Our Commitment to you as an Elder Law and Estate Planning Law Firm
Our motto is “WE BUILD PLANS THAT WORK.”
Whether you need an Elder Law plan to protect your hard-earned savings in your later years, an Estate Plan to develop a seamless transfer of your wealth to your family, reduce estate taxes, Special Needs plans to provide quality support for disabled loved ones, or asset protection against litigants, creditors, and predators in Elmira and throughout Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler Counties, NY, our plans are at the cutting edge of our profession.
We strive to be ahead of our peers in legal knowledge and technology in order to provide our clients with highest quality legal counsel in the area. You and your loved ones deserve the best legal representation possible, whether in a time of crisis or if you are planning for the future.
Once a new client has met with us for their Elder Law or Estate Planning needs, they often comment on the thorough job we do. In working with our firm, you will see the dramatic results of our information gathering, communication, technology and strategies we use to resolve your legal needs in the most efficient and practical manner.
Our Elder Law and Estate Planning Qualifications
Donald W. Mustico, Esq., CPA has built a distinguished career in Elder Law and Estate Planning through a unique combination of legal and accounting expertise. With an undergraduate degree in accounting, he began his career in the tax department of the world’s largest accounting firm after law school. This prestigious environment shaped his pragmatic, analytical approach to solving legal problems—an approach that goes beyond the standard legal training. He later worked in a large-firm setting, developing sophisticated tax and estate planning strategies for high-net-worth clients and complex estates. While such expertise is invaluable for larger estates, Don’s depth of knowledge benefits clients at every level of wealth.
In the mid to late 1980s, a new field of law emerged devoted to estate and long-term care planning for seniors. Now known as Elder Law, this specialty was designed to protect seniors whose savings and homes could otherwise be at risk if long-term care became necessary. For over three decades, Don has been at the forefront of this field, helping seniors and their families safeguard assets while planning for quality long-term care.
Today, Elder Law requires an even higher degree of technical skill and creativity. As government regulations have grown more complex, the practice now involves sophisticated trust and tax planning strategies similar to those used for high-net-worth estates. Don’s decades of experience have equipped him to meet these challenges with unmatched expertise.
Working alongside Don, Brooke Harvey, Esq. brings a fresh perspective and deep commitment to client advocacy. Trained extensively under Don’s mentorship, Brooke combines his proven techniques with her own modern approach to guiding families through the intricacies of estate and Medicaid planning. Together, Don and Brooke share a passion for helping seniors preserve their homes, protect their life savings, and secure the best possible care for the future.
Our Approach to Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Business Law, Tax Planning and Probate
You may come in with pre-conceived notions or misinformation about your unique situation. This information is often provided by family members, friends, your old lawyer with no expertise in Elder Law, bankers, financial advisors, or accountants, despite their best intentions.
Consequently, our first step is to fully understand your unique situation and legal needs. We then start fresh, offering you a general idea of your problem, the obstacles before you, and the various techniques which may be part of your solution.
We spend a substantial amount of time with each client and believe that personal contact is critical to successful Elder Law planning.
What may seem to be an overwhelming problem is often just a cluster of smaller problems that have snowballed. We try to break the “big” problem down into its smaller pieces where each can be dealt with independently and more efficiently. This allows you to see the progress made over small obstacles as we proceed with expert Elder Law planning.
Our Elder Law Attorneys take a holistic approach in advising our clients. A single Elder Law engagement may involve estate planning, financial planning, tax law, health care decisions, Medicare, and Medicaid and VA benefits planning, all through the lens of understanding your unique family dynamics.