Bethel Elder Law Lawyers

I have devoted my legal career to safeguarding families, ensuring that I provide top-tier service by thoughtfully addressing their needs—whether straightforward or intricate—with customized solutions. I started my legal journey representing clients in litigation matters before transitioning my focus to estate planning. This shift allowed me to have a more enduring impact on families. Leveraging my extensive experience, I approach estate planning with both precision and practicality. I earned my J.D. from The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where I served as Editor of the Law Review, and I hold a B.A. from Brown University. I am licensed to practice law...

Howard E. Knispel has been practicing law since 1989, having graduated from Eisenhower College of World Studies of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in International Politics in 1981 and New York Law School in 1988 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.

Howard concentrates his practice to Divorce, Family Law, Bankruptcy, Criminal, Traffic and DWI, Real Estate and Wills. Howard has conducted numerous trials, both jury and non-jury. Howard has negotiated and settled hundreds of divorce, custody and support matters.

Howard has helped many people get out from crippling debt to get a fresh start....

Nancy Burner is Founder and Partner of Burner Prudenti Law, (successor firm to Burner Law Group P.C.) a women-owned trust & estates and elder law firm established in 1995. She is also a Founding Member of Mediation Solutions of NY, Suffolk County’s first full-service mediation and arbitration company. With nearly three decades of experience, Nancy has been recognized as one of New York’s prominent elder law and trust & estates attorneys. She holds the designation of a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association. Since 2014, Nancy has been...

With nearly three decades of experience practicing Bankruptcy law and Social Security law in Buffalo, Paul Pochepan is able to help consumers facing financial hardships and disabled individuals and their dependents. He has helped many Western New York consumers navigate the bankruptcy system under chapter 7 or chapter 13. He also helps Buffalo-area residents apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or appeal Social Security Administration decisions denying, reducing or revoking benefits. He has accumulated a wealth of knowledge regarding the multiple medical impairments afflicting disability claimants and dealing with the medical profession to secure the...

Diane Tiveron is a Partner and the Chairperson of the Corporate & Business Law Department at Tiveron Law PLLC. With over 29 years of legal experience and a educational background in economics and business administration, Ms. Tiveron assists clients with business formations (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporations, and limited liability companies), acquisitions, sales or dissolutions, as well as the preparation of any commercial document/contract, ranging from an employment agreement to a lease. She counsels non-for-profit organizations on nonprofit law and governance, obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status and 501(c) classifications. Ms. Tiveron also advises individuals and businesses with bankruptcy issues (Chapter...

Jessica Peraza is Counsel working with the firm’s Trusts & Estates Department. She focuses her practice on Estate Planning and Administration, Medicaid and Long-term Care Planning, and Wealth Management. As a law student, she interned for the Hon. Barbara Howe in Erie County Surrogate’s Court and worked in the Public Benefits Unit of Neighborhood Legal Services. Her previous experience includes residential foreclosures, public and private sector labor law, contract negotiations, probate matters, third party credit collections, and representation of clients in administrative hearings and arbitrations. Ms. Peraza attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York where she graduated with a...

J. Michael Kelleher graduated cum laude from St. Bonaventure University with a B.A. in 1967, and received his legal education at the University Of Notre Dame, graduating in 1970. Mr. Kelleher was Town Justice for the Town of Lancaster from 1975 to 2014 and is Senior Counsel at Tiveron Law since joining the firm in 2011. Mr. Kelleher has focused his practice in commercial and residential real estate as well probate, estate planning, and corporate law since 1970. He is a member of the Real Estate and Estate Practice and Procedure Committees of the Erie County Bar Association. Mr. Kelleher has lectured...

Stephen R. Silverstein concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and disability planning, estate administration, guardianships and elder law.

He is a graduate of the University of Rochester and the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He is a former bank trust officer, where he worked on administration of estates, trusts and employee benefit plans.

Mr. Silverstein is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County Surrogate’s Court Committee and serves as the Committee’s Recording Secretary. He is also a member of the Bar Association of Erie County Elder Law Committee and...

