As an estate planning and elder law attorney, I encounter many people who think that previous estate planning and efforts to plan for the future have protected them or their loved ones, but that is often not true. Still others have no estate plan or face a sudden change in health that requires long-term care. These and other situations can waste assets and cause a lot of unneeded headaches. Even suffering.As a Partner at Maker, Fragale & Di Costanzo, LLP, I help lead a team that focuses on understanding each client’s needs, which enables us to develop estate planning and asset protection options customized to address each specific situation. Since 2015, our firm has served individuals and families in Westchester County and the lower Hudson Valley, New York, through our offices in Rye and Yorktown.When meeting with clients and families, we listen carefully and use plain language to make sure they fully understand the legal issues. Whether estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate and estate administration, guardianships, or another aspect of elder law and estate planning, we support our clients with a sensible approach.Here are three brief illustrations:-► A man reported that our team did an outstanding job with his aging parents’ estate planning and Medicaid applications. Everyone showed great respect and compassion for the individuals in decline and explained the process and options in easy-to-understand terms. -► A woman who was the only support for her aunt and uncle referred them to the firm for a Power of Attorney and Living Trust. Later, we set up an Irrevocable trust for her father. -► Another woman needed assistance obtaining Medicaid benefits for her husband to help pay for his care at home after he became ill. Through working with us and our holistic approaches, she found that her stress and anxiety levels decreased and she didn’t face having to figure everything out on her own.We also offer a practice-specific website, PlanTodayforTomorrow.com, which is our “face” to the general public.Before joining my current firm, I gained a broad legal and business background as a municipal, tax certiorari, and land use attorney at another boutique Westchester firm.I enjoy speaking to community and professional groups on various aspects of estate planning and elder law. In my spare time, I like to spend time with friends and family, cook, read, and play the piano.