Sarah A. Steckler is a partner in our Trusts and Estates Group.

Ms. Steckler focuses on providing counsel to families concerning all aspects of estate planning, estate administration and elder law. She helps clients transfer family wealth to minimize or eliminate federal and state tax liability. Clients seek her guidance in creating sophisticated estate plans, disability planning to help individuals with special needs preserve their eligibility for public benefits, charitable giving, LGBTQ+ planning, will and trust preparation, advanced directives, powers of attorney, and trust and estate administration.
 
Ms. Steckler also advises clients on health care planning involving Medicaid applications for home care and care in a nursing home, irrevocable trusts, trust amendments, reverse mortgages, review of facility admissions agreements, supplemental needs trusts, pooled trusts, long term care insurance, hospital discharge planning, private medical insurance, Medicare, veterans benefits, and end-of life care planning.

AFFILIATIONS

• Board Member, Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services (WPPP), 2021
• Estate Planning Council of Westchester
• New York State Bar Association (Member, Trust and Estates, Elder Law and Young Lawyers Sections; Vice-Chair, ELSN Veterans Benefits Committee; Representative, 9th Judicial District Elder Law and Special Needs Section)
• Friends of Gail Advisory Board Member, Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC), 2021
• Senior Law Day Collaborative, Co-Chair
• Westchester County Bar Association
• White Plains Hospital Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Council Member
• Older American Act Advisory Council, Member

PRIOR AFFILIATIONS

• Keane & Beane, P.C.

PRESENTATIONS 

• Understanding the Courts in Westchester County, NY: What to Do When Someone Dies or Becomes Incapacitated, November 30, 2022
• Be Valiant: Making an Impact through Planned Giving - Webinar, Manhattanville College, June 2, 2021
• How to use a Power of Attorney and when to Establish a Guardianship - Webinar, Senior Law Day Collaborative, June 2, 2021
• Getting Older is Hard Work, Finding Care Shouldn’t Be. A Comparison of Community Resources: Home Care Vs. Nursing Home, 5/19/2021
• Medicaid Planning and Strategies for Financial Planners, Financial Planning Association of Westchester on Estate and Medicaid Planning, 03/06/2018
• Basics of Elder Law and Special Needs Practice Seminar: Medicaid Part II, NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section, 11/14/2017
• Ethical Issues in Elder Law, NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section, 11/5/2015

AWARDS/HONORS

• Super Lawyers New York Metro designation as top attorney in New York in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate and Elder Law (2022 - 2023)
• Named a Top Women Lawyer in Metro New York by Super Lawyers - 2023
• Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars designation as top attorney in New York in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate and Elder Law (2017 - 2020)
• Syracuse University College of Law with the Orange Award for her commitment to Pro Bono and Community Service (2010)

Photograph by Michael Priest Photography