Jack N. Alpern Co., LPA

No, I DO NOT recommend Jack Alpern or the Alpern Law Firm! (Note: This is my opinion and no one else’s.) Every estate planning trust should be able to withstand the test time. The original trust that Jack Alpern and his law firm created in 1987 and revised in 2001 HAS NOT withstood the test of time. Jack Alpern drafted a trust for my father that was supposed to protect my mother but more importantly was supposed to protect my special needs sister. I along with my other sister were appointed and accepted the roles of trustee for this trust. My father died in late 2002, the probate process began, an EIN number was created for the trust since my father's Social Security Number was now not valid anymore, and the trust completed its probate in early 2004. It was my understanding that the trust was to then become irrevocable now that my father who was the grantor was deceased. Money was put aside for just my mother and money was put aside for the trust that was to benefit my sister. My mother had control of her money and my sister and I had control of the money for the trust for my special needs sister. In addition, the home they lived in fell into the trust. The trust owns the home not my mother. Over the years the money to fund the trust and the value of the home have grown. Fast forward now to 2023. My mother had to go into nursing home and is currently residing there as of today. My sister and I have began working with an attorney for the Medicaid Spend-down. My sister and I have now found out that it appears that the trust is not irrevocable but revocable. It also appears that the money that is in the actual trust could be counted for the Medicaid Spend-down along with the home that is in the trust. It appears now, that there could be no money to support my special needs sister and no home for her to live in if the trustees are forced use trust money to pay the nursing home and to sell the home for the Medicaid Spend-down. It appears that my special needs sister may need to live on just the pittance that she gets in Social Security and SSI once the government forces us to drain the trust. This was NOT what my father or even my mother ever wanted. My special needs sister was NOT to be a financial burden to my sister or me. My special needs sister will be destitute because of Jack Alpern’s incompetence to set up the trust that my father envisioned.

Jack Alpern, esq. is knowledgeable and takes the time to explain every aspect of wealth and estate planning. We never have felt rushed in nor out of the office. He genuinely cares about you and your family’s needs. He works hard to get everything just right! My husband and I recommend him highly!!

Mr. Alpern was very knowledgeable, understanding and compassionate. He gave me a recommendation for the specific kind of attorney that I needed.

Mr. Alpern listened to my needs and help me set up future legacy.

Atty Michaels is fantastic