Senior Citizens’ Free Law Day Conference:
Learn To Prepare For A Golden Future
NEW JERSEY – The public is invited to a free Senior Citizens’ Law Day Conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2015; registration and continental breakfast 10-10:30 a.m., program 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the New Jersey Law Center. Three dynamic experts will address a variety of issues affecting older Americans including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives and estate planning in general; long-term care and Medicaid and Medicare eligibility and coverage, including hospice and other services. The program is sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) Elder and Disability Law Section. A complimentary continental breakfast will be offered. Admission is free but registration is required. The Law Center is located off Ryders Lane in New Brunswick near the East Brunswick border.
The speakers are attorneys with extensive experience in elder law: Lawrence A. Friedman, Esq., of FriedmanLaw, Bridgewater; Dana Bookbinder, Esq., of Marlton; and Crystal West Edwards, Esq., of Schenck, Price, Smith & King LLP, Florham Park. Mr. Friedman also serves as chair of the conference.
Mr. Friedman outlines essential tactics to protect yourself and your loved ones in “Estate Planning.” He will speak about how estate and elder planning can save substantial tax and help fund long-term care without impoverishing your family. A Certified Elder Law Attorney by ABA-accredited National Elder Law Foundation, he is Vice Chair of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Special Needs Section and director of its New Jersey chapter. He is a former chair of NJSBA’s Elder and Disabilities Law Section and a former member of the Board of Consultors of NJSBA’s Real Property, Trusts and Estate Law Section. Mr. Friedman received the NJSBA Distinguished Legislative Service Award for drafting legislation to help New Jersey’s citizens use Special Needs Trusts to preserve disability benefits. Recognized in New Jersey Super Lawyers for his work in elder law and special needs, he is a frequent speaker on those topics as well as estate and tax planning. For many years Mr. Friedman has chaired and lectured at programs to teach elder law, special needs, and estate and tax planning to other lawyers. He has contributed to a law school textbook and other publications on elder law, special needs, and estate and tax planning and has authored numerous articles for lawyers and the public. Mr. Friedman has served on the board of directors of many nonprofit organizations including Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of New Jersey. He received his J.D. and a Master of Laws degree in taxation from New York University School of Law.
Understanding the many options for long-term care and paying for it while preserving one’s standard of living can be a daunting project. Ms. Bookbinder will detail how knowing about “Long-Term Care Options” can help attendees make informed decisions about long-term care for themselves and their loved ones. She will discuss the various types of long-term care and associated costs as well as choices for funding care. Attendees will learn who can quality for Medicaid and what Medicaid pays for. Medicaid eligibility rules, including the complex rules relating to gifting assets, will be covered. The new Qualified Income Trust that is now required for many Medicaid applicants and recent trends will also be reviewed. Ms. Bookbinder has been advising families New Jersey families about elder and special needs planning for nearly two decades. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the ABA-accredited National Elder Law Foundation. She is a member of the NAELA. A past chair of NJSBA’s Elder and Disability Law Section, she has authored related articles in the New Jersey Law Journal and regularly instructs other attorneys for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Education. She received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.
“Medicare Myths” is the subject matter of Ms. Edward’s presentation. She will discuss Medicare eligibility rules and corresponding scopes of coverage, including hospice and other services. She will review the different Medicare Parts, outline the copayments and coinsurances, and discuss the particular impact of the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage “donut hole” that limits payment past a certain dollar amount until another higher threshold is met. Ms. Edwards focuses her practice on elder law, special needs planning and advocacy, estate planning and administration. She assists seniors, individuals with special needs and their families with issues pertaining to complex estate and tax planning, asset preservation, eligibility for means-tested government benefits and more. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and a member of NAELA, serving as the Vice President of its New Jersey chapter. She is a member of NJSBA’s Elder and Disability Law Section and Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Garden State Bar Association (GSBA), which awarded her its 2014 Young Lawyer Award for her “exceptional commitment to the GSBA, the community and the elder and disability law bar.” Ms. Edwards has widely lectured on topics related to the needs of women and the elderly. She earned her J.D. from Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law.
A question-and-answer period follows each presentation. To register, visit the New Jersey State Bar Foundation online at njsbf.org, For the Public, Events; or call 1-800-FREE LAW. —-
Founded in 1958, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation is the educational and philanthropic arm of the New Jersey State Bar Association. The Bar Foundation’s mission is to promote public understanding of the law through a free, comprehensive public education program. Among its activities, the Foundation conducts seminars and conflict resolution training, publishes materials, operates a videotape loan library and speakers bureau, and coordinates elementary, middle and high school mock trial competitions. For more information about the Foundation’s programs and publications, visit online at www.njsbf.org or call 1-800-FREE-LAW.
Directions: From the NJ Turnpike take Exit 9 to Route 18 North. Follow signs for Route 1 South to Ryders Lane-New Brunswick. The Law Center is the first right turn off Ryders Lane. From Princeton take Route 1 North to the second Ryders Lane exit (Ryders Lane-New Brunswick). The Law Center is the first right turn.