At Fern Finkel & Associates, PLLC., we brings decades of experience in elder law, estate planning, special needs planning and advocacy to our clients.
We offer a wide variety of services and practical planning instruments for the protection of older adults, persons with disabilities and their loved ones. We work closely with our clients and their families to plan for future financial and personal safety through estate and asset protection planning, special needs trusts, Medicaid and benefits planning, and advance directives including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills and other planning instruments.
We offer our counsel on long term care placement, benefits planning, financial options, and legal issues facing the elderly and disabled, with an eye towards maximizing our clients’ independence and ability to remain at home. We take pride in our commitment to compassionate listening and to protecting vulnerable seniors and disabled persons.
WE REPRESENT CLIENTS IN ALL COUNTIES OF NEW YORK STATE.
NOW PROVIDING ONLINE/ REMOTE/ VIDEO AND OR TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS.
Fern J. Finkel, Esq. is the founding attorney of Fern Finkel & Associates, PLLC, concentrating her practice in elder law, estate planning, asset protection, benefits, special needs planning, trusts, Medicaid, and probate. She has been in private practice since 1990. Fern brings a wealth of experience and compassion to her clients. She is known for her skillful analysis of financial and personal circumstances and for providing practical planning to enable seniors and disabled clients to remain as independent as possible.
Fern graduated with honors from New York University College of Business and Public Administration in 1981. She received her Juris Doctor Degree from Boston University School of Law in 1984. She has been recognized as a New York Super Lawyers selectee in the field of Elder Law in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Fern has been selected by the Courts, as well as by family members, to serve as the appointed Guardian and/or Trustee for many individuals in need of personal needs and property management. She has represented clients in all aspects of guardianship proceedings and has been appointed as Counsel and as Court Evaluator by the New York State Supreme Court in countless cases. She has helped thousands of seniors through her extensive community outreach and pro bono services on behalf of the indigent elderly of New York City. Fern spearheaded the Legal Education and Assistance Project, known as LEAP, at the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. LEAP’s mission is to train and support pro bono attorneys in providing community outreach and education on all aspects of advance planning to seniors, with the goal of maximizing their independence and ability to remain at home long term.
Fern is the Immediate Past Chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section, and a past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) New York Chapter.
Fern is the Chair of the Brooklyn Bar Association Foundation Law Committee, and a Special Master of the Appellate Division Second Department Mandatory Civil Appeals Mediation Program. She served for years as a volunteer certified mediator with Safe Horizons for community disputes, PINS cases and custody matters, as well as with the United States District Court, Eastern District. Fern has served on the Committees on Character and Fitness for the Second Judicial Department since 2008.
Fern led the initiative with the New York NAELA Chapter to create a “50 States Chart” compiling the responses from contributing NAELA member attorneys across the country on their respective states’ Medicaid planning tools, eligibility rules, and strategies. This has become a valuable resource for elder law practitioners across the country and the clients they serve.
Fern has lectured extensively for various Bar Associations and Continuing Legal Education providers on topics including Advance Directives, Medicaid and Asset Protection, Aging in Place, Supplemental Needs Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Planning During the Pandemic, the Role of the Guardian, Role of the Court Evaluator, Role of the Attorney for the AIP, and Guardianships. She has served as a mentor attorney at the Brooklyn Law School HELP (Helping Elders Through Litigation and Policy) Clinic, the Touro Law School Externship Program, and the New York Law School Elder Law Clinic.
Fern has received numerous awards for her pro bono service including: Selection as a 2019 “Champions of Justice: Women in Leadership in Law and Administration of Justice” Honoree by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the 2013 Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project Building Bridges Award, the 2013 Brooklyn Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2009 Brooklyn Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2004 Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York Hanna S. Cohn Pro Bono Award, the 2003 New York State Bar Association Pro Bono Award for the Second Judicial District, the 1999 Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project Pro Bono Award, the 1996 Brooklyn Bar Association Frieda S. Nisnewitz Award for Pro Bono Service, and an Award of Merit from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1997.
Fern was previously an Associate Attorney at the law firm of Damashek, Godosky and Gentile, where she litigated medical malpractice and personal injury cases, and a co-founder of her prior firm, Finkel & Fernandez, LLP.
In her spare time, Fern enjoys yoga, long walks in nature, gardening, bicycling, and spending quality time with her wonderful husband, family, and friends.
