Third Annual Elder Law Day

Richard I. Miller

Richard Miller, Chair of our Elder Law Practice Group, is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation accredited by the American Bar Association, an honor held by only a select group of attorneys nationwide. He has decades of experience advising clients on elder law, guardianships, planning for individuals with special needs, estate planning, asset protection, estate administration, and probate litigation. Known for his compassionate counsel and strategic advocacy, he also provides fiduciary services and serves as Executor and Administrator in complex estate matters, acts as guardian for disabled individuals, Trustee for Supplemental Needs Trusts, and as a court-approved mediator in probate litigation matters. Richard was honored at the New Jersey Judiciary’s 2020 Pro Bono Attorney Recognition Event for his outstanding pro bono service, and he is a past president and trustee of the Passaic County Bar Association and a frequent lecturer on elder law, government benefit planning, and guardianships for professional, community, and financial groups.

Shawna A. Brown

Shawna Brown is an Elder Law and Special Needs attorney whose practice focuses on estate and trust litigation, including contested and uncontested probate, trust, and accounting proceedings, as well as estate planning and estate administration. She is frequently appointed as court-appointed attorney or temporary guardian for alleged incapacitated persons in guardianship matters. Before joining Mandelbaum Barrett PC, Shawna spent a decade at a New York City law firm advising the Public Administrator of New York County on estate administration matters, giving her valuable insight into multi-jurisdictional estate issues involving New York and New Jersey law. In October 2024, she was honored by the New Jersey Judiciary for her outstanding pro bono service and regularly speaks and writes on estate and guardianship issues for community groups and legal professionals through the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

Jeffrey J. Trapanese

Jeffrey Trapanese is a Partner at Mandelbaum Barrett PC in Elder Law, Special Needs, and Estate Litigation, focusing on probate litigation, guardianships, estate planning, and estate administration. He serves as Administrator, Trustee, Conservator, and Guardian for incapacitated adults and disabled minors, and also handles civil and equity litigation. With 30 years of experience, Jeff has worked in municipal law, including as Municipal Prosecutor and in the Township of Little Falls Legal Department. He earned his BA from the University of Delaware and JD from the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center at Touro College, began his career as a law clerk to the Hon. Peter Ciolino, AJSC, and is licensed in New Jersey and federal courts. Jeff is a past president of the Passaic County Bar Association, a graduate of the Justice Robert L. Clifford American Inns of Court, and has served in multiple ethics and mediation roles, including a Supreme Court appointment and 25 years as a Volunteer Mediator.

Ronald L. Davison

Ronald L. Davison, a Partner in Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s Elder Law Practice Group, brings over 50 years of experience advising families, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries on estate, trust, and guardianship matters, including disputes involving wills, fiduciaries, and asset protection. He has served as court-appointed estate administrator, receiver, guardianship attorney, and attorney-trustee, combining elder law expertise with decades of litigation experience. Ronald frequently lectures on will contests, trust challenges, and business valuations in estate disputes, and has served as a volunteer mediator for the Chancery Division’s Early Settlement Panels. Appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court as Chair of the District Ethics and Fee Arbitration Committees, he is also active in the Essex County Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association. Ronald earned his BA with high honors and JD from Rutgers University, and is admitted to practice in New Jersey and federal courts, including the U.S. Tax Court.

Donald A. Dennison

Donald A. Dennison is an associate in Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s Elder Law Practice Group, focusing on guardianships, Medicaid planning, special needs, and estate administration. He specializes in complex Medicaid and asset preservation planning, as well as nursing home and probate litigation, and has extensive experience assisting the LGBTQ+ community with aging and disability issues. Donald is passionate about protecting the rights of the elderly and disabled, regularly lectures on these topics, and has served as a panelist and presenter at the New Jersey Elder Law Retreat. He is also active in his community as a member of the Executive Council for the First Congregational Church of Montclair. He earned his JD from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and BA from Kings College, and previously practiced at Fink Rosner Ershow-Levenberg Marinaro, LLC.

