by Linda Stravalaci Grear | Feb 9, 2018 | Estate Planning, Paying for Care
Income Tax Law Changes for Individuals For individuals, the new law provides for the same number of income tax brackets, but with different income thresholds and lower tax rates ranging from 10% to 39.6%. The standard deduction is $24,000 for married filers and...
Attorney Laurie Menzies guides seniors and their families through the aging process by coordinating their legal and financial concerns and addressing potential or existing care needs. Laurie is passionate about helping families create a plan for aging that helps preserve assets, while providing for the wishes and care needs of her clients.
Laurie is a Senior Partner at Pfalzgraf, Beinhauer & Menzies, the only law firm in Western New York dedicated exclusively to Elder Law and Estate Planning.
Drawing on her professional expertise as an elder law and estate planning attorney, as well as her personal experience as her parent’s sole caregiver well into their 90s, Laurie has recently published Embracing Elderhood, Planning for the Next Stage of Life. She is a frequent speaker at community forums and on local media on issues regarding seniors and planning for successful aging.
In addition to handling legal issues related to aging for families, she also works intensively with geriatric care managers and financial consultants to coordinate a comprehensive plan for aging. She has a unique understanding of the stresses and concerns of families regarding their loved ones and works to help create peace of mind for families.
Laurie graduated from Vassar College in 1986 and earned her law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 1996. She received both a University Scholarship for academic achievement, and a Public Interest Scholarship for her work at Legal Services of the Elderly and Disabled. Laurie is well versed in financial issues having worked in the investment and trust administration field in Boston, Massachusetts before law school.
She is actively engaged with organizations that serve the elderly, including serving on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section, the Trust and Estate Section, as well as with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She was the Seminar Chair of NYSBA’s Elder Law Section’s Fall Meeting in October 2011 and was the Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee of the Elder Law Section.
Laurie is also active with local non-profit organizations that serve the elderly including having served on the Board of Directors of the Network in Aging of Western New York for eight years, and she is currently a board member of the Alzheimer’s Association and Canterbury Woods Continuing Care Community.
Laurie has been recognized in Business First of Buffalo’s Who’s Who in Law in 2007 and 2011.
Charles Beinhauer, senior partner in the firm of PBM Elder Law, is an experienced Buffalo New York estate planning lawyer.
Mr. Beinhauer is a graduate of Georgetown University, Class of 1971 and the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America, Class of 1974. He is admitted to practice law in New York State, the United States District Courts and the United States 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Beinhauer is currently a member of the NYSBA Elder Law Committee and serves on the Executive Committee as the 8th District Representative. He is a member of and former Chair of the Bar Association of Erie County – Elder Law Committee, and a member of the BAEC Surrogate Court Practice and Procedure Committee, the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee and the Speakers Bureau. Mr. Beinhauer is also currently a member of the New York State Lawyers Assistance Trust and the NYSBA Lawyers Assistance Committee.
Mr. Beinhauer frequently lectures on estate planning and methods of obtaining assistance for the payment of Long Term Care expenses; End of Life Issues and relevant Elder Law topics.
In the past year he has presented at several seminars lecturing on Estate Planning, Elder Law Issues and changes to the Medicaid Laws.
Amanda J. Scott, Esq. serves as an associate attorney with Pfalzgraf, Beinhauer & Menzies, focusing on estates, guardianships and trusts for the firm. She was previously with HoganWillig in Buffalo, serving as an attorney since 2009 when she was admitted to practice. A graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law, Scott also clerked at the firm between 2007 and 2009. She is a graduate of Niagara University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
Scott is a native of North Tonawanda and currently resides in Cheektowaga.
Jean Harris, Esq. brings a deep knowledge of disability law, Medicaid planning and estate planning to her practice at Pfalzgraf, Beinhauer & Menzies. She was formerly with HoganWillig where she specialized in estate planning and disability law, and also worked at Goldstein, Ackerhart and Pletcher and at the Bouvier Partnership where she focused on special education law.
While working at People, Inc. and other similar organizations while in college and prior to law school, Harris developed an affinity for working with people with disabilities and has extended that interest to her work in law. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and also received a B.A. in psychology from the University at Buffalo. A native of Western New York, she currently resides in Amherst.
Linda brings over two decades of experience in elder law, estate planning, trusts, guardianship law and probate estates.
Her deep experience in elder law has built her expertise, as well as her understanding of the importance of compassion in dealing with clients who are enduring emotionally difficult times.
A frequent speaker on issues related to elder law and estate planning, she has been honored in Buffalo Spree Magazine and in Who’s Who in Law in Business First of Buffalo.
Grear is a graduate of the University of Akron School of Law (1994) and holds a B.S in Criminal Justice from the State College of New York at Buffalo (1991). She is a resident of Pendleton.
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