First Admitted: 1990

Bar/Professional Activity:

I am a member of the Safety and Security Subcommittee, part of the Master Plan of Aging, created under Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership., 2024
Co-chair of the upcoming ELSN Summer Meeting., 2024
Currently serving as Treasurer of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys., 2023
New York State Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Section - executive committee. NYSBA Elder Law Section - Vice Chair of the Legislation Committee; former Co-Chair of the Elder Abuse Committee NYSBA Elder Law & Special Needs Section - member of the Guardianship Committee, the Mental Health Law Committee and the Committee on Special Needs Planning. NYSBA Committee on Representing Developmentally Disabled Persons for over twenty years; NYSBA Trusts and Estates Section member. Brooklyn Bar Association Elder Law Section - member. Brandeis Association - board member. Member of the New York Women's Bar Association - Elder Law Section., 2021
On November 8, 2019, the CLE materials on ethics -- which I authored -- for the Elder Law Basics program were presented., 2019
In June 2019, I was a panelist for the 14th Annual NYC Elder Law Abuse Conference., 2019
NYSBA Elder Law Section - Co-presented round-table discussion on Remedies for Financial Exploitation and Abuse of Incapacitated Persons , 2017

Pro bono/Community Service:

Speaker at Caring In Kind (formerly the NY Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. I regulary present lectures to caregivers with respect to financial planning issues and advanced directives, as they concern long-term care of individuals diagnosed with cognitive impaiment. , 1998

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Co-Authored article to create greater awareness of the current lack of housing options available to cognitively impaired individuals and to describe alternatives to traditional housing models., Co-Author, Creative Approach to Senior Housing for Persons With Cognitive Impairment, NYSBA ELSN Journal Vol.31/NO.1, 2021
This article focuses on the issue of marriages between elderly indivduals and who may be in a position to exert influence over them. Marriages such as these often occur in secret; family members do not find out until the marriage has occured or after the death of the elderly person. This article presents a factual case study and analysis of the applicable statutes and case law., Co-Author, Predatory Marriages: A Growing Concern, Elder Law & Special Needs Journal, NYSBA - Elder Law Section, 2018
Summer Elder Law Section Meeting - Co-Chair of meeting. Organized program with respect to content, topics and speakers. , Co-Chair, NYSBA - Elder Law Section, 2017

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Collapse honors & awards section Honor & AwardEdit honor Recognition for pro-bono services to Hurricane Sandy victimsRecognition for pro-bono services to Hurricane Sandy victims honor date2013 honor issuerNYSBA In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, attorneys throughout the state and beyond offered their services to storm victims. I was able to counsel individuals with respect to loss of government entitlements, nursing home matters, as well as guardianship issues., 2013

Industry Groups:

Deborah S. Ball