Spencer’s experience across diverse areas of the law enables him to provide effective legal advice and services to a variety of clients, including those who require legal assistance in the areas of: Estate Planning; Estate and Trust Administration; Drafting wills, trusts, health care proxies and durable powers of attorney; Related Elder Law matters such as planning for nursing home costs and Medicaid eligibility; Estate litigation; and Commercial and Residential Real Estate Transfers and Leasing.

As a Senior Associate at Tully Rinckey, PLLC, Christine is part of the Family and Matrimonial Law group, where she focuses on divorce and child custody cases. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in family and matrimonial matters, working as both a private practitioner and public defender. She is also a member of the Tully Rinckey Trust and Estates group, representing persons with a wide variety of estate planning and directives.

Before joining Tully Rinckey, Christine spent 10 years as a Court Attorney and Referee to the Hon. Patricia Gallaher, acting state Supreme Court Justice and Family Court Judge...

Davies At Law * 2024 * Timothy R. Davies is the culmination of many years of legal services proudly practicing within the Long Island, New York legal landscape. Over thirty years ago in 1991 Davies, Elston, Davies and Davies was newly formed with partners, Timothy R. Davies, Esq., Ronald C. Davies, Esq., A. Roger Elston, Esq. and Victoria L. Davies, Esq. With the early foundation of a family law firm who had been servicing our neighboring Long Island community and families for many years, Davies At Law proudly continues this tradition forward. My wife,...

Brittni Sullivan is a Senior Associate attorney at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. She joined the firm in January 2013 as a legal intern while she was still in law school. Since 2015, Brittni has been concentrating her practice in the areas of Estate Planning and Medicaid as well as Guardianship. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive year, Brittni was named a Rising Star attorney for the New York Metro area by Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters publication. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. She was also recognized as a 2025 The Best...

Mr. Bollhofer is an attorney, and President of the law office of Joseph A. Bollhofer, P.C. in St. James, New York. He is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Bollhofer received his undergraduate degree from the Stony Brook University and his law degree from Fordham University School of Law. Elder Law and Estate and Business Planning, including asset transfer and Medicaid applications, have been primary areas of Mr. Bollhofer's law practice since 1985. He periodically gives lectures in these areas of law to community, professional and continuing education groups. He is a member...

Melissa Doris joined Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. in February 2020 as Senior Associate attorney. Prior to her work at the firm, Melissa gained over a decade of experience at a prominent Long Island Trusts and Estates law firm. Her wealth of knowledge is extensive in the areas of Estate Planning, Trust and Estate Administration, Taxation, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning and Residential Real Estate where she focuses her practice. Melissa was recognized as The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Elder Law and Trusts & Estates in Setauket, NY in the 2024 and 2025 editions. Melissa received her Bachelor's...

Kera Reed is an attorney at Burner Law Group, P.C. She joined the firm in January 2012 and now leads the firms Estate and Trust Administration Department overseeing all phases of Probate and Estate administration as well as estate litigation matters. Kera’s practice includes all Surrogate’s Court proceedings to appoint an Executor or Administrator of an estate, SCPA Article 17 and 17-A guardianship proceedings, preparation and litigation of fiduciary accountings, and preparation of New York State and Federal estate tax returns. She also is qualified to serve as Guardian ad Litem in Surrogates’ Court proceedings. In addition to her...

Kimberly Trueman is an attorney at the Law Offices of Robin Burner Daleo, PLLC. She joined the firm in November, 2021. Kimberly received her Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Literature and Language from Stony Brook University in 2009 where she graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and was the valedictorian of her department. She then received her Juris Doctor from Hofstra University, School of Law in 2012. While attending law school, Kimberly was the recipient of the Honors Scholarship for academic excellence as well as the Linda Carmody-Roberts Scholarship for her commitment to pursuing a career in the Trust & Estates...

Kenneth Kraus helps individuals and families prepare their estate plan, including Wills, asset protection Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts (SNTs), Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxies. He also assists with the probate process including the preparation of income, fiduciary, gift and estate tax returns and the sale of real estate. In addition, Ken works with families to help them understand the complexities of long-term care financing, including Medicare, Medicaid, home care and nursing home planning. Given the ever-changing estate and income tax laws and the increasing concern of special needs and long-term care planning, Ken’s depth and breadth of experience...

