Bernard A. Krooks

Introduction: Bernard A. Krooks is a nationally recognized expert in all aspects of elder law and special needs planning. Mr. Krooks is the past president of the Special Needs Alliance, a national, invitation-only, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting families with special needs planning. Mr. Krooks is also the past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a fellow of NAELA, past chair of the NAELA tax section, and past editor-in-chief of the NAELA News. In addition, he is certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation and is an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP). He is a founding member and the past president of the New York chapter of NAELA. In 2008, he received the chapter's Outstanding Achievement Award for his lifelong work on behalf of seniors and those with disabilities. In 2007, his firm received the NYSARC Employer of the Year Award for employing people with disabilities. In 2011, his firm received the Family Friendly Employment Policy Award from the Westchester Women's Bar Association. Mr. Krooks is the past chair of the elder law section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and the past editor-in-chief of the Elder Law Attorney, the newsletter of the NYSBA elder law section. He also is a member of the trusts and estates law section and tax section of the NYSBA. Mr. Krooks co-authors (1) a chapter in the NYSBA publication, Guardianship Practice in New York State, entitled Creative Advocacy in Guardianship Settings: Medicaid and Estate Planning, Including Transfer of Assets, Supplemental Needs, Trusts and Protection of Disabled Family Members; and (2) the NYSBA publication Elder Law, Special Needs Planning and Will Drafting. He is chair of the elder law committee of the editorial advisory board of Trusts and Estates Magazine, and serves on the editorial boards of Exceptional Parent magazine, and Leimberg Information Services.