Dan Stone

Dan Stone is an Associate in Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s Elder Law, Trusts & Estates, and Special Needs Practice Groups, where he focuses on Estate Litigation, Estate Administration, Guardianships, Estate Planning, and Asset Preservation. Dan earned his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law School and his B.A. in Philosophy from Boston University. While in Law School, Dan was active in the Mock Trial program and worked as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable John D. O’Dwyer, P.J.Cv., in the Bergen Vicinage of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Civil Part. Dan is proud to be a third-generation attorney in Essex County and looks forward to continuing to assist the community in which he was raised.

Lynn Magnusson

Lynn Magnusson, ASA, AAA, ISA AM, has over 25 years of experience providing IRS-qualified, USPAP-compliant appraisals and fiduciary brokerage services. She holds rare accreditations with the American Society of Appraisers, the Appraisers Association of America, and the International Society of Appraisers, specializing in Antiques, Furnishings & Decorative Art. Lynn’s valuations are sought by private and corporate clients, government entities, cultural institutions, attorneys, and wealth managers, and her team has extensive expertise in asset management, sales, insurance, estate and charitable tax planning, and equitable distribution of fine and decorative arts, silver, and jewelry. As CEO of The Magnusson Group, she has served on the ASA Northern NJ Chapter Board of Trustees, the ASA National Personal Property Committee, and the Membership Committee, and frequently lectures on connoisseurship and valuation. A world-class swimmer, Lynn trained for the Olympic Trials and earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Miami, becoming the first woman at the university to receive a scholarship made possible by Title IX.

Ira Drucks

Ira P. Drucks has over 50 years of experience in the insurance industry and is a longtime member of the Health Underwriters of Northern New Jersey. A Vietnam veteran, Ira began his career as a Prudential Insurance debit agent and went on to serve as COO of a Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield subsidiary and Regional Vice President for Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company. He later joined Altomare Financial Group as Vice President overseeing Medicare and ancillary products. Based in Livingston, New Jersey, Ira has also served as President of the Livingston Chamber of Commerce, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and numerous charitable organizations. He is dedicated to helping clients select Medicare Supplement, Advantage, and Part D plans that fit their financial and medical needs, treating each client with the care he would give family and friends.

Joseph Lozito

Joseph A. Lozito, III is the owner and manager of Keri-Lozito Funeral Home in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, and has been a licensed Practitioner of Mortuary Science since 1987. He gained early experience at several North Jersey funeral homes before purchasing DeLuccia-Lozito Funeral Home in 1998 and later acquiring and renaming Keri Memorial Funeral Home to Keri-Lozito in 2023. Joseph has served as President of the Passaic County Funeral Directors Association and Second Vice President of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, contributing to various professional committees. He holds a Mortuary Science degree from the American Academy of Funeral Service and is a graduate of DePaul Catholic High School and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Outside of his career, he is active in football and basketball officiating and enjoys golf. Joseph lives in North Haledon with his wife Patricia and their three children, Joseph IV, Natalie, and Jake.

Austin Bremner

Austin Bremner serves as Community Outreach Liaison for Bradley & Son Funeral Homes and SimpleCremationNJ.com, collaborating with hospice teams, social workers, hospital professionals, elder care providers, and community partners to help families access trusted resources before, during, and after a loss. With a background in funeral service, celebrant work, family support, and community education, Austin focuses on building professional relationships and connecting care teams with clear, compassionate information on funeral planning, cremation options, Medicaid-accepted cremation, aftercare resources, and preplanning. Austin also produces Compassionate Care Conversations, a podcast highlighting trusted local professionals and resources for families navigating caregiving, aging, grief, and end-of-life decisions. His approach is grounded in compassion, education, and collaboration, with a focus on making difficult conversations more approachable for families and the professionals who support them.