Douglas Gawel is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law’s Estate Planning & Elder Law Departments, with an emphasis on Estate Administration, Probates, Trusts, and Last Will & Testament litigation. Mr. Gawel obtained his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law, in Pittsburgh, and his undergraduate degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Douglas has been admitted to practice law in New York and Pennsylvania and is a current member of those States’ Bar Association. Mr. Gawel’s prior experience at smaller firms taught him the importance of being able to handle a client’s case from inception to...

As a Senior Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Real Estate Law practice, Raymond focuses his practice on commercial and residential real estate financing transactions, commercial real estate transactions and development, title review and commitment preparation. He represents developers in subdivision acquisitions, and he represents lenders in commercial and residential mortgage transactions, as well as commercial and residential purchasers and sellers.

Raymond has extensive experience drafting residential and commercial contracts of sale, leases and mortgage documents including, but not limited to: commitment letters, promissory notes, mortgages, security agreements, assignment of rents and leases, environmental compliance and indemnity agreements, unlimited guarantees and UCC-1...

We chose to remain a small law office to provide personal, dedicated and aggressive service to our clients. My office costs a few dollars more but excellent service takes time and strategy. Offsetting our higher fees we have payment plans. We have seven lawyers working together to get the best solutions. As a small firm we call upon all areas of the law to form a comprehensive strategy and plan. As in a game making the right move determines the outcome of the case. A divorce case is often helped by a bankruptcy or our tax law knowledge. We create...

George Gray is a partner in the law firm of Gray & Feldman LLP, where his practice concentrates in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning and administration, business and tax law. He is a member of the Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations and is active in the Tax and Trust and Estates Sections of these associations. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Monroe County Estate Planning Council and is active on its Program Committee. SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING: Through his long association with the...

I became an Attorney and Counselor at Law to guide families just like mine in the intimidating and some time convoluted judicial process. My ambition is to provide value and shape the culture in our communities for women just like me.

Gina Raio Bitsimis is Of Counsel at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. She joined the firm in February 2021 having previously worked over twenty-five years in prominent Trusts and Estates law firms. Gina’s practice includes all Surrogate’s Court proceedings to appoint an Executor or Administrator of an estate, preparation of fiduciary accountings, and preparation of New York State and Federal estate tax returns. In addition, she is well versed in Real Estate Transactions. As a result of her proficiency in all matters of Trusts and Estates, Gina dedicates her time to educating and counseling clients on timely and sensitive matters. In addition,...

Andrew J. Gilbride tirelessly and aggressively represents individuals and families in their time of need, including matters related to Family Law, Divorce Law, Commercial and Residential Real Estate, Personal Injury, Elder Care, Estate Planning, Landlord /Tenant disputes, Civil Litigation and General Business issues.

Before founding the firm, Mr. Gilbride was a highly successful Wall Street professional, trading gold futures on the New York Commodities exchange. Navigating the highly competitive and aggressive world of Wall Street prepared Mr. Gilbride for a successful law career, with a carefully honed ability to handle the most contentious court matters with agility and professionalism. Additionally, due...

Joshua P. Blumberg is a partner at Blumberg, Cherkoss, Fitz Gibbons & Blumberg and one of the most promising and diligent attorneys in the Amityville legal community. Mr. Blumberg followed in the footsteps of both his grandfather and father (H. Lee Blumberg) by attending the University of Michigan, where he earned his B.A. He then went on to be admitted to Tulane University, where he graduated with his Juris Doctor in 2000. He was admitted to the New York and U.S. District Court bar that same year. After joining his father at Blumberg, Cherkoss, Fitz Gibbons & Blumberg, Mr. Blumberg...

Donald Fox practices in the areas of real estate, trusts and estates and business related issues. He also has a busy practice in the area of not-for-profit organizations and serves as counsel for churches, fire departments and numerous other community organizations. Don counsels extensively with the firm’s business clients in all areas of contracts, leasing and business transactions. His extensive background in tax gives him a unique understanding of complex business issues from multiple perspectives. This skill also permits an in-depth analysis in the area of estate planning. In the face of many public policy uncertainties, Don’s in-depth knowledge...

For over 15 years Darren Swetz has been helping individuals and business navigate a range of legal issues to help them achieve financial success, economic stability or a fresh start. At Tully Rinckey PLLC he is a Partner who represents New Yorkers with the preparation of wills, trusts and advanced directives; Medicaid planning; and real estate transactions and leases. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Mr. Swetz served as Managing Partner at Kelly & Swetz for more than a dozen years, where he focused his practice on wealth management and asset preservation. Before that he operated...

