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Donna Stefans Esq., AIF

Stefans Law Group PC1

Donna Stefans Esq., AIF

Stefans Law Group PC1

Donna Stefans Esq., AIF

Stefans Law Group PC1

Donna M. Stefans is the founder and lead attorney at Stefans Law Group, PC, an Elder Law and Life Care Planning law firm in Woodbury and Dix Hills.

She has over 17 years of experience in elder law, estate and asset protection planning, estate administration, geriatric care management, special needs planning, guardianships, elder law abuse and neglect, retirement income planning and Medicaid optimization. 

Ms. Stefans is also the President of Stefans Associates, Inc., a full service personal, business, and Trust, Income Tax and Accounting practice.

The third major part of Ms. Stefans’ practice is capital management and investments. She has over 24 years of experience in retirement planning, asset protection planning, and wealth management. She is currently a Registered Investment Advisor with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF).

Ms. Stefans’ combined experience with elder law, estate planning, retirement income planning, income tax, asset management and capital investment gives her the unique ability to create and maintain holistic life-care plans for clients – from birth to legacy.

Additionally, Ms. Stefans spends much of her free time working with people who have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other special needs. She is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She is the past President and current member of the Board of Directors of HorseAbility, an established organization that improves the lives of people with special needs through programs and interactions with horses. Prior to this, she was a board member of Broadlawn Health Partners, a home healthcare agency.

Ms. Stefans is also the Vice-Chairwoman of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section’s Financial Planning Committee and a member of the Committee for Individuals with Disabilities. Her role is to educate other elder law attorneys about issues related to retirement planning, long term care, and asset protection for ageing clients. 

She also a member and active participant of the: National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), National Academy of Special Needs Planners, National Care Planning Council, Financial Services Institute, Financial Planning Association, and the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations. She is also recognized AARP legal services provider.

Firm Description

Stefans Law Group's unique, holistic, Life Care Planning model helps client's achieve lasting security and peace of mind.  Our professional team of attorneys, certified financial planners, and tax experts work together to maximize your assets, protect your loved ones, and preserve your legacy for generations to come.

We design and implement legal strategies that focus on protecting your hard-earned assets, maximizing your government and Medicaid benefits, and aligning your retirement income distribution strategy with your needs and goals. We integrate thorough estate planning --including asset protection trusts, health care directives, and powers of attorney, and related financial planning, retirement income distribution strategies, and tax implications so you can achieve lasting security and peace of mind. We focus on holistic asset protection planning for your needs and your loved ones care needs.

 

Hours

Day From To
Sunday By Appointment Only
Monday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Saturday By Appointment Only

Cost

What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

137 Woodbury Road
Woodbury, NY 11797

On the web

View Firm Website


Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

READ MORE
Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

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Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.

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Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.

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Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

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Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

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Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.

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ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

READ MORE
Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.

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Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

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Retirement Planning

We explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.

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Senior Living

Find out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.

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Social Security

Get a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.

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Special Needs Planning

Learn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.

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Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

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