Our New York-Florida Connection

Howard S. Krooks, Esq., CELA, CAP, a partner of Elder Law Associates PA, maintains an active presence in the New York legal community. Mr. Krooks has practiced elder law and estate planning in New York since 1991 and is Of Counsel to Amoruso & Amoruso, LLP in Rye Brook, New York. Mr. Krooks serves clients throughout the Metropolitan New York area through his Westchester County, New York office. He also represents clients who split their time between Florida and New York, and the adult children of such individuals.

Before relocating to Florida, Mr. Krooks was a longtime, native New Yorker who practiced elder law, estate planning and special needs planning for nearly 15 years in New York. He is a longtime member and former Chair of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section. He maintains his professional and personal ties to New York, working closely with Amoruso & Amoruso LLP on a daily basis and visiting the New York office frequently.

When it comes to planning for a dual residence client, many issues arise that are most effectively handled by an attorney knowledgeable of the legal particulars of both states. For instance, estate planning documents prepared for the dual residence client must address issues indigenous to both jurisdictions. Mr. Krooks utilizes his elder law and estate planning experience in New York and Florida when preparing these documents to suggest the plan most appropriate for the dual residence client.

Often, dual residents are not sure whether to plan for governmental benefits eligibility in New York or Florida. Mr. Krooks’ experience in planning in both states provides dual residence clients access to all the information needed to make an informed decision as to which of the states will offer greater services and planning opportunities.

Many people are aware of the importance of having up-to-date advance directives such as a durable power of attorney, designation of health care surrogate and a living will (see page 18 for more information). But what many do not know is that if a client has one of these documents prepared in one state, such as New York, a doctor or health care facility treating that client in another state, such as Florida, may not honor it. Rather, the doctor or health care facility may use its discretion in deciding whether to honor the document since statutes regulating advance directives vary from state to state and the out-of-state form may not be familiar. As an attorney with experience and credentials in both Florida and New York, Mr. Krooks advises his clients with dual residencies on the appropriate documents for both locales.