Westchester Elder Law Attorney Lauren C. Enea Sheds Light on Estate Planning for Younger Adults

Enea weighs in on Caring.com’s recent study findings highlighting greater focus on estate planning by younger Americans

Westchester County elder law attorney Lauren C. Enea, senior associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., recently shared her insights on Caring.com’s 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study, which found that more than one in three younger adults felt a greater need to engage in estate planning due to inflation – surpassing all other age groups. Young adults aged 18-34 were, in fact, the only age group not to have seen a decline in estate planning rates since 2020.

“There are many uncertainties in life, a reality underscored in recent years first by the pandemic, and now with inflation,” said Lauren Enea. “These uncertainties make estate planning – something that is within our control – even more critical. It’s in every adult’s best interest, regardless of age, to safeguard their assets and ensure their wishes are followed.”

The 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study revealed that the impact of inflation on estate planning varies greatly depending on the age group. Fifty-five percent of young Americans said inflation changed their view on estate planning, while only 35 percent of Americans aged 55 and older said their views have changed, noted the Caring.com report. Young people were 40 percent more likely than older adults to say they think estate planning is now more important.

According to Caring.com, “while simple procrastination remains the most common barrier to estate planning at 43 percent, an increasing number of people are deciding to forgo estate planning because they perceive they have too few assets to bother.” In 2024, 40 percent of American adults say they didn’t have enough to warrant an estate plan, a 21 percent increase from just two years ago.

Ms. Enea continued, “Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthy. There are many benefits to ensuring you have the proper documents in place, including greater peace of mind. It’s never too early… or too late.”

An active member of the local bar associations, Ms. Enea holds several leadership positions within various legal organizations. She was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association (WCBA) Trusts and Estates Section. Additionally, Ms. Enea serves as co-chair of the WCBA New Lawyers Section, co-chairs the Publications Committee for the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section, and is co-editor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is also a member of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County.

Ms. Enea was awarded the Westchester County Bar Association’s Outstanding New Lawyer Award. She was also named to the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and the 2023 and 2024 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list. She is the president of CAREERS Support Solutions' Board of Directors, a nonprofit helping individuals with disabilities obtain gainful employment in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, and a member of the Pace Women's Justice Center Advisory Board, Friends of Gail. Ms. Enea is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 914-948-1500 or visit www.esslawfirm.com.

About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at www.esslawfirm.com.