Business Details
Special Needs & Estate Planning Legal Services in Scarsdale, NY
Marna E. Solarsh, Esq. is a dedicated legal practice specializing in special needs planning, estate planning, guardianships, and special education law. With over two decades of experience, the firm combines deep legal expertise with firsthand personal understanding of the challenges faced by families of individuals with disabilities. Our services include establishing Supplemental Needs Trusts to protect government benefits, creating tailored estate plans, navigating guardianship proceedings, and advocating for appropriate educational services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.We provide compassionate, client-centered representation grounded in both professional excellence and personal experience as a parent of a child with a disability. Our team actively participates in local and state organizations serving individuals with special needs, maintaining strong connections to community resources and support networks.
Services
Guardianships
Supplemental Needs Trusts
Estate Planning
Special Education Advocacy
Highlights and features
- We offer specialized expertise in special needs planning and estate law with 20+ years of experience.
- Our team combines legal knowledge with firsthand personal experience supporting individuals with disabilities.
- We provide tailored solutions for Supplemental Needs Trusts and guardianship proceedings.
- Our practice maintains active involvement in local special needs organizations and advocacy groups.
- We deliver personalized legal strategies focused on long-term security for families.
Services
Guardianships
Establishing legal guardianship for adults with disabilities who cannot make informed medical, financial, or personal decisions. We guide families through New York's Article 17-A and Article 81 guardianship processes, ensuring appropriate court filings and tailored supervision plans. Our approach balances legal requirements with compassionate advocacy to protect vulnerable individuals while respecting their autonomy.
Supplemental Needs Trusts
Creating Supplemental Needs Trusts to preserve government benefits while enhancing quality of life for individuals with disabilities. We design trusts that allow asset protection for Medicaid and SSI eligibility, covering expenses like adaptive equipment, therapies, and recreational programs. Our services include trust administration, court documentation, and strategic funding arrangements to ensure long-term financial security.
Estate Planning
Developing comprehensive estate plans that address future care and financial security for families with special needs members. We create customized wills, trusts, and advance directives that protect assets while maintaining benefit eligibility. Our planning incorporates government benefit education, long-term care strategies, and transition planning to ensure continuity of care across generations.
Special Education Advocacy
Advocating for appropriate educational services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We help families secure Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), related services, and necessary accommodations through school district negotiations and formal proceedings. Our services include records review, behavioral plan development, and transition planning to support students' educational rights and developmental needs.
People
Solarsh Marna
Attorney
Experienced special needs and estate planning attorney with personal experience raising a child with a disability. Active in New York State special needs organizations, providing legal advocacy grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience. Lectures frequently on special education law and special needs planning.
Questions
What special needs legal services do you offer?
We specialize in guardianships, Supplemental Needs Trusts, special education advocacy, and estate planning tailored to families of individuals with disabilities.
How do you help with government benefit preservation?
We create legally compliant Supplemental Needs Trusts that maintain Medicaid and SSI eligibility while providing additional financial resources for quality-of-life improvements.
What makes your special education advocacy unique?
Our approach combines legal expertise with personal experience navigating the special education system as a parent of a child with autism.
Do you handle estate planning for non-disabled individuals?
While we focus on special needs families, we also provide general estate planning services with expertise in creating inclusive, future-proof plans.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve New York State families from our Scarsdale office, with court representation across the state.