Abby C. Zampardi has been practicing elder law with Fern Finkel since 2015. She assists clients in the preparation and execution of all advance directives and trusts, and in the probate and administration of estates, . Abby is on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Section, where she serves as the Chair of the Sponsorship Committee. She is a delegate of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Abby was selected to the New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars List in the field of Elder Law for seven consecutive years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Abby received her Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington University School of Law in 2014 and was admitted to practice law in New York in 2015. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from Binghamton University (summa cum laude) in 2011. In her spare time, Abby enjoys reading, cooking and baking, and above all, spending quality time with her husband, daughter Isabelle, and rescue dogs. She is a proud member of the Long Island Curling Club and has participated in several bonspiels (curling tournaments).
Fern has been selected by the Courts, as well as by family members, to serve as the appointed Guardian and/or Trustee for many individuals in need of personal needs and property management. She has represented clients in all aspects of guardianship proceedings and has been appointed as Counsel and as Court Evaluator by the New York State Supreme Court in countless cases. She has helped thousands of seniors through her extensive community outreach and pro bono services on behalf of the indigent elderly of New York City. Fern spearheaded the Legal Education and Assistance Project, known as LEAP, at the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. LEAP’s mission is to train and support pro bono attorneys in providing community outreach and education on all aspects of advance planning to seniors, with the goal of maximizing their independence and ability to remain at home long term.
Fern is the Immediate Past Chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section, and a past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) New York Chapter.
Fern is the Chair of the Brooklyn Bar Association Foundation Law Committee, and a Special Master of the Appellate Division Second Department Mandatory Civil Appeals Mediation Program. She served for years as a volunteer certified mediator with Safe Horizons for community disputes, PINS cases and custody matters, as well as with the United States District Court, Eastern District. Fern has served on the Committees on Character and Fitness for the Second Judicial Department since 2008.
Fern led the initiative with the New York NAELA Chapter to create a “50 States Chart” compiling the responses from contributing NAELA member attorneys across the country on their respective states’ Medicaid planning tools, eligibility rules, and strategies. This has become a valuable resource for elder law practitioners across the country and the clients they serve.
Fern has lectured extensively for various Bar Associations and Continuing Legal Education providers on topics including Advance Directives, Medicaid and Asset Protection, Aging in Place, Supplemental Needs Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Planning During the Pandemic, the Role of the Guardian, Role of the Court Evaluator, Role of the Attorney for the AIP, and Guardianships. She has served as a mentor attorney at the Brooklyn Law School HELP (Helping Elders Through Litigation and Policy) Clinic, the Touro Law School Externship Program, and the New York Law School Elder Law Clinic.
Fern has received numerous awards for her pro bono service including: Selection as a 2019 “Champions of Justice: Women in Leadership in Law and Administration of Justice” Honoree by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the 2013 Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project Building Bridges Award, the 2013 Brooklyn Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2009 Brooklyn Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2004 Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York Hanna S. Cohn Pro Bono Award, the 2003 New York State Bar Association Pro Bono Award for the Second Judicial District, the 1999 Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project Pro Bono Award, the 1996 Brooklyn Bar Association Frieda S. Nisnewitz Award for Pro Bono Service, and an Award of Merit from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1997.
Fern was previously an Associate Attorney at the law firm of Damashek, Godosky and Gentile, where she litigated medical malpractice and personal injury cases, and a co-founder of her prior firm, Finkel & Fernandez, LLP.
In her spare time, Fern enjoys yoga, long walks in nature, gardening, bicycling, and spending quality time with her wonderful husband, family, and friends.
Erica Berger-Hausthor is a New York native who relocated back to New York after spending her first five years practicing Elder Law in Florida where she concentrated her practice in wills, trusts, estates, and long term care asset protection planning.
Erica is passionate about providing clients with personalized assistance based on their unique needs and concerns. She assists clients with planning, preparation, and execution of Estate Planning documents, probate and estate administration, trusts, and long term care asset protection planning.
Erica serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Section, where she chairs the Technology Committee. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Trust and Estates Law Section, the Florida Bar Elder Law Section, and the Florida Bar Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section. Erica received her Juris Doctor degree from City University of New York School of Law in 2016. She received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Binghamton University in 2010. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. In her spare time Erica enjoys traveling, exercising, testing out new recipes, and spending time with her family.
