BUFFALO, N.Y. – On Friday, September 23, 2022, Jessica M. Peraza and Courtney Donahue Tasner, both members of Lippes Mathias’ trusts and estates practice team, will present “Utilizing Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act Article 17-A,” in collaboration with Kimberly A. Colaiacovo of Erie County Surrogate’s Court. The presentation, which will be provided by the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, will go into detail on Procedure Act Article 17-A, which concerns the guardianship of an intellectually or developmentally disabled adult.

Jessica M. Peraza focuses her practice on estate planning and administration, Medicaid, and long-term care planning. As a law student, she interned for the Hon. Barbara Howe in Erie County Surrogate’s Court and worked in the Public Benefits Unit of Neighborhood Legal Services. Her previous experience includes residential foreclosures, public and private sector labor law, contract negotiations, probate matters, third-party credit collections, and representation of clients in administrative hearings and arbitrations.

Courtney Donahue Tasner, a partner, concentrates her practice in all areas of estate administration, probate, and related Surrogate Court proceedings. Such additional proceedings include limited administration, working with the County Public Administrator, wrongful death-related estate proceedings, and contested estate proceedings. Courtney regularly assists clients and families with guardianship proceedings under the Surrogate Court Procedure Act Article 17 and 17A, and the Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 adult guardianship in Supreme Court.

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with more than 140 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Long Island, and New York, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; San Antonio, T.X.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.