Bleakley Platt & Schmidt partner Frances M. Pantaleo, Esq. and her team of elder law specialists understand that caring for an aging family member is a responsibility that tests the endurance of even the most devoted relatives. Fortunate families might find their loved one a room and specialized care at a retirement home or memory unit, but such a move brings its own stressors, like Medicare\/Medicaid requirements and policies, on top of the inherent emotional strain. Few are prepared to navigate the intricacies of the system. Fortunately, Ms. Pantaleo leads the firm\u2019s Elder Law and Special Needs Practice Group, dedicated to addressing the needs of the elderly, the differently abled, and their families.<\/p>\n
A member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and Co-Chair of the New York State Bar Association\u2019s Committee on the Elderly and Disabled, Frances Pantaleo, Esq. was recently named Best Lawyers\u2019 2020 Lawyer of the Year in White Plains for the field of Elder Law. Additionally, the Thomson Reuters publication Super Lawyers Magazine has recognized her as one of the Top 25: 2019 Westchester County Super Lawyers, and the publication has also named her as one of the top 50 Women Lawyers in the Metro Area. She has also been honored with an award from the New York State Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Section for her work \u201cin furtherance of the rights of the elderly and persons with disabilities.\u201d An educator, as well as an attorney, Ms. Pantaleo has taught law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City and Pace Law School in White Plains.<\/p>\n
Under Frances Pantaleo\u2019s leadership, the Elder Law and Special Needs Practice Group works closely with clients\u2019 family advisors, including family offices, financial advisors, CPAs, social workers, and healthcare professionals, providing counsel in the areas of health care, long-term care planning, estate planning (including preparation of wills, trusts, and advance directives), asset preservation and protection, Medicaid applications, and guardianship.<\/p>\n