Michael J. Amoruso

More About Michael J. Amoruso

Michael concentrates his practice on Elder Law, Comprehensive Estate Planning, Asset Preservation, Estate Administration, and Guardianship. He was chosen as a 2010-2021 New York Metro Super Lawyer for Elder Law, a 2011-2021 Top 25 Westchester and Top 100 New York Super Lawyer among all practice areas. He was featured by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2013. Michael continues to garner awards and accolades year after year. He also appears in the U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Lawyers in America for Elder Law, and in 2021, was named Lawyer of the Year for Trusts & Estates. In addition, from 2011-2021, Michael received an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell—the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards.

In December 2016, 23 years of advocacy by Michael culminated in the passage of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, finally granting disabled individuals like himself the right to establish their own unique needs trusts without relying on their parents, grandparents, legal guardians, or a court. In 2017, Michael was featured in a Westchester Business Journal online article entitled “Sight-impaired lawyer uses personal experience to advocate for the disabled.” In 2009, he received a U.S. Congressional Proclamation for his work in Elder Law and Special Needs Law. Michael is the past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and, in 2017, was elected to the NAELA Council of Advanced Practitioners. 

In April 2016, he was named a NAELA Fellow in recognition of his outstanding leadership and exceptional commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the Elderly and those with Special Needs. Michael was the 2014 recipient of the NAELA Theresa Foundation Award for his dedication to those with Special Needs and received the 2013 NAELA President’s Recognition Award and the 2010 NAELA Outstanding New York Chapter Member Award. He also served as President of the New York Chapter of NAELA.

He is the past Chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law Section, a permanent member of the Executive Committee, and former Chair of the Legislation Committee and the Estate & Tax Planning Committee. He received the prestigious 2018 NYSBA Elder Law Section Award for furthering the rights of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities, the 2010 NYSBA Elder Law Section Award as a principal drafter of NYSBA’s significant amendments to the 2009 Power of Attorney statute, and the 2007 NYSBA Elder Law Section Award as a principal drafter of the New York State Compact for Long Term Care. This bill offers an alternative to Medicaid coverage for long-term care services. Michael is an adjunct law professor for the Stetson University College of Law JD and Elder Law LLM programs. He also hosts the weekly “Elder Care on the Air™” radio show on 107.1 FM, “The Peak” (ElderCareOnTheAir.com). He is a frequent lecturer for the New York State Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, Stetson Law National Supplemental Needs Trust Conference, WealthCounsel LLC, and ElderCounsel LLC, the Westchester Business Journal and Generations.

He is a nationally published author and a source of quotes and opinions for local press and The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, Reuters, New York Law Journal, AARP, Money, bankrate.com, and Jewish World Review. Locally, Michael serves on the Visiting Nurse Service of Westchester Board and The Seeing Eye Foundation Board and has served on the Boards of Directors of the Westchester County Bar Association, Hospice of Westchester, and as Past Chair of the WCBA Elder Law Committee, and President of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County.

Michael is a Founding Principal of ElderCounsel LLC, the premier elder law and special needs planning document drafting solution for attorneys. Most importantly, however, Michael is the doting father of two beautiful daughters and husband to his incredible and loving wife and law partner, Sreelekha.