I am a trust and estates attorney practicing at a boutique firm in Rochester, New York. I help clients protect their assets and create a legacy for their children, grandchildren, and charitable causes.

Nicholas S. Ratush, Esq., is licensed to practice before State and Federal Courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York. Nicholas Ratush believes that effective client representation starts with a thorough examination of every detail of a case. That process often leads him to discover the vital pieces of information that are essential to develop highly effective strategies for dealing with the issues presented. Nicholas was born in Kiev, Ukraine and grew up in New York. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Pace University majoring in Information Systems. He received his Juris...

Helping clients with estate planning and probate matters. Services include: Estate Planning including: Wills Trusts Power of Attorney documents Health Care Proxies/Living Wills Various other legal arrangements and documents needed with estate planning matters Probate Estate Administration The office is located on Main Street in the Village of Williamsville, NY with ample parking on the side and back of the building as well. There is a wheelchair accessible ramp into the building and the office is on the one and only first floor. Appointments can be made to fit scheduling needs. Email: ruth@ruthpgeorgelaw.com

Our office is OPEN following COVID-19 protocols.


About Me:
As the daughter of Italian immigrants, the values of hard work, education, and integrity were instilled at a young age. In two decades of practicing law, I have learned not only the mechanics of Elder Law, Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate, and Guardianships, and but also the importance of compassion and understanding in dealing with clients who are enduring emotionally difficult times. I receive immense satisfaction from serving clients in their greatest times of need. What I love most about my job is helping people. Many times a client comes to...

Stephen Bennett represents clients in a wide variety of matters. Steve represents business owners throughout the lifecycle of their business from start up, to hiring their first employee, to acquisitions of equipment and other businesses, all the way to sale or transition to inside or outside ownership. Steve’s experience in representing many local lenders in secured transactions also allows him to provide a different perspective to his business clients. In addition, Steve counsels clients in both basic estate planning (Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies) and in more complex estate and estate tax planning. Long-term care is a...

Robert J. Zysk has a highly technical background, including Engineering School studies; former employment as an Internal Revenue Officer and investigator; and facility with the Laws of Taxation and the Internal Revenue Code. During 41 years of private practice, I have developed a broad spectrum of experience and facility in numerous areas of the law, as further indicated in my profile. I represent businesses and entreprenuers in all types of Civil Litigation. Elder Law has emerged as one of my practice areas and I am knowlegeable and draft Faimly Trusts. My practice is thus manifold and flexibile....

I've lived in New York all my life, earning my B.A. from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo in 1975. In 1977, I also earned my Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law. I believe being an active participant in the community is essential for a successful law practice. My law firm partner and I have been working with Buffalo and WNY residents for almost four decades, so we're not surprised when clients tell us we've helped a member of their family or neighbor in the past. We have 13 locations across New York and practice law in many areas. Our website has numerous free...

William G. Goode received his B.A. in Economics from the College of William & Mary in 1996. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond in 1999. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and to the New York Federal Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts, in 2001. In 2008, Mr. Goode received an MBA in Corporate Finance from Dowling College.

After graduating from Law School, Mr. Goode worked for a large Long Island Law Firm in the Trusts & Estate Department, the Litigation Department and the Corporate...

A holistic approach to your legal matters. I am a trained divorce mediator and experienced attorney who works primarily with clients who choose to seek resolution of their divorce, family law, and other legal matters outside of the court room through mediation and collaborative law. In addition to his mediation practice, Tom has fifteen years of experience practicing matrimonial and family law, real estate law and elder law in the Finger Lakes and is the owner of Law Office of Thomas W. Seeley, PC and Finger Lakes Holistic Divorce Mediation, Inc.
Tom encourages clients to integrate...

I concentrate in the areas of Special Needs Planning, Trusts & Estates, Guardianships, and Elder Law. I am an advocate for families and individuals with disabilities and hold seminars throughout New York and Long Island on special needs planning. You can find a calendar of my upcoming events on my website. Call my office for a no-obligation consultation or to arrange for me to speak to your organization.