Law is recognized as a leading elder law and estate planning firm on Long Island. The firm provides creative advocacy and cutting edge planning strategies and has been featured in many publications including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, L.I. Business News, Kiplinger’s, Reader's Digest and many others. Cona Elder Law attorneys are frequent contributors to Newsday’s Act II “Ask the Expert” column and have appeared as guests on WNBC-TV, CNN-fn, News 12, News 55, Channel 21 "Act II With Newsday" and many radio stations including WOR, WCBS AM and WFAN.