Jonathan Lengel

Jonathan Lengel is an actor, singer-songwriter, and pianist best known for his breakout role as Archie in Netflix’s 13: The Musical. Living with a rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy like his character, he has also appeared in Theater Camp with Ben Platt and Molly Gordon. Featured in Forbes, Variety, and Deadline, Jonathan began performing in local theater and choruses at a young age and wrote his debut song, “The Story,” in high school. A Dean’s List student at Fordham University, he is pursuing a double major in Digital Technologies and Emerging Media and Music, with a minor in Spanish. Since 2017, he has served as an Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and advocates for disability representation and accessibility through CureCMD. Represented by Arise Artists Agency, Jonathan continues to act, write music, and promote inclusion, with “The Story” available on all music platforms.

Peace Care Experts is a leading care management firm in New Jersey, with over 20 years’ of experience serving the care needs of geriatric clients, clients with disabilities and those living with mental health and psychiatric challenges. Peace has extensive experience working with attorneys and guardians (family and professional) to ensure their wards have the highest quality of care and support. Peace Care Experts supports clients across Northern and Central New Jersey, and is expanding into Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties in 2026.

Affirmed Home Care is a private-pay, concierge home care provider serving New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. They specialize in delivering highly personalized, one-on-one support for both pediatric and adult clients, particularly those with complex medical needs or transitioning home after hospitalization. Their experienced nurses and caregivers work closely with families and healthcare teams to ensure seamless, high-quality care beyond traditional settings. Each care plan is thoughtfully tailored to the individual, reflecting our commitment to clinical excellence, flexibility, and preserving independence at home. At Affirmed, care goes beyond the expected by providing a level of support that meets each client exactly where they are, while offering families confidence and peace of mind.

Midland Trust Company is a full-service trust company providing trust and estate administration, court-supervised guardianships, special needs trusts, and in-house investment management. With offices in Chicago and New York, the firm serves clients and attorneys nationwide.

Spring Hills Livingston is a full-service senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Livingston, New Jersey. Our community provides personalized care, engaging programs, and 24/7 nursing support to help residents maintain independence while receiving the assistance they need. With a focus on wellness, social connection, and hospitality, Spring Hills Livingston partners with families and local professionals to create a supportive environment where residents can thrive and feel at home.

Planned Lifetime Assistance of New Jersey (PLANINJ), a nonprofit organization, helps the families of people with disabilities answer the question: “Who will care for my loved one when I’m gone?”

We partner with families to provide their loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health challenges or traumatic brain injuries with a lifetime of assistance. In some cases, PLANINJ may serve as a successor Guardian, a support to family Guardians, or as a case manager and advocate for individuals who may not have family available to support them in navigating the complexities of life decisions, public benefits, and medical appointments and follow-up. PLANINJ supports and services enable people with disabilities to live full and more independent lives.

At PLANINJ, we emphasize personal life planning along with financial strategies for people with disabilities in order to be inclusive of the whole person’s goals and preferences when planning for the future. PLANINJ serves in a fiduciary role as Trustee, providing oversight and monitoring of either individual Special Needs Trusts or sub-accounts in our Pooled Trust, the PLANINJ Community Trust.

Michael Cocco – Beacon Financial

Mike is a seasoned financial advisor with nearly 20 years of experience helping families, business owners, and retirees navigate wealth management with a tax-conscious approach. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Financial Consultant®, he provides comprehensive financial and insurance solutions, working closely with clients’ tax professionals.

A Penn State alum, Mike co-leads his family’s practice and has been featured in outlets like Forbes, WSJ, and Yahoo! Finance. He lives in Montclair, NJ with his wife and kids and actively supports causes like childhood cancer and public education.

Beacon Wealth Partners

Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD)

Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD) is the leading comprehensive agency dedicated to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities and strengthening their families through a full spectrum of services, advocacy, and community education.

At the heart of JSDD’s mission is a commitment to helping every individual reach their fullest potential. Through innovative, person-centered supports, including residential services, day programming, and essential therapeutic services such as occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech therapy, JSDD provides the tools and care needed for meaningful growth and independence.

JSDD is equally dedicated to fostering inclusion, creating pathways for individuals to live, learn, and thrive as valued members of both the Jewish and broader communities.

JSDD.org