April 16th, 2012
I’m really excited to announce that I have recently been elected to the board of directors for the Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation.
The foundation was originally created in the 1990′s to provide a camp for children suffering from AIDS.
As AIDs/HIV became a more manageable disease, the need for a camp devoted solely for these patients diminished, so the foundation joined forces with Camp TLC, a group that provides a mobile camp experience to kids living in isolated circumstances such as shelters, group homes and hospitals.
“We are pleased to have recently elected Todd to the Board of Directors. Todd is primarily involved with one of the Foundation’s programs, Camp TLC (Together Living a Challenge) and has agreed to also serve as Site Coordinator for the Saratoga session of Camp, a special session that brings a week of summer camp to children of the backstretch as well as children from the local Domestic Violence Shelter. His energy and enthusiasm for Camp as well as the Foundation will be a great asset and we are all looking forward in him helping us grow the organization”
~ Caroline Baumis, Executive Director
I’m honored to be a part of this great organization and thrilled to be working on the Saratoga camp session. I’ll be posting updates on our events here.
March 29th, 2012
My birthday challenge has come to an end.
My goal was to reach 1000 likes by midnight on my birthday March 28, and I would donate $1000 to 2 local charities – the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center and Camp TLC.
During the challenge, I realized that a lot of people liked the individual post rather than the fan page. So, while I only reached 702 likes (doubling my original number!), if I add on all the likes received for related posts, I exceeded my goal. I’m thrilled to be writing a check for $500 to the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center and $500 to Camp TLC.
Thank you for helping me celebrate another trip around the sun – I appreciate everyone’s support, and I am grateful for the interest in Engel Law Offices. I’ll continue to update the page with various aspects of my practice and legal stories of note.
February 29th, 2012
On March 28, 2012 I’ll celebrate my birthday.
OMG!
It’s a long standing tradition in my family for the person celebrating a birthday to give something away. We receive gifts, but we always give something as well.
This year , I want to give back to both of the communities I practice in. Syracuse and Saratoga both mean a great deal to me. The people have supported me and my law practice. For that I am very grateful and believe it is time to give back.
Two organizations near and dear to my heart are the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center, which is a non-profit organization in Syracuse dedicated to ending child abuse through intervention and education and Camp TLC, an on the move camping program based downstate that delivers a week of camp to children living in hospitals, group homes, and shelters across the country at no charge.
One of Camp TLC’s programs is a week long camp during the Saratoga thoroughbred race meet for kids of the backstretch employees, grooms, hotwalkers and other stable help who otherwise would not have the ability to send kids to camp for the summer.
Here is my challenge to you:
As I write this, my Facebook page sits at 391 likes. If I can reach 1000 likes by midnight on my birthday – 30 days from now – I will donate $1000, $500 to each organization.
Will you help? Please share this post.
February 3rd, 2012
This Sunday, the New York Giants will take on the New England Patriots in Superbowl XVI.
It is a great time to enjoy the finality of the football season with friends and family. Share some drinks, eat some food and watch the game or the ads, whichever is your pleasure.
However, please make sure that if you are drinking, don’t drive. The Syracuse newspapers have already published an article saying that there will be roadblocks throughout Syracuse this weekend. A DWI can have enormous personal implications.
Generally a DWI is charged as a misdemeanor which means it is a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in jail. Additionally, fines and surcharges are added on to this charge and conviction. Further (at least in Onondaga County) an alcohol evaluation to determine if there is a problem requiring further treatment is required. Even if a favorable disposition is negotiated, insurance rate increases and suspension of your driving privileges will result.
If you own a bar, you too can be held liable if someone injures an individual through a DWI.
Through laws called the Dram Shop Act, restaurants and bars can be held liable for over serving a customer when that customer causes an accident and injures himself or others. It is extremely important that as a bar owner or bartender you monitor the consumption of your customers. While some owners feel it is not their place to “babysit” their customers, it is far better than losing the ability to sell and serve alcohol.
So, whether you are out with friends for the Superbowl or own the business they are in, just remember what Sarge said on Hill Street Blues:
Be careful out there.
February 26th, 2011
Engel Law Offices is excited to announce that we are presenting at a seminar regarding estate planning and legal issues for the LGBT community.
The first session is February 28, 2011 at Wise Guys Comedy Club in Syracuse NY. The session begins with a networking session at 6:00 and presentation at 6:30. We will be discussing health care proxies, living wills and powers of attorney.
Hope to see you there.
February 3rd, 2011
I am proud to be a member of the Special Olympics of New York Games Organizing Committee for the Winter Games being held in Syracuse on February 5th and 6th. Being a part of this team has been an exciting and educational experience and one that I will cherish.
Special Olympics is an important organization that allows athletes with special needs to participate in sporting events across the spectrum and compete against other individuals with disabilities. The Winter Games will be comprised of six events in five locations throughout Onondaga County. I’ll tell you more about them as we go on.
The Games will start with Opening Ceremonies Friday night at 7:00 at the Oncenter. Each athlete participating will march in just like the Olympic Games. They will be welcomed by local law enforcement officers and community dignitaries as they enter the arena. There will even be a Torch Run and the lighting of the Olympic Torch.
Following the Opening Ceremony the Games will start with the Floor Hockey Pairing games. Each team will play to determine their seeding for Saturday morning’s games which will take place at the Oncenter. These games will start at 8:30 at the Oncenter and will be single elimination games throughout the day.
Saturday is the day when the events really start kicking into high gear. The events will at 8:30 in the morning. Figure Skating will be at the Onondaga County War Memorial followed by speed skating. Floor Hockey and the Olympic Village will be at the Oncenter. Snowshoeing will be at Thorden Park. Alpine skiing will be at Toggenburg Ski Center. Nordic Skiing will be at Highland Forest.
