Christopher M. Petillo

Christopher is Certified as an Elder Law Attorney ('CELA') by the National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association. The National Elder Law Foundation is not affiliated with any governmental authority. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of law in the State of New York and does not necessarily indicate greater competence than other attorneys experienced in this field of law.

He is admitted to the New York State Bar and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association (Elder Law Section) and the Nassau County Bar Association. Christopher is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. He earned his law degree at St. John’s University School of Law in Jamaica, New York.

Christopher completed his undergraduate studies at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. As the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship, Christopher earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, graduating with honors.

An alumnus of Price Waterhouse LLP (now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP), Christopher’s areas of practice include Elder Law, Estate Planning, Planning for a Beneficiary with Special Needs, Personal Income Taxation, Estate and Gift Taxation, and Fiduciary Income Taxation. Christopher is a frequent lecturer at consumer seminars on numerous Elder Law topics.

He was a speaker at the NYS Bar Association Elder Law Section Fall Meeting in October 2009 on the topic 'Strategic Planning for Securing Medicaid Eligibility.'
He has authored many published articles including:
• Probate Traps for the Unwary
• Changes in Medicaid Laws Affecting Life Estates and Trusts
• Federal Estate and Gift Tax Laws - More Misunderstood Than Charlie Brown’s Teacher
• IRA Loophole for Charitable Gifts Now Permanent
• Same-Sex Married Couples May Now Use “Married Filing Jointly” as Filing Status on Federal
Income Tax Returns
• Thinking of Hiring an “Off-the Books” Caregiver? Think Again
• Postcards from the Fiscal Cliff
• I’m Retired, But My Mortgage Isn’t...
• The Family Vacation Home and the Summer Winds of Change
• Unequal Provisions in the Estate Plan - “Mom Always Liked You Best”
• When You Don’t Pay Your Taxes
• Why We Need a Durable Power of Attorney

RECOGNITION

Voted one of New York's

in New York Super Lawyers - Metro Edition (Fall 2012 to present).

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