Judy N. Cuzzacrea Wagner

Judy Wagner, located in Buffalo, New York, is a dedicated attorney at Harris Beach Murtha, specializing in Trusts and Estates. She provides valuable counsel to individuals and families on wealth planning by appreciating current and future financial and personal needs. Judy collaborates with clients to develop plans that preserve, protect, and facilitate the transfer of individual or business assets to future generations. As an estate planning lawyer, she understands the importance of proactive planning yet remains flexible to take into account life's unpredictability. Judy's approach to estate planning emphasizes meeting client and family needs effectively.

Judy brings a wealth of legal experience in asset transfer tools such as wills and trusts, including asset protection trusts, irrevocable and revocable trusts, and pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements. She strategically incorporates planning tactics to minimize tax liability, leveraging options like credit shelter trusts, qualified terminable interest property trusts (QTIP), and irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs). Her considerable experience as a lead attorney in estate and trust administration has afforded her the ability to navigate complex legal terrains efficiently.

Her work frequently involves addressing the care, well-being, and legal challenges faced by older Americans and individuals with disabilities. This informs her elder care law practice. Judy aids clients with Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, and wealth preservation. She focuses on creating comprehensive plans that ensure clients receive appropriate care while employing asset protection and crisis planning strategies when possible. Her legal guidance encompasses planning for disability with tools like powers of attorney, living wills, health care proxies, guardianships, and managing supplemental needs and other trusts. Additionally, Judy provides counsel to business clients, advising on succession planning to smoothly transition closely held businesses to the next generation or key employees.