Each of the events are free to attend. They will be finished by 2:30 so come out and enjoy the day watching these athletes compete. I hope to see you there!
Todd Engel
tengel@engelatty.com
October 27th, 2010
One of the biggest complaints about lawyers is that as a profession we don’t return telephone calls and ignore emails from our clients or potential clients. This practice if true, is one that is disrespectful to the client and other members of our profession.
My policy is to try to return calls or emails within 5 hours. I never want a client to feel that their matter is being ignored or that they are not important to me. While there are times that I will refrain from taking calls during the day, I always set aside time both in the morning and afternoon to respond to telephone calls and emails. In that respect, the client can have a connection with me quickly, and if I need time to review or research a matter before giving a definitive answer I will let the client know.
Staying accessible to the client is important. That is why my Iphone is linked to my office email and if I am out of the office for an extended time my phone is forwarded to my cell so that the client does not feel unimportant. Not only is knowledge of the law an important factor for a good attorney but so is being available to respond to their needs, questions and thoughts.
Todd Engel
October 5th, 2010
On August 16 Governor David Patterson signed into law three bills that will change the landscape of matrimonial law in New York State. The reason it is important now is that they become effective on October 16th so planning needs to be taken now.
The first bill provided that there is an additional cause of action in New York providing for No Fault Divorce. The second bill will allow the Court additional opportunities to examine maintenance issues. The final bill provides for interim attorneys fees so that the monied spouse is responsible for interim fees during the course of matrimonial litigation and that the nonmonied spouse is not at a disadvantage due to their lack of financial ability to afford what can be mounting and daunting legal fees.
The bill getting the most attention is the addition o a no fault cause of action. This brings New York in line with the other 49 states n the country allowing for a divorce to end for no certifiable reason. The benefit to this cause of action is that when parties are just no longer compatible they can get a divorce without creating additional pain that existed under the previous causes of action. It means that people don’t have to create language that fits within cruel and inhuman treatment. Ultimately it will allow for people to eliminate some of the acrimony generally viewed in a fight over cause.
The second bill passed deals with the examination of maintenance or spousal support both on a temporary and permanent basis. This will allow the courts to examine specific factors in setting temporary maintenance. Maintenance is important and sometimes vital to to keep the non-monied spouse in the same lifestyle and have the same financial stability that was available prior to the break up of the marriage.
The third bill provides for interim counsel fees when there is a financial disparity between the parties. One of the fundamental aspects of litigation is that attorneys need to be paid! The financial ability for one side to pay or not pay should not be a detriment to the ability to be represented in a divorce. This will allow for both parties to get proper and adequate representation during a matrimonial action. This will equal the playing field so that the party with money doesn’t bury the one without in legal fees.
Todd Engel
October 1st, 2010
Need for Estate Planning
I do not intend to be Chicken Little with this post. However in 2011 unless Congress acts to extend the estate tax credit all estates over $1,000,000 in value will be taxed at 55% of the entire value. This means that many people who previously would have had few estate tax issues presently need to examine planning options to protect their assets for their heirs.
That means that If planning has not already begun, the clock is ticking. What do you need to do in order to be ready?
The first thing you need to do is determine what your net worth is. Compile your account statements as well as your real estate holdings. The combination of these two basic totals will give you an initial basis of your basic net worth. If you are a business owner a valuation of your interest n the business will be necessary to include in the calculation. Once your net worth is established it is imperative to sit with an estate planning attorney to determine how to preserve your assets
When you sit with your estate planning attorney make sure you bring with you your net worth documentation so that the planner may review the assets to determine what else may be included in the calculations. That will make sure all information is available to make the best plan for you and your family ensuring the assets you worked hard to obtain will be able to be there for your children.
The estate planning attorney will explain the various options for you. They will start talking about different trust vehicles that may fit your needs. Listen carefully and understand certain trusts will divest you as the earner of this income of control of the assets. Others will allow you to maintain control but may lose certain benefits to you. Each individual’s circumstance is extremely specific so meet with your planner to best determine your need and the right planning to protect your assets as well as ensure your family is able to enjoy what you have worked hard to attain rather than the US government.
Todd Engel
tengel@engelatty.com
http://www.engelatty.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/toddengel
July 1st, 2010
It appears that the New York Legislature in its final days may have acted positively towards one subject: divorce.
It appears that the New York Legislature in its final days may have acted positively towards one subject: divorce. New York was the last state that required fault in order to grant a divorce. This meant that a divorce could only be granted if one of four grounds were met: cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, adultery or constructive abandonment. The parties had to admit to grounds and often times led to the parties making statements that might not have been entirely accurate in order to obtain the resolution desired. Now under the new law parties seeking a divorce would have to state that for the preceding six months the marriage was not able to reconcile. This makes fault and acrimony between the parties less of an issue. Despite this the issues of custody, maintenance, child support and equitable distribution will continue to need to be resolved. The hope is that this will allow for an easier process for those parties seeking a divorce. Now the Governor needs to sign this legislation that has passed both houses. Todd Engel tengel@engelatty.com www.engelatty.com”>
New York was the last state that required fault in order to grant a divorce. This meant that a divorce could only be granted if one of four grounds were met: cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, adultery or constructive abandonment. The parties had to admit to grounds and often times led to the parties making statements that might not have been entirely accurate in order to obtain the resolution desired.
Now under the new law parties seeking a divorce would have to state that for the preceding six months the marriage was not able to reconcile. This makes fault and acrimony between the parties less of an issue.
Despite this the issues of custody, maintenance, child support and equitable distribution will continue to need to be resolved.
The hope is that this will allow for an easier process for those parties seeking a divorce. Now the Governor needs to sign this legislation that has passed both houses.
Todd Engel
tengel@engelatty.com
www.engelatty.com
