Joanne Seminara

Joanne Seminara has been an attorney licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey for over 3 decades. Joanne is a member of the elder law firm of Grimaldi & Yeung LLP with offices located at 9201 Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Joanne practices in the areas of elder law, estate and trust planning, including estate tax and Medicaid and special needs planning.  An attorney known for her thoroughness, tenacity and compassion, Joanne is experienced in other practice areas, including residential and commercial real estate, corporate law, employment law and land use and zoning matters. 

Passionate public speaking, organizing and community service has been an important part of Joanne’s life.  She regularly speaks at community education seminars on estate, trust and tax matters and conducts continuing legal education seminars. In 2015, Joanne, with Judith Grimaldi, authored her first book entitled: Five @ Fifty-Five; Five Essential Legal Documents You Need by Age 55, as part of a public education campaign that highlights the critical importance of having 5 legal documents in place by mid-life. Her various television appearances include the 6 PM News on Fox 5 New York, Brooklyn Savvy, NY1, Good Day New York and WPIX Channel 11 News.

Joanne Seminara has received numerous awards and recognitions, among them: 2017 Bay Ridge Third Avenue Merchant’s Civic Award; 2016 Power Women in Business Award from Home Reporter & Spectator News; 2016 Community Service and Law Award from the Brooklyn Real Estate Board; 2014 Winner of New York City Council Women’s Community Service Award; 2012 Winner of Top Women in Business Award from Home Reporter & Spectator News. Joanne was recently named “Best Lawyer” 2020. This recognition is based solely on peer review and recommendations.

Joanne is a member of the Elder Law and Special Needs (ELSN) Section and the Trusts and Estate Section of the NYS Bar Association (NYSBA). She is co-Chair of the Ethics Committee and Vice-Chair of the Publications Committee of ELSN and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Bay Ridge Bar Association, and the Brooklyn Bar Association.  As member of Community Board 10 for over 2 decades, Joanne served as Chair of the Board from 2010 to 2013. A volunteer member of community organizations for many years, Joanne is past President and member of her local chapter of Business Networking International and the elected Democratic State Committeewoman and Executive Committee